Meet The Team
Rock is Jane’s right hand and other half. As a United Airlines pilot with over 20,000 flight hours, he brings a wealth of experience not only in the cockpit, but outside it as well. Rock’s skills are not only in the A320 which he flies at United, but he has thousands of tailwheel hours as well. As a flight instructor, he instructs in everything from a J3 Cub to the Cessna 310. You will find him flying something almost every day of the week, including one of his own aircraft. When not in the cockpit he can be found getting his hands dirty turning the wrench on Aurora as well as other aircraft. He loves to work on airplanes almost as much as he loves to fly them. Along with Brian Rosenstein, Rock worked with Jane when it came to soloing Aurora. He was the one who was instructing on that fateful day of her first solo. He is currently training as one of the show pilots and has become not only a huge asset to the airshow team, but in Jane’s life as well. And now, Rock is officially a wing walker himself. He recently climbed out of the cockpit while Brian was at the controls.
Bill, from Copake, NY, is best known as the lead pilot for the Iron Eagle Aerobatic Team. Along with his partner, Billy Segalla, they fly one of the premiere formation acts in the country. The pair have been flying together for over two decades and put on an outstanding performance that you don’t want to miss. Bill’s experience however extends far beyond the cockpit of his Eagle. Bill is a regular performer at the Rhinebeck Aerodrome, flying WWI aircraft including the Sopwith and the Fokker Triplane. He is also an A&P mechanic as well as an IA. As an experienced wing walking pilot and mechanic, he brings not only the talent and finis of his flying skills, but his mechanical skills as well. He’s already proved himself invaluable in helping us tweak the engine on Aurora.
The Stearman is part of Brian’s heart. He grew up with them and even soloed a 220 HP Stearman at the age of 16. He is currently a Captain with Express Jet flying the ERJ, but his true love is climbing in the cockpit of not only Aurora, but any Stearman he can lay his hands on. Jane has known Brian since the early days at the Flying Circus and he used to fly aerobatic rides in her old 450, “The Beast”. He’s a natural with the plane and there is no one better to entrust her during the flights from show to show. Although you will see Jane bring Aurora to some of the shows herself, it is Brian that is irreplaceable for repositioning the aircraft and bringing Aurora in when Jane can not. Brian is also the one who designed the paint scheme on Aurora. When not in the cockpit, you will most likely find him constantly polishing the aircraft as he finds it pure joy just to be with her.
Charlie started flying sailplanes in 1975 and went on to earn a FAI Gold badge with one ‘Diamond’ for a flight of over 300 kilometers (nearly 200 miles) and has climbed to 18,000 feet MSL - All without a motor. He instructed in Sailplanes for several years and has almost the same number of hours flown in Sailplanes as Power Planes. He started flying competition aerobatics in 1990. Competition results include winning the Canadian National Aerobatic Championship and regional International Aerobatic Club contests up and down the east coast. Charlie’s current passion is aerobatics and he can usually be found flying a Pitts S-1T or an Extra 300. But today he gets to enjoy flying aerobatics with a wing walker in a beautiful Stearman 450. When not busy flying an airshow elsewhere, Charlie can be found at the Flying Circus in Bealeton Virginia most Sundays in the summer.
Whitney is the newest addition to our airshow family. She was born on December 22, 2010 in Valdosta, GA. On April 10, 2011 we flew down in Rock’s Cessna 310 (U3B) to pick her up. Needless to say she was immediately immersed into aviation, logging over 4 hours her first day with us. She now has her own ear protection (courtesy of Mutt Muffs) as well as a pair of Doggles. The plan is to indoctrinate her into the Stearman so she can travel with us to some of the airshows. She’s at home at the airport. Of course she’s happy playing in the grass and every pool of water she can find, but just as content hanging out in the hangar with us. Keep your eyes open on the circuit. Every airshow we can bring her to she will be by our side.