To kick this one off - Viper West at Wendover in 2006. "mojo" behind the controls and voice courtesy of Sgt Veal - photos courtesy of Ed Helmick/Wendover Air Museum

Nice shots Tom.

It was a great event - sorry you missed it but maybe this year ?? Thinking abou the vapor shot - Out in this desert air thats a lot of work to squeeze the vapor out!

I call this shot "I hate to go to work"!!

Tom P.

Not as cool as Clubbers shot - I really likethe F-16 in the background but here is Viper West's uniform.

Tom P.

Self-promo time. I haven't seen the final printed version (18"x12") yet. A short-run of the below poster will be available to start the '07 season. Once we get a little better shot, the poster will be updated.

Nice work, Liza!


Anthony

Thanks. I had fun working with the guys to get it done.

That looks great, Liza!! Are you going to take proofs down to DM with you this weekend??

Scott

Naw. They have the file for printing the poster. Hopefully the guys will have some samples with them.

Viper West at HFC 2006

Looks like Viper West updated their sched.....through the middle of April...


Feb.
16-18 Lima, Peru
28 Feb.-5 Mar. Heritage Conf.

Mar.
28 Feb. - 5 Mar Heritage Conf.
10 Mar. El Centro NAS, CA
17-18 Mar. Davis Monthan AFB, AZ
24 Mar. Tyndall AFB, FL

Apr.
14 Apr. Hill AFB, UT
21 Apr. Lousville, KY


Viper West


RFDGuy

The ACC schedule is out for May and June! Although for only the F-22 in May. Anyone have a clue what this entry in June means??!!

9 / Hill AFB, UT / Viper Out / F-16 West

What in the world is Viper Out??

Tom P.

Probably some kind of F-16 related event or gathering; I'm guessing it's personel and/or families only.

Don't ask, don't tell? Jim Deveney

Ah ha! I know, Hill AFB is one of the bases to get the F-35! They are going to get a ship waaaaaaayy in advance for a demo! With a new Pilot maybe it is a "meet the new team" event for families and friends - although the April 14 event is offically the F & F day for the 388th FW - so I'm sticking to the F-35 demo roll out

Tom P.

Say, can someone explain to me what is going on when the Viper demo leader does this? I've seen some pics of DAX doing this but I've never understood what's going on and I assume it's part of the show?

It's called the "cell phone" brief. The pilot (Mojo in the photo or Spicoli this year) walks and talks through the whole demo and uses his cell phone to represent the jet. It puts everyone on the same page about the demo - who needs to be doing what and when. If you get a chance to listen in, do it, but be 20' or more away (their request). Also, watch their show start, it's very cool.

Mojo at Nellis and Spicoli at Heritage Conference.

So that's what they're doing. Thanks Liza for the information.

Hey guys, Spicoli here, the new Viper West Demo Pilot and Team Lead.
I saw some buzz about what the Cell Phone Brief is and Liza nailed it spot on. It is a time for me to go through every maneuver with the team and review every parameter of each maneuver. One of the most challenging things about going all over the country doing shows at different locations is the changes in altitudes. One weekend I might be at sea level, the next at 3000' so remembering every precise number to nail every maneuver spot on is a must for the show and most importantly, safety! Every maneuver is "graded" based on an altitude and airspeed and that gradesheet is sent up to Air Combat Command where it is reviewed, another reason to be spot on every time.
About the Viper Out... The reserve unit here is integrating with the active duty and they are losing their jets. Essentially, the pilots and maintainers will be flying part time with the active duty wing. Their jets will be going to other guard or reserve units as part of the BRAC. It is kind of a strange deal, but they did it at Luke AFB a few years ago. The Viper Out commemorates the history of the reserve unit and is their way of saying goodbye to their own jets. Now...wait till you see the awesome tail flash on their jet. I wish I could fly it in the demo for them on June 9!
I hope this answers some questions for you and I'll try to keep up with the forum a little throughout the season. Please let me know if there are any questions I can answer.
I'm so honored to be a part of the Viper West team! I wouldn't want to be doing anything else right now, we have such a strong, motivated group of maintenance guys and safety observers, the next 2 seasons are going to kick butt!!
See you at the next show!
Spicoli

Thanks Spicoli, and welcome to the BUZZ. Jim Deveney

Spicoli,

Are you guys coming back to Miramar this year? Hope so!

