Date: May 18-20, 2007
Story By: Jim Froneberger
Photography by: Jim Froneberger

For a relatively small airshow in a relatively small town, the 2007 Mid-Atlantic Fly-in and Sport Aviation convention in Lumberton, North Carolina on May 18-20 sure made a lot of news. The show was the site of the world premier of the newest act from the X-Team - CODENAME:MARYSLAMB - and it marked the return to airshows of one of the great names in the business - Corkey Fornof.

CODENAME:MARYSLAMB is the latest iteration of the act formerly known as the Masters of Disaster. Featuring X-Team leader Jim LeRoy in the new Bulldog II, Skip Stewart in Prometheus, and Kent Shockley in the Shockwave Jet Truck, CODENAME:MARYSLAMB is every bit as entertaining as its predecessor. With scores of head-on passes, smoke, fire, and music blasting over the sound system, the act is an assault on the senses and was a huge hit with the Lumberton fans. This performance was also Skip's debut as the newest member of the X-Team. See the July issue of World Airshow News for a very special feature on this exciting new act.

Corkey Fornoff has flown over 2,600 airshow demonstrations in his career, but the last one was 20 years ago in 1987. Since then, he has been one of the most in-demand pilots for movie, TV, and commercial work, flying as a stunt pilot and camera plane pilot and serving as the aerial coordinator for many films and other productions. At the request on the LoPresti organization, Corkey has put his movie career on hold, and will be demonstrating the new Lopresti Fury at airshows and aviation events all over the country. The Lumberton show was his return to airshows after that long hiatus.

The Red Baron Squadron was a headliner at the Lumberton show as well as being a major corporate sponsor of the event. The sound of those four 450 hp Pratt and Whiney engines is a sound like no other. Bryan Regan, Jayson Wilson, Matt Losacker, and Travis Aukes always put on a great show, taking us back to the days of the barnstormers.

Jim LeRoy and Skip Stewart also flew their solo acts and Shockwave did his solo high speed run. Ed Hamill was on hand in the Air Force Reserve Pitts, Roger Marshall flew his Yak, and Charlie Kulp made eveyone laugh with his classic Flying Farmer routine. A nice contingent of warbirds was also on hand, including Jeff Michael's P-51 "Obsession," Walt Newton's Skyraider "Sincerely Sandy," the A-26 "Spirit of North Carolina," and the P-47 "Hun Hunter XVI."

As Hugh Oldham said after the show, "This is what an airshow should be. Two and a half-hours of great entertainment that leaves the crowd happy and wanting more!"

Photo captions left to right: (1) through (5) Scenes from CODENAME:MARYSLAMB. (6) Charlie Kulp as the Flying Farmer. (7) Corkey Fornof rolls the Fury. (8) Corkey is back! (9) Ed Hamill in the Air Force Reserve Pitts. (10) Jim LeRoy and Bulldog II. (11) The Red Baron Pizza Squadron. (12) Skip Stewart in Prometheus. (13) The A-26 "Spirit of North Carolina." (14) Jeff Michael in "Obsession."