Bob began flying in 1979 at the age of 19. He has since logged over 2000 hours in a wide variety of aircraft and holds a commercial pilot certificate. Bob has flown hang gliders, airplanes, helicopters, and sailplanes from hundreds of sites in the US, Canada, Mexico and Australia. Bob has flown airshows professionally since 1993. He hails from Albuquerque, New Mexico and is a member of SSA and ICAS. Bob is one of the most versatile airshow performers in North America. He began flying airshows in his Salto sailplane, and over the years has continued to add innovative performances such as barnstormin' biplane aerobatics, helicopter sailplane tow, night aerobatics with strobes & pyro and the world's only twin jet sailplane. The tradition of innovation continues with the recent addition of the Super Salto jet sailplane, with more power, more speed and more aerobatic capability than any other sailplane on the planet!
When he is not performing at airshows, Bob is a rocket scientist for a major national laboratory.
Powered by the PBS TJ-100 jet engine, the highly modified Super Salto sailplane is the only sailplane on the airshow circuit capable of performing a low-level, jet-powered airshow performance. Utilizing its powerful jet engine, the Super Salto performs a high-speed aerobatic climb to altitude without a tow plane, followed by a spectacular exhibition of graceful sailplane aerobatics, choreographed to classical music, and featuring the world-famous Vertigo Airshows smoke. When the original altitude is spent, most sailplanes must land.
But not this sailplane! By simply spooling up the jet engine, the graceful sailplane is quickly transformed into a true low-level aerobatics machine. Accompanied by an ever-quickening musical score, the Super Salto cavorts at ground level with loops, rolls, hammerheads, spins and vertical penetration never dreamed of by a sailplane.
