Performer Brief:  Jurgis Kairys

One of the many "new" performers at the 2006 NAS/JRB Willow Grove Air Fest was Jurgis Kairys, performing in one of a handful of airshows in the United States.  When he performs in the United States, he is flying a Sukhoi Su-31 that is painted up in a silvery-bare metal paint job with his first name prominently shown by the canopy on each side of the fuselage.  He also owns several more airplanes, which are somewhat conveniently based in various locations around the world, including an Su-26, an Su-29, an Su-31, a Yak-50, Yak-52, and his custom built plane called the Juka.  Jurgis is regarded worldwide as one of the best and most talented competition aerobatic pilots and when you see him performing in the United States, you can definitely agree to that statement.

When you watch Jurgis fly, you can tell right away that he hails from a country where the rules defining aerobatic performances are not quite as strict as they are in North America.  Jurgis performs a lot of his show close to the ground and is one of the few performers in the world who perform the cobra maneuver almost immediately after taking off.  The high point in his performance is when he "signs" his name in the sky with a big J, finishing off the letter with approximately thirty to forty aileron rolls on the down line.  He flies an incredibly low photo pass, almost dragging the wingtip on the ground (in fact I believe at one point or another during the Friday practice show he did touch the ground).

Jurgis also teams up with Jim LeRoy to fly a brand new act called the Tinstix of Dynamite, which is a very exciting and action-packed performance that features both pilots flying many opposing passes that are culminated by pyrotechnics from Rich's Incredible Pyro and both pilots performing an opposing inverted ribbon cut during a strafing run and the entire act culminating in a wall of fire to end things.  Tinstix of Dynamite is one of those acts that is well worth going out of your way to see.

As a side note, this could very well be the last year for Willow Grove's airshows.  The base will remain open until approximately 2010 and the fate of the 111th Fighter Wing will be decided upon at that time.

Static Displays at the 2006 NAS/JRB Willow Grove Air Fest (excluding DVHAA aircraft)

Military Demonstration Teams

• USAF Thunderbirds
  
• US Navy Leap Frogs
  

Tentative Military Demonstrations

• 111^th Fighter Wing
  
• B-2 Spirit Flyby (Sunday only)
  
• F-15 Eagle East Coast Demo Team
  
• F/A-18F Super Hornet Demonstration
  
• 
  

Civillian Demonstrations

• Sean Tucker
  
• Jim LeRoy
  
• Jurgis Kairys
  
• Tinstix of Dynamite
  
• Allen Smith
  
• Ed Shipley
  
• Red Eagle Air Sports
  
• The Skytypers
  
• Chuck Lischer
  
• Herb Baker & Ditto
  
• Manfred Radius
  
• Frank Ryder
  
• USAF Heritage Flight
  

Participating Organizations

• Rich's Incredible Pyro
  
• Commemorative Air Force (B-24, B-29)
  
• Rag Wings & Radials
  

Announcer: Gordon Bowman-Jones