TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
The World War II Airborne Demonstration Team will perform historic-style parachute jumps during the upcoming Texarkana Airshow.
Von Linsowe understands that kind of inspiration firsthand. “I was inspired from birth,” he said. “I’m fortunate enough to come from a flying family where everybody was a pilot. I grew up embedded in the general aviation culture, attending air shows and socializing with aviators and their families. It’s in my blood.” That same spark ignited early for Vampire Airshows Pilot Jerry Conley. “There was a kids’ book called Jerry the Jet that I read when I was six or seven years old,” Conley shared. “I have wanted to be a pilot ever since reading it.” Conley grew up in the small town of Beaver, Ohio, where he said many people expected him to follow a more traditional path, farming or becoming a truck driver, but because of that book he read as a boy, he aspired to do something different. “You can be anything you want to be if you want it bad enough,” he said. “Don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t be what you want or do what you dream.” That message may resonate deeply in Texarkana, where the airshow shines a spotlight on the future of aviation education through Texarkana College’s growing aviation program. “Being part of the Texarkana aviation program means more than just learning a trade,” said aviation student Logan Miller. “It’s about becoming part of something that’s taking off right here at home. Being in a program that’s brand new to the area, you get a lot of insight into how this could be great for the community and yourself. I’m proud to be in a position where I can grow alongside the industry, and I’m excited to play a role in shaping the future of aviation in Texarkana.” Texarkana College students will volunteer throughout the event, helping with logistics and operations while gaining firsthand exposure to the industry. “Aviation is much bigger than what most people understand,” Sanders said. “The show will give you an
After two years of planning, preparation, fundraising, and safety coordination, the city is ready to welcome aviation back in a major way. The day’s events will begin with a 5K hosted by For the Sake of One, followed by a barbecue cookoff, and live music performances by Heather Lynn and the Deacons, Cam Allen, and Wade Bowen. There will be rides in exotic supercars such as the Lamborghini Huracan, and various aircraft displays, including F-18 and AC- 130J, along with restored World War II planes that helped shape American history. Then, at 4:30 p.m., the sky show begins! “The Army Golden Knights will parachute in with the flag, and that will start a cascade of flyovers, fighter jet dogfights, stunt planes, helicopter demos, and more,” Sanders said. Among the featured performers is the Full Throttle Formation Team, whose pilots fly within mere feet of one another at speeds reaching 200 miles per hour. Justin “Bongo” von Linsowe, one of the team’s pilots, says the greatest part of performing is not the flying itself but seeing the reactions afterward. “Once we’re back on the ground, we get to see the faces of the crowd and see the excitement they have for the show,” he said. “That’s when we get to interact and try to inspire the next generation of aviators and see kids’ faces light up when we get to talk to them about aviation, airplanes, and flying.” Perhaps that is the true heart of an air show. Somewhere in that crowd on June 27 will be a little boy or girl staring up at the sky in complete amazement. Maybe they will grip their parents’ hands tighter as jets thunder overhead. Maybe they will watch a pilot climb from the cockpit and think, “I want to do that someday.” Years from now, that child may become a pilot, mechanic, engineer, air traffic controller or military aviator because of one unforgettable summer afternoon in Texarkana.
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COMMUNITY & CULTURE
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