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EAA AirVenture Oshkosh – August 2, 2007 – A melee or chaotic battle.
That’s how two team members of the newest formation aerobatic group describe their show. But all four agree it’s fun.
The Collaborators performed Monday at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2007. The team consists of Sean D. Tucker, lead; Eric Tucker, Sean’s son, left wingman; Ben Freelove, right wingman; and Bill Stein, slot pilot and safety officer.
And their performance goes back to their name — a true collaboration. “Bill made up the figures, but we all had a part in it,” Sean says.
“We designed a sequence and flew it, and then modified it, and then flew it and modified it again,” Bill says. “If we liked it in the sequence, we kept it. If not, we tried something else.”
While they fly different planes — Sean flies the Challenger II, Eric and Ben fly the Extra 300L and Bill flies an Edge 540 —they agree it doesn’t cause any problems.
“If you’re flying dissimilar planes and think that it will become a problem, then it will become hard,” Sean says. “But if you don’t, you just make it work.”
And dissimilar planes give a show more variety and diversity, Bill adds.
The idea for the formation team began in 2005 with the Stars of Tomorrow, a group mentored by Sean and Bill to help young aerobatic pilots make it into the highly competitive air show business. But when Sean saw how much fun it was, he decided to form his own team. Luckily, he works with the three others who share his passion and skill at Tutima Academy of Aviation Safety.
This spring they practiced for three weeks, and then spent two weeks in Nebraska prior to AirVenture, making three flights a day. Their fall tour will potentially include Dallas, San Francisco, San Diego and Nellis Air Force Base, Sean says.
Sean says they remain committed to their formation team, and are looking for sponsors to help fund the group. But they also plan to grow the team to six planes within two years and possibly nine planes in four years.
And that means they’ll be looking for five more aerobatic pilots who share their passion, desire and talent. “We need more Bens and Erics,” Sean says.
Could it be you?
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As many air show performers do before a performance, “The Collaborators” walk through their routine on the ground, using hand movements to represent different aerobatic maneuvers.
The Collaborators are a unique aerobatic formation team. Most team fly similar aircraft. The Collaborators fly different aircraft and say it gives their performances variety and diversity.
The Collaborators make a close formation pass during their performance on Monday, July 23 at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2007.
The Collaborators, (from left) Sean D. Tucker, Eric Tucker, Ben Freelove and Bill Stein, enjoy the audience applause following their flight.
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