Lycoming Engines announced last week the 2006-2007 aerobatic pilot sponsorships for Team Lycoming.

Lycoming Engines will be supporting the following aerobatic pilots in the 2006-2007 season, in alphabetical order: Kirby Chambliss, Matt Chapman, Michael Goulian, Jim LeRoy, Michael Mancuso, Sean Tucker, and Patty Wagstaff.

“Lycoming is proud to sponsor and support these exceptional individuals and aviation legends,” stated Lycoming Engines Vice-President and General Manager Ian Walsh. “These pilots place the highest pressures, stresses, and performance standards on their engines on a daily basis and they fully depend on the reliability of Lycoming Engines.”

Here's the team:

• Kirby Chambliss flies an Edge 540 aircraft with a modified AEIO-540-D4A5. His accolades include being the 2005 U.S. National Aerobatic Champion, the bronze winner in the 2005 Red Bull Air Race World Series and the 2004/2003/2002/2001 U.S. National Aerobatic Champion.

  

• Matt Chapman has over 14,000 hours flown, both in aerobatic competitions and as a career pilot with American Airlines. His CAP 231 aerobatic aircraft is equipped with a new Lycoming AEIO-580-X Thunderbolt Engine. Matt’s accomplishments include: being the highest -ranking American pilot at the World Aerobatic Championships (WAC) in 1998, winning the Fond du Lac Cup in 1995 and winning the prestigious IAC Championships in 1994. Matt is also a recipient of the Hilliard Trophy, awarded to the highest finishing U.S. pilot at the WAC.

  

• Michael Goulian flies with an Extra 300SHP aircraft equipped with a new AEIO-580-X Thunderbolt Engine. Michael was a member of the 1994, 1996, and 1998 U.S. Aerobatic Teams. Michael was the 1995 U.S. National Aerobatic Champion and the 1992 and 1993 silver medalist in the unlimited class at the Fond du Lac Cup Invitational.

  

• Jim LeRoy runs Bulldog Airshows. He flies a modified Pitts S2C aircraft with a modified AEIO-540-D4A5 engine. His major career accomplishments include the 2003 Art Scholl Showmanship award and the 2002 Bill Barber Award for Showmanship.
• Mike Mancuso flies an Extra 300 aircraft (right) with AEIO-540-L1B5 Lycoming engine. He began flying in his early teens and achieved his commercial pilots license by age 18. Mike competed in IAC Aerobatic Competitions from 1992-1997. In 1998, he became a member of the Northern Lights. He is also the recipient of the 2001 Bill Barber Showmanship award.
• Sean Tucker flies a modified Pitts S2C aircraft with a modified AEIO-540-D4A5 engine. His major accomplishments include being the 2003 “Living Legend of Flight” recipient, the 1998-2001 Championship Air Show Pilots Association (CASPA) Challenge champion, and the 1997 Reader’s Choice award recipient from General Aviation News and Flyer.

  

• Patty Wagstaff flies an Extra 300S with a new AEIO-580-X equipped with Lycoming Fuel Control (LFC) capability. Patty is a 2005 Recipient, Air Force Association Lifetime Achievement Award, a 2005 Inductee, International Aerobatic Club Hall of Fame, a 2005 Katherine Wright Award recipient, a 2002 Katherine and Majorie Stinson award winner, a 1998 Bill Barber Award winner for Showmanship, and a 1997 Recipient of the NAA Paul Tissiander Diploma. Patty has Commercial, Instrument, Seaplane and Commercial Helicopter Ratings. She is also a Flight and Instrument Instructor.

  

Lycoming Engines specializes in engineering, manufacture, service and support of piston aircraft engines. Headquartered in Williamsport, PA Lycoming piston engines power more than half of the world’s general aviation fleet –- both rotary-wing and fixed-wing.

FMI: www.lycoming.textron.com