ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE — Ron Andrew’s prospects have taken off.
The oilfield operations contractor from Blackfalds is making his first professional appearance today flying his Pitts Special aerobatic plane at the Rocky Mountain House Airshow.
Just a year and a half ago, Andrew’s dreams of flight were just that.
“I started on ultralights, then bought an aerobatic ultralight,” recounts the 52-year-old.
“I qualified for my licence in my four-seater Piper then bought the Pitts of my dreams.”
Nicknamed The Blender, the manoeuvrable plane will seat two, though his wife, Janice, isn’t quite ready yet.
“I’m afraid of flying so I’m just getting used to the Piper,” she laughs.
“Baby steps, baby steps.”
The exhilaration Andrew gets outstrips anything else he’s ever done.
“You travel at 200 miles per hour and do rolls and loops and never have to worry about a cop. It’s the greatest.”
He credits the town of Rocky Mountain House and its airport for having an aerial “box” measuring a square kilometre just east of the field that pilots can use for aerobatics.
“It’s a hotbed of aerobatic activity because of it. You can come here on almost any weekend and there’ll be someone doing them. It’s a real boon to the economy here.”
Andrew joins Rocky residents Ken Fowler and Jerzy Strzyz flying their Harmon Rocket and Sukoi aerobatic planes as the Central Alberta component to the sixth annual biennial air show.
The 2008 show drew about 9,000 people.
The major performers this year are the Canadian Forces Skyhawks parachute team opening the show at 5:40 p.m. followed by their more famous airborne colleagues, the Snowbirds precision flying team at 6 p.m.
Other performers include Melissa Pemberton of Groveland, CA, in her Edge 540, Hank Reichert of Bismarck, ND, flying a P-51 Mustang, Kent Pietsch of Minot, ND, doing a comdedy act in his 1942 Interstate Cadet and Dave Mathieson of Yellowknife in his aerobatic Pitts.
Static displays, helicopter rides and live music are also on the bill.
More than 100 volunteers are on hand to ensure the show goes safely and on schedule.
Gates at the Rocky Mountain House airport open at 1 p.m. with admission $10 per person over five years old with on site parking costing $10 per vehicle.
All proceeds are used to support the air show.
For more information call 403-322-0034 or go to www.rockymtnhouseairshow.com