The GEICO Skytypers will perform at 15 different air shows in their 2014 air show schedule – an increase of 30% over the year following budget sequestrations that grounded many military demonstration teams and air shows. The 2014 tour includes four airshows at military bases – MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, Joint base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey, Quonset Point Air National Guard Base in Rhode Island and Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia — and first ever appearance at the internationally renowned experimental aircraft airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
The GEICO Skytypers perform a low-level precision flying demonstration at airshows utilizing six, vintage WWII aircraft. In addition to their air show performance, the team skytypes giant billboards in the sky. These dot-matrix style messages typed at 10,000 feet are 1,000 feet tall, can be viewed from 15 miles away in any direction, and are created 17 times faster than the more traditional sky writing method.
Two stops on this year’s GEICO Skytypers’ airshow circuit will also feature an air vs. sea race between the pilots and their water-borne counterpart, the Miss GEICO powerboat team. In Jones Beach, New York and Daytona Beach, Florida, airshow spectators will witness a first time event. Four GEICO Skytypers will fly along the waterfront in a tight formation and race Miss GEICO on the water below. The Miss GEICO powerboat team has won seven world championships in off-shore racing.
Later in the season, the GEICO Skytypers also plan to bring back a fan favorite from the 2013 season: a race of all six SNJ-2s against Bill Braack’s 10,000 horsepower jet car in Rome, GA.
In addition to skytyping, airshow performances and races, the team raises funds and awareness for children’s charities. The team gives presentations at youth centers, schools, hospitals, boys and girls clubs, community groups, ROTC programs, and veterans’ facilities. Many of these events have been hosted planeside with the team of pilots. Organizations interested in partnering with the GEICO Skytypers can request an event by visiting the GEICO Skytypers website (www.geicoskytypers.com ) or facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/GEICOSkytypers ).
Additional information, videos and photos are on the team’s website. Members of the media can request downloadable b roll footage for broadcast.
GEICO Skytypers 2014 Air Show Schedule:
Mar 15-16
TICO Warbird AirShow
Titusville, FL
Mar 22-23
Airfest 2014
MacDill AFB, FL
Apr 4-6
Sun-n-Fun International Fly-In & Expo
Lakeland, FL
May 10-11
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Open House
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ
May 17-18
Rhode Island National Guard Open House Air Show
Quonset State Airport, RI
May 24-25
Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach State Park
Jones Beach, NY
May 30-June 1
Virginia Beach Patriotic Festival
Virginia Beach, VA
June 7-8
2014 Westmoreland County Air Show
Latrobe, PA
June 14-15
OC Air Show
Ocean City, MD
July 28-Aug 3
EAA Airventure Oskkosh 2014
Oshkosh, WI
Aug 13
2014 Thunder Over the Boardwalk
Atlantic City, NJ
Sept 20-21
NAS Oceana Air Show 2014
NAS Oceana, VA
Oct 11-12
Wings and Waves Air Show
Daytona Beach, FL
Oct 18-19
Wings Over North Georgia
Rome, GA
Nov 1-2
Stuart Air Show
Stuart, FL
About the GEICO Skytypers
The GEICO Skytypers are the only flying unit in the world that performs at air shows and types messages in the sky. For more information on the GEICO Skytypers, visit geicoskytypers.com. The team can also be found on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. To request more information or a 2014 Electronic Press Kit, please email or call the contacts listed below.
For more information, go to www.geicoskytyers.com.
