Aviation legend and former student return to Dayton Air Show, and now she’s his new wingman

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Air show performer Sean D. Tucker returns to the Dayton Air Show with former student Jessy Panzer as a new wingman for Team Oracle.

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Air show performer Sean D. Tucker returns to the Dayton Air Show with former student Jessy Panzer, pictured here, as a new wingman for Team Oracle.   TY GREENLEES / STAFF

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Panzer was part of the Stars of Tomorrow group in 2005 that Tucker mentored on becoming professional air show pilots. Panzer, along with Tucker’s son Eric Tucker and Nick Nilmeyer, flew a three-plane aerobatic formation in that year’s Dayton Air Show. “And here we are, fifteen years later, and Jessy Panzer is flying as my right wingman,” Tucker said on Wednesday after a practice flight above puffy white clouds.

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2005 photo of Stars of Tomorrow who made their Dayton Air Show debut that year.  Pilots left to right are Nick Nilmeyer, Eric Tucker and Jessy Panzer. Panzer is scheduled to fly as wingman with Sean D.Tucker in the 2019 Dayton Air Show.   TY GREENLEES / STAFF

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The duo is scheduled to perform formation aerobatic maneuvers in the Dayton Air Show on Saturday and Sunday.

“I’m just so honored to be flying with Sean now. It’s a full circle, but also a brand new beginning. I’m really excited to be here and share that with Dayton,” Panzer said.

Air show performers Sean D. Tucker and Jessy Panzer rehearse their flying routine in the hangar before a practice flight.     TY GREENLEES / STAFF

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