DAYTON, Ohio — Saturday is the opening day of the Dayton Air Show, an annual event that showcases a variety of different aircraft teams from across the country.
It’s an exciting moment for pilots like Jimmy Fordham.
For as long as he can remember the Aeroshell Aerobatic Team slot pilot said he has always dreamt of being a pilot. His inspiration comes from his father who was also a pilot.
“I started hanging around the airport when I was just a really small kid and I always wanted to do it and I set my goals that I wanted to make a living in aviation,” said Fordham.
So he started young and worked his way up the ladder.
“I got my pilots license when I was 16 years old and then student pilot and then commercial multi-engine flight instructor by the time I’ve been out of high school,” he said.
After earning his license he went on to work for Northwest and Delta airlines and then after retiring 20 years ago he joined the aeroshell aerobatic team.
He said flying in the sky feels like freedom.
“You’re above the earth,” he said. “You’re kind of looking down upon it and I’ve looked at it in all directions, upside down, right side up, sideways and just the freedom of flight.”
Fordham is one of four pilots on the team.
The team is known for its tight formation aerial maneuvers and they all fly World War II propeller aircraft.
“They’re a challenge to fly,” he said. “They’re not an easy aircraft to fly. But real loud, a lot of smoke and noise and they put on a good show.”
Over the past 20 years of flying, Fordham said his team members have become more like companions.
“We’re all very close friends and being able to fly together in close formation we can just sense each other’s moods by how we talk and when you get to be that close to the guys it’s really a special relationship,” he said.
And now that they’re back in Dayton for the first time in years, Fordham said he looks forward to making Ohioans proud.
“When you think about Ohio you think about the Wright Brothers, you think about the history behind Dayton and it’s a privilege for us to be able to come up here and fly for y’all,” he said.
You can check out the air show Saturday and Sunday. For more information, click here to visit daytonairshow.com.
