World's Top Aerobatic Pilot To Perform At 2013 Thunder Over Michigan Air Show

YPSILANTI (WWJ) - Sean D. Tucker, the world's top civilian aerobatic pilot, will perform at the 2013 Thunder Over Michigan Air Show, August 10 and 11 at Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti.

Tucker is a member of the National Aviation Hall of Fame and is internationally known for his awe-inspiring aerobatic flying routine. He has received the highest awards in the industry, including induction into the International Council of Air Shows Hall of Fame, the Living Legend Aviation Award, and many other awards and recognitions.

Throughout more than 40 years of Tucker's air show experience, he has won numerous competitions and has flown more than 1,100 performances, in front of an excess of 100 million fans, and over 450 air shows.

Tucker's airplane, the Oracle Challenger III bi-plane, has continued to improve each year. Tucker started with a factory built Pitts Special over 30 years ago and modified it each year.

After reaching the limits of the Pitts, Tucker's team designed a one of a kind airplane that could do anything that he asked of it. This resulted in the most high-performance aerobatic aircraft in the world in its time, the Challenger II biplane.

Tucker's continuous demand to push the aircraft further resulted in the 2010 unveiling of the Oracle Challenger III, which is the most high-performance aerobatic aircraft in the world today. This fire-breathing monster packs more than 400 horsepower, weighs just over 1200 pounds and responds to the slightest pressure on the control stick even at 300 mph.

To endure the extreme physical demands of each routine, Tucker maintains a rigorous physical training schedule by working out more than 340 days per year by jogging and weight-lifting on alternating days.

Tickets are now on sale for a discounted price if purchased online through Sunday, August 11. General Admission tickets for guests 16 and older are $30; kids 15 and under are admitted at no charge. For more information, visit www.yankeeairmuseum.org.

Thunder Over Michigan is produced by the Yankee Air Museum. Proceeds from the event help support the Yankee Air Museum and many other charitable organizations.