We are scheduled to be at Miramar this year. I love that show! One cool thing is that my Dad will be flying his SU-29 there. This is a great opportunity for the 2 of us to fly together at the same show. He has been such a big motivator through years of going to airshows with him and watching him and the military demo pilots and teams fly. Now it is such a unique experience for him to watch me fly and for us to both be at the same show. I'm really looking forward to that one, as well as Fleet Week in SF and Chico, CA where we will both be together.
See you there
Here is a link to our new website that should have our full schedule on it in a week or so as soon as Air Combat Command approves the 2nd half of the year.

http://viperwest.hill.af.mil/

Make It Happen!
Spicoli

Looking forward to having Viper West back at Abbotsford for '07!

Great to have you here Spicoli!!

I am crossing my fingers that you are able to make to a small show about 90nm west of Hill in August

Hope someone at Hill gets a shot of the 419th tail flash and posts it here

Thanks - Tom P.

Tom,
Not to let the cat out of the bag too soon, but we are schedule for the small airshow 90miles west of Hill, I think its August 25th if that sounds right.
I'll see if we can get a picture of the tail flash this week.
Spicoli

Spicoli,

I first saw your dad perform at El Toro back in the early 90's - I remember my own dad and me saying that John Piggot was our favorite aerobatic performer - I was really excited to see his name on this year's Miramar list of performers - I hope that he continues to fly fr years to come. Seeing both of you at the same show will be very cool! Is Viper West the only ACC team coming to Miramar this year?

I think that Viper West will be the only ACC single ship demo team there. I believe the Thunderbirds are supposed to be there too. It's very rare for Viper West to be at the same venue as the TBirds. That should be exciting.
Spicoli

Looking forward to it - I've never seen the F-16 Demo and T-Birds at the same show before. The P-38 Heritage Flight looks great - I'm guessing that Chuck Hall will be there in his P-51?

Spicoli,

Glad to see you posting here and making an awesome effort at interacting with all of us airshow fans!

I noticed that the ACC has released July/August of its schedule.

I noticed that the Viper West team has a weekend off on July 21-21. I know Selfridge already has the F-15E team. With the abscence of the Thunderbirds, and with Selfridge celebrating the 60th anniversary of the USAF, do you think there is a way you can be added to the Selfridge line-up? I know its rare that the ACC adds dates, but I was just wondering if there was a chance you could still do that?

The show is already great! But it would be better if you could show up

Thanks!

Sweet, you guys will be @ Reno according to ACC..can't wait

If I had it my way, I'd fly every weekend and at every airshow.....the only problem is that by regulation ACC requires each demo team to have 1 weekend off every month to recoup and relax from the fast paced show season. It is a good thing for safety and just mental well being. It is quite a compliment that you would like us to fly for you. Do you know we'll be at Gwynn, MI in a couple weeks? Why don't you come see Viper West up there if its not too far away?

About Reno, we were not originally scheduled to fly there but I specifically asked for that show. Every year my family meets there as our "family reunion" since it is the only time we can always get together without any other family conflicts. We are all excited about it. It was actually at Reno 2003 that I specifically made it my personal goal to become the Viper West demo pilot. I'm so honored and amazed I am here, it is truly a dream come true!
Spicoli

Thats cool! I was hoping you guys may come because I have never seen you guys and you have a great reputation for great demos so I was stoked when I saw that

Thanks for getting Reno added

Thanks Spicoli for you're quick reply. I understand that you guys need a week off once in a while lol. I'm not sure if I can make that show you are talking about, unfortunately.

Thank you for your reply. I hope you have a great and successful airshow season!

Spicoli,

Where have Debo and Mojo gone on to nowdays? Did Mojo train you prior to you becoming the demo pilot?

Hey Spicoli, glad to have you on board. Do you have a rough estimate on what time you guys will be getting into Rockford next week? I plan on trying to get some arrival shots. Thanks.


