Air show entertainment rounds out with comedy and aerobatics         

'Sons of Legends' and the Lima Lima Flight Team

[JULY 21, 2006]  PEORIA -- Prairie Air Show has announced the addition of Matt Younkin and Kyle Franklin, also known as the "Sons of Legends," to the already action-filled performance lineup Friday through Sunday at the Greater Peoria Regional Airport. The show will feature the Lima Lima Flight Team, "the world's original six-aircraft civilian formation aerobatic team."

Kyle and Matt consider themselves the "Sons of Legends" because they are the sons of the late great Bobby Younkin and Jimmy Franklin. They "partnered up to bring people a little taste of the type of aviation that they were privileged enough to experience growing up."

Kyle Franklin will be performing his "Wing-tip Draggin Comedy Act." Franklin's Flying Circus has been touted as one of the wildest and craziest comedy acts in the air show business. Much different from your typical flying farmer routine, this performance is truly a crowd-pleaser. The effort and skill Franklin displays is amazing, and the risky way that Younkin, the "original pilot," and stuntman and wing-walker Ryan Leach try to stop him can get really crazy.

Younkin will be performing in his Super Decathlon, built by American Champion Aircraft in 2004. His father demonstrated the aircraft at Sun N Fun and Oshkosh. Bobby once said, "The Super Decathlon is by far the greatest aerobatic trainer ever built. There isn't even a close second. I challenge anyone who says otherwise!" Matt is continuing the family tradition by performing all of his father's precision maneuvers, plus a few new ones of his own that a person needs to see to believe.

On top of it all, the air show has added Jay Land and Greg Poe to the already jampacked performance lineup.

Land will be performing aerobatics in his L39 Albatros. His show in the L39 "combines the excitement and speed of the jet with aerobatic maneuvers normally associated with smaller piston aircraft."

Poe will be performing in the Edge 540, known as the EthanolEdge. Poe is sponsored by Fagen Inc., the leading designer-builder of ethanol plants in the U.S. Within one year the EthanolEdge will be powered by ethanol.

Tickets for this year's show are still available online at www.prairieair.org or at various locations throughout the Bloomington-Peoria area. Ticket prices are $10 in advance, $12 at the gate for adults; $6 in advance, $8 at the gate for children 6-12; and free for children 5 and under.

The funds from this year's Prairie Air Show will benefit the Children's Hospital of Illinois, the Challenger Learning Center at the Prairie Aviation Museum, and the Junior League of Peoria and its Peoria PlayHouse.

Prairie Air Show is a not-for-profit organization and is classified as a 501(c)(3). Visit www.prairieair.org for more information and to buy advance tickets, or call the air show office at [phone] or [phone] for more information.

[Prairie Air Show news release]

Previous related article

• River City Air Expo comes to Peoria this weekend