By Aleta*

An idea was born just eight months ago in the minds of aerobatic champions Sean D. Tucker and Mike Goulian. After speaking with EAA head Tom Poberezny and Director of Flight Operations, Joe Schumacher, the race was on to create and fund the 'Stars of Tomorrow'. With their debut here at Oshkosh AirVenture, the dream is reality. A key ingredient to the equation is sponsorship.

The hard work of the team, including Sean's PR man Karl-Heinz S. Koeppen, resulted in Klein Tools, Inc., Hartzell Propeller, Inc., Lycoming, Lancair, Aviation Insurance Resources and I Fly America being brought on board.

"It's about sharing and mentoring," says Sean Tucker. He uses his own career as an example. Without the help and guidance of airshow legends, Charlie Hillard, Leo Loudenslager, Tom Poberezny, Bob Hoover and Jimmy Franklin his career "would have been half of what it is today." "It is an honor to share what these legends have taught me with the 'Stars of Tomorrow'."

The 'Stars of Tomorrow' are Goody Thomas from Rock Hill, South Carolina, Zach Heffley from Ft.Worth, Texas, Chandy Clanton from Lincoln, Nebraska, Nick Nilmeyer from San Martin, California, David Ellison from Woodside, California and Wyche T. Coleman III from Coushatta, Louisiana.

Each one is more than grateful for the opportunity they have been presented with. Some of them had been spectators at EAA AirVenture for years and are amazed at now being a performer at the very same airshow. Wyche summed up the feelings rather well, "On Tuesday, while waiting to go into 'the box', I had tears in my eyes." Chandy gave the female perspective, "I've had two babies and this is the best thing I've ever done."

The stars were hand-picked by Tucker and Goulian, "not only for their exceptional flying skills-but also for their passion for this art form and their humanity." The young pilots must also be able to trust what Mike and Sean say and accept and implement criticisms and suggestions. Sean and Mike are in the cockpit with each of them (via radio) during training giving immediate feedback on their flying.

Prior to the six pilots meeting each other, they practiced individually through the first half of 2003. The group then gathered at the Hartzell Propeller facility in Piqua, Ohio for intensive training. Their mindsets had to be switched from competition mindset to airshow mindset. It was no longer an aerobatic championship on the line but an airshow designed to entertain. The group performed at Selfridge Air National Guard Airshow near Detroit, Michigan, just a couple of weeks ago.

The long term goal is a bit vague at the moment but these six young pilots will make a massive contribution to aviation. They are around the same age as many of the kids out there with a spark of interest in aviation.

Seeing these six young stars may ignite the spark that one of the older legends may not be able to reach.

FMI: After AirVenture, you can visit them at www.StarsOfTomorrowPilots.com