Six Misty Blue parachutists from across the country will perform, said Cindy Irish, a team member from Phoenix, Ariz.
“It’s exhilarating, it’s just a lot of fun,” she said in a telephone interview Thursday. “I’ve been doing (skydiving) for 28 years, but at the beginning it’s something that scares you so much it’s an accomplishment when you land.”
A team parachutist will jump with a giant American flag to launch the air show, she said. The Misty Blues typically jump at an altitude of about 5,000 feet, lower than some other teams, she said.
“It’s great to perform in front of people for them to see something different that’s not typically a normal thing for individuals to see and really promote our team as role models for young kids,” said Irish, who is an accountant when not performing with the team. “We try to promote that you can do anything you want to do.”
Tucker, an inductee into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton, will fly a 400-horsepower Oracle Challenger biplane that’s become a familiar sight at the Dayton Air Show.
“He really enjoys Dayton,” said Terry Grevious, air show executive director. “He’s a regular here and nobody is better than Sean so we always like having him back.”
The air show expects to announce additional acts in the coming weeks, Grevious said. The GEICO Skytypers, Redline Air Shows, and air show champion Rob Holland were added earlier to the line-up this year.
In 2018, the Blue Angels will be in Dayton for the first time in four years. A tragic fatal crash of a team member last June in Tennessee canceled the scheduled appearance of the jet team that flies the F/A-18 Hornet.
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