Ag Aircraft Showcased at 2018 New York Stewart Air Show Along with U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and Other Vintage and Military Aircraft
Thousands of people gathered to take in the grandeur of vintage aircraft, modern military aircraft and agricultural aircraft during the annual New York Air Show at Stewart International Airport in New Windsor, N.Y., in mid-September. Attending the event displaying the ag aircraft was ag pilot Mike Rutledge. Rutledge is the commanding officer of the West Point Aviation Department and Executive Flight Detachment at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., just off the Hudson River and near New Windsor. He also flies an AT-502 for Lutes Flying Service in Shipshewana, Ind., during the summer when he’s not teaching character development and military leadership at West Point. Rutledge is also a former Navy SEAL.
After an overwhelming response to his 2017 flying display with an AT-602, Bryan Lilley Airshows asked Rutledge to return for the 2018 performer lineup. He flew an AT-504 supplied by Air Tractor dealer Farm Air Inc. to the New York Airshow to perform an ag flying demonstration in a region where folks don't likely, if ever, see ag planes. Rutledge’s performance was accompanied by an insightful commentary on the capabilities and benefits of modern aerial application. Rutledge was in good company; the United States Air Force Thunderbirds were the air show’s main attraction along with several unlimited aerobatic acts and WWII displays. The New York Stewart Airshow is the largest airshow in the Northeast. Over 50,000 attendees were at the show and Rutledge gave seven inspectors from the FAA’s New York Flight Standards District Office a presentation on the AT-504 aircraft, systems, and capabilities of modern ag planes. He performed a perfectly choreographed demonstration for the FAA and International Council of Airshows Evaluator to earn permission to fly in the Air Show’s performance box.
Other major attractions at the New York Air Show were Mike Whiskus in the Lucas Oil Pitts, Matt Chapman in the Extra 330, and Kent Pietsch in his Interstate cadet, a WWII P-40 aerobatic demonstration, along with B-17 and B-25 performances. The U.S. Air Force was represented with aerial demos by C-17 and KC-135 demo teams, as well as U.S. Navy EA-18 Growlers.
In addition to the demonstration, Rutledge also promoted the importance of agricultural aviation to food, fiber and biofuel production, as well as to forestry and public health protection, by distributing NAAA’s “Flying for Your Food” brochure.
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