RFDGuy

It is my understanding from talking with Mojo that he is now in the corporate world in the Western US somewhere.

Tom P.

Thanks Spicoli for your feedback regarding the "cell phone brief" too! Also, glad to see you're part of AirShowBuzz.

Fellas-
1. Mojo trained me up from Sep-Nov of last year before he got out of the AirForce. He is now working for High Performance Aircraft selling Piper aircraft in the San Diego area. We are still very close and talk often. He was a great influence on me and definitely helped give me the right tools as I took over the Demo job. As for Debo, I don't really know him well but I do know he is in the ANG in Tucson as a F-16 instructor.

2. As for our Rockford arrival next Thursday, I anticipate being there sometime in the mid afternoon between 4 and 6PM. I sure hope you can get some great shots, I'd love to see them!

3. I'm very glad you appreciate the interaction, I'll keep trying to give you guys all the info I can and as much insight into Viper West as possible. Thanks for all of your support!

Spicoli

Sweet!...Ill be out there.

Ok heres one for you Spicoli. When you fly the demo, in your start up, do you wait for the INS to kick in so you have the working HSD in your MFD, or do you just go out and fly it? (Sorry guys a lot of acronyms!) Also, do you like to fly with the HUD "simulcast" in one of your MFDs as well?

Rockford Update!!!
I should be there around 2:30. That is if the Blues are done with their practice on time at 2:00. Hopefully you guys can get some good shots.

Rhino-
I have what is called a "stored heading alignment", the INS is prett much pre-aligned and only takes 1.5 minutes to get spun up.
I fly with the HUD but I don't really care about what is in the MFDs. During the demo I don't look at the MFDs really at all when I am flying. I would still have the HSD if I needed it despite the INS. As for the HUD repeater in the MFD, the C-model does not have that feature and it is really not something F-16 pilots use. The "Heads Up Display" is called just that for a reason, to get your nugget out of the cockpit and not looking down at an MFD.
Spicoli

Cool....thanks for the update! Ill be out ..hopefully the rain stays away for a bit on Thurs.

RFDGuy

Great show today guys!

I was able to meet last years Viper West demo pilot "Mojo" and narrator "JV" at the Quad City airshow. They were some of the nicest people I have ever met. "JV' talked to me for hours about the F-16 and airshows and then he let me sit in the cockpit of the jet. He also let me go in the tower with him during the show while he narrated. It was a great experience and one that I will never forget. The demo was great to.

Spicoli, do Viper West interact a lot with Viper East? Do Vipers West and East, for example, get together often or not to discuss or go over each other's demo profile so as to make sure they're different or similar?

Sorry it has been so long since I have been on here...things have been pretty slow for me the last few weeks.
We did a private show at Hill AFB for the AF Reserve unit on 9 June, then I had a weekend off. Now we are up here in Marquette, MI for the Sawyer Experience airshow. This has been a great show so far, they have not had an airshow here in 12 years and they have done a great job getting everything right.

I only get to interact with the Viper East guys 2 times a year in person. Once at ICAS, the International Council of Airshows and the other time at the Heritage Flight Conference. I do call "Buzzer" quite often and we talk about things, but I only get to see him fly once a year at Heritage Conference.

I'm looking forward to next week and on the 4th of July at Evansville, IN, then we go directly to Scott AFB without going home. It will be a busy 2 week road trip!
Adios
Spicoli

Awesome! I can't wait for you guys to come in here. For sure one of the Loudest Aircraft to Arrive and will give E'ville a Wakeup call from all these Cessna's and DC-10s.

Hey Spicoli, Give me a time in the future when you guys are arriving in here. I'd like to come down and meet you guys.,

Yea, I am getting excited to see you guys at 4SD this year. I have a press pass so it will be sick

Capt.,

did you get any photos of that 419th Tail Flash at the Viper Out ceremony?

Thanks,

Tom P.

Tom,
I did get some pictures, I just haven't downloaded them off my camera yet. I can be pretty bad about that some times.
I'll try to get them to you pretty quickly.
Spicoli