Another popular aviator, Lt. Colonel John Klatt, an active member of the Air National Guard, who fought in Iraq in Operation Iraqi Freedom, will take fans through an amazing sequence of jaw-dropping aerial maneuvers. Klatt has flown a wide variety of aircraft. His commission in the ANG gave him the opportunity to fly C-130 military transports delivering crucial supplies during Operation Desert Storm. He later transitioned from the C-130 into the F-16 “Fighting Falcon” and completed three combat tours flying F-16s in Iraq.
Klatt is also represented by his John Klatt Airshows’ Screamin’ Sasquatch Jet Waco Aerobatic Team, which is making its Bethpage Air Show debut. The airplane, a Taperwing Waco made famous by barnstormers
of the 1920s and ‘30s, adds the modern twist of a jet engine that will thrill spectators
with amazing sights and sounds. Klatt
and Jeff Boerboon, a U.S. Unlimited
Aerobatics Champion, will pilot the Screamin’ Sasquatch.
Another air show favorite, the GEICO Skytypers, combine the best of the old and new. The team flies vintage World War II aircraft while utilizing the latest technology to skytype their messages. The pilots fill the sky from all directions to provide spectators a unique viewing experience while showcasing the tactics and maneuvers utilized during training during World War II.
The GEICO Skytypers use six of the remaining 11 North American SNJ-2 planes left in the world to write messages at an altitude of 10,000 feet. Each plane has been restored and equipped with a computer that coordinates the smoke puffs from the aircraft. The team “types” messages at 10,000 feet with puffs of smoke in dot matrix-style letters.