Red Baron pilots to perform aerobatics at Silverwood
Next weekend the Red Baron Pizza Squadron swoops into Silverwood with open cockpit, World War II vintage airplanes. Two “Red Barons” will amaze park guests with a display of aerobatics, and a lucky Silverwood Park guest will win a flight each day.
Known as one of the country’s most widely recognized aerobatic teams, skillful pilots thrill audiences with formation takeoffs, precision aerobatics, inverted flight, hammerhead turns and barrel rolls, often accented with a trail of white smoke.
“Performances are choreographed arrangements of maneuvers flown in formation within 6 feet of one another, drawing figures in the sky with our smoke trails,” explains Squadron representative Peggy Connot. She says performances at Silverwood will start at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, lasting about 15 to 20 minutes. Park guests can view the airplanes up close and meet the pilots.
Red Baron Pizza Service jumped into the airplane business in the late 1970s to promote its pizza to grocery-store owners across the United States. The two-seater Stearman planes allowed landing at small airports in communities where many independent grocery stores were based.
Manufactured by Boeing between 1941 and 1943 in a biplane design originated in the 1920s, the planes were used as trainers for World War II pilots, then as crop dusters after the war. The pizza company restores the craft with more powerful engines, painting them bright red and white with the Red Baron logo.
The aircraft are reminiscent of post World War I days when veteran military pilots, tagged “Barnstormers” for their landings in farmers’ fields to sell rides and flying lessons, were on the leading edge of aviation in America.
In the barnstormer tradition, the Red Baron Stearman Squadron criss-crosses America every year to bring thrilling aerobatics to local communities. The Red Baron namesake is Manfred von Richthofen, a legendary German Air Force fighter pilot credited with 80 confirmed combat kills in World War I in his bright red tri-plane.
The Squadron celebrates their 1000th airshow this year, having flown their colorful planes in air shows and events since 1984.
Silverwood Theme Park’s Nancy DiGimmarco says watching the Red Baron aerial antics will be free to park patrons. General admission is $29.99 and $18.99 for ages 3 to 7 and those 65 and older. The park offers 60 plus rides, including four waterslides.
A drawing box will be at the park gate on Friday and Saturday as guests enter. Two airplane rides will be given away each day and lucky winners will take to the air at 4 p.m. both days.