Meet the Performers | FIAS 2023

Meet the Performers for the 2023 Florida International Air Show

The USAF Thunderbirds return to the Florida International Air Show, November 4th & 5th at the Punta Gorda, FL airport (PGD) to wrap up its 70th anniversary season. The USAF Thunderbirds perform for people worldwide to display the pride, precision, and professionalism the U.S. Air Force represents. Through air shows and flyovers, they aim to excite and inspire. In addition to showcasing the elite skills all pilots must possess, the Thunderbirds demonstrate the incredible capabilities of the Air Force’s premier multi-role fighter jet, the F-16 Fighting Falcon. The demonstration is a mix of six aircraft performing formation flying and solo routines. The four-ship Diamond formation showcases the precision and training of U.S. Air Force Pilots, as well as the gracefulness of the F-16. The two solos display the power and maximum capabilities of the mighty F-16 Fighting Falcon, a frontline fighter.

The SOCOM Para-Commandos are the US Special Operations Command's premier aerial parachute demonstration team.  They perform at high visibility events across the nation, informing the public about the US Special Operations Command; the command's mission, and the contributions our 70,000 plus Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Department of Defense Civilians are making across the United States and in more than 70 countries around the globe. 
The Para-Commandos are members of and representative of today's Special Operations Forces.  The Para-Commandos are comprised of active-duty Special Operators, such as Army Special Forces, Army Rangers, Navy SEALs, Air Force Combat Controllers and Marine Raiders.  In addition, the Para-Commandos have a number of support personnel, commonly referred to as Special Operations Enablers.  The enablers come from all four services and include reserve forces as well.
The Para-Commandos tailor each performance to the individual venue and can perform from as low as 2000 feet above ground level to as high as 13,500 feet above ground level.  Depending on the venue and time of day, The Para-Commandos may jump flags, smoke, sparklers, or a combination of each into the event.  The Para-Commandos are proficient in both free fall and canopy formations; and specialize in landing on time and on target in front of the crowd!

Patty Wagstaff returns to the Florida International Air Show. To Patty Wagstaff the sky represents beauty, freedom and challenge. A six-time member of the US Aerobatic Team, she is the first woman to win the title of US National Aerobatic champion and one of the few people to win it three times. Wagstaff has earned recognition for her accomplishments as a woman, and as a pilot, flying thrilling low-level aerobatic routines in competitions and air shows before millions of spectators each year.
Her breathtaking airshow performances give airshow spectators a front-row seat view of the precision and complexity of modern, unlimited hard-core aerobatics. Her smooth aggressive style sets the standard for performers the world over. Patty has flown aerial displays in such exotic places as South and Central America, China, Russia, Europe, Singapore, Kenya and Iceland.

Extreme Flight is a highly skilled professional airshow team that mixes its intensity, passion, and personality to produce a unique and entertaining airshow for ALL! By incorporating its cosplay initiative, summer reading program, and podcast into its program, Extreme Flight connects with the community and promotes aviation year-round.

REDLINE Airshows is a close 2 man-formation aerobatic performance team. The team, consisting of Ken Reider and Austin Reider, flies both adrenaline-rushing day performance and fantastic night fireworks show in locations all over North and Central America. Redline performs in the experimental Van’s Aircraft RV-8 aircraft.

Racers Jet Team started in a true American tradition.  If you’ve ever tinkered with or modified your car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle to squeeze out as much performance as you can, then you understand the beginnings and focus of the Racers Jet team’s pilots individually! Recognizing the special performance abilities of these racing jets and the unique talents of our air race and air show pilots Scott Farnsworth and Jerry “Jive” Kerby…Racers Jet Team was formed! These L-39s may look like other L-39s… but looks are only skin-deep! The bones, muscle, and soul of these jets are 100 percent focused on being the fastest jets on the racecourse.   

Matt Jolley is a national Edward R. Murrow Award-winning feature reporter  and broadcaster who works as a host, writer, and narrator. Back in the early 1990’s Matt’s neighbor Ron converted his living room into a television studio, and because nobody else was interested in making TV in Ron’s living room, Matt got the job hosting Wildcat Corner.  Twenty-five years later, Matt’s still in the media business (and so is Ron).  Matt has worked in Texas, Colorado, Georgia, Washington D.C., and even the Middle East. 

Matt is passionate about aviation and entertains the largest airshow audiences in the world, including Pacific Airshow and AirVenture.  In 2022, Pacific Airshow was the largest LIVE streamed event on Hulu, and since 2021 Matt has co-anchored the annual broadcast.
Matt’s work in airshows has earned him The International Council of Air Shows Pinnacle Award, and Special Achievement Award.  He calls Fair Chance Farm home, and in his spare time, cares for a vintage deHavilland airplane and one old tractor.