North America’s Newest Five-Ship Civilian Jet Team Members Introduced At The ICAS Annual Convention

Heavy Metal Jet Team, the new five-ship aerobatic civilian-owned jet team sponsored by United Bank Card, Inc (UBC), is introducing its full line-up of pilots to members of the air show industry this week at the annual International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) convention in Las Vegas, NV.

The Lancaster, PA-based jet team will include three veteran military pilots, two active-duty military pilots, and two civilian world record holders.  Joining the previously announced Heavy Metal Jet Team pilots Lt. Colonel Jerry “Jive” Kerby, USAF (ret.), Jared “Rook” Isaacman, and Captain Dale “Snort” Snodgrass, USN (ret.) are Doug “H-Dog” Demko, Major Sean “Stroker” Gustafson, USAFR, Major John “Slick” Baum, USAF, and Lt. Commander Michael “Buick” Eberhardt, USN (ret.).

“We are fortunate to have such exceptionally talented pilots joining the Heavy Metal Jet Team for its premiere air show season,” states Lead Pilot Lt. Colonel Jerry “Jive” Kerby, USAF (ret.). “It’s exciting to be working with a group of pilots who have such high levels of professionalism and skills both as aviators and as performers.”

According to its web site, the team will be flying the L-39 Albatros, a single-engine two-seat jet training aircraft, primarily designed for basic and advanced training, including weapon delivery practicing, with secondary light combat capability, and the T-33 Shooting Star/Silver Star, which was built on license from Lockheed for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).

The first flight of the L-39 was carried out in 1968 and since then Aero has delivered more than 2,900 units of several versions of this successful type. The L-39 aircraft still serves in many air forces, including the Czech Republic, and is also popular among private pilots, especially in the United States. The Canadair T-33 was used in service with the RCAF from the 1950’s until April of 2005 when the last T-33’s were retired by the RCAF.  The powerplant used in the single-englne Canadair built T-33 is a Rolls Royce Nene 10 turbojet instead of the Allison J33 used by Lockheed in the production of the original T-33.  Canadair gave the project designation of CL-30 and changed the name to Silver Star. Canadair built over 650 T-33’s.

FMI: www.heavymetaljetteam.com, www.airshows.aero