Show-stopping: Aerial duo perform breathtaking tricks at Fly-In
CALE BLAKELY/FOR THE EXPRESS Greg Koontz is pictured performing his show-stopping finale — landing on a moving truck — an act only three pilots are able to perform. In the truck is his partner, Fred Masterson.
CALE BLAKELY/FOR THE EXPRESS Greg Koontz is pictured during his finale. In the truck is his partner Fred Masterson.
PHOTO PROVIDED Greg Koontz waves at the crowd.
CALE BLAKELY/FOR THE EXPRESS Greg Koontz is pictured performing his show-stopping finale — landing on a moving truck — an act only three pilots are able to perform. In the truck is his partner, Fred Masterson.
CALE BLAKELY/FOR THE EXPRESS Greg Koontz is pictured during his finale. In the truck is his partner Fred Masterson.
PHOTO PROVIDED Greg Koontz waves at the crowd.
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LOCK HAVEN -- The 37th Annual Sentimental Journey is now in full swing, with vendors, pilots and community members alike congregating at the William T. Piper Memorial Airport for the festivities and entertainment.
One such act performing at the Fly-In is "Greg Koontz and the Alabama Boys," a traveling aerial duo, headlined by the enigmatic Greg Koontz himself.
Koontz has been performing in airshows since 1974, starting off in Colonel Moser's Flying Circus in Florida, where he stayed for eight years as both a performer and head of their flight school.
While loving the airshows and performances, the circus did not provide enough money to make ends meet, so Koontz embarked on his next era as a corporate pilot for McGriff, Seibels & Williams.
"It was time to improve my life a little," said Koontz. He did not let go of his love of air shows however. He continued to hone his craft during these corporate visits, developing the show that is known today as "Greg Koontz and The Alabama Boys."
While the crew used to be larger, today the show only consists of Koontz himself, a local volunteer and his partner, Fred Masterson.
While Masterson has spent most of his working years as an electrical engineer, he can't remember a time when he wasn't enthralled with all things aerial.
"I've always been a bit of an aviation nut," said Masterson.
He and Koontz met at an airshow in Birmingham, with Koontz offering Masterson the position, and they've been a team ever since.
While others have come and gone, Masterson and Koontz have stuck together and have performed all over the world, including El Salvador, Guatemala, China and the United Arab Emirates.
Their show consists of the two dressing up as "Alabama country bumpkins," as Koontz put it, taking over a free flight raffle and demanding to get a flying lesson.
They feign ignorance as Koontz gets himself into the airplane and takes off without his instructor. A series of dives, twists and turns entails before the show stopping finale, with Koontz landing his plane on top of a pickup truck driven by Masterson.
Koontz is one of only three people in the world currently who can and are performing this maneuver in shows, making the performance a very unique experience to witness.
Koontz hopes to inspire others who witness his shows to carry on the tradition of aerial performances, providing aerobatic and tailwheel training when he isn't running his show.
Koontz still remembers one of the first airshows his dad took him to, where he got to meet aerobatic pilot Bevo Howard, whose subsequent chat and encouragement toward Kootz led him on the path he's taken today.
He went home and told his dad, "I'm going to be an airshow pilot when I grow up," and he's certainly made true on that promise.
"Greg Koontz and the Alabama Boys" will be performing at 1 p.m. today and tomorrow at the Fly-In, so make sure to head down and witness their endearing and amazing flying act.
All day passes are available on site at the airport, $12 for adults and $5 for youth visitors.