PATUXENT RIVER NAVAL AIR STATION, MD—Naval Air Station Patuxent River will feature two award-winning air show performers at Air Expo ’03 here May 24 and 25.

Patty Wagstaff, in her German-built Goodrich Extra 300S, flies one of the most thrilling, low-level aerobatic routines in the world today. Flying before millions of air show spectators each year, Wagstaff wows her audience with the precision and complexity of modern, unlimited hard-core aerobatics.

Wagstaff is the first woman to win the title of U.S. National Aerobatic champion and one of few performers to win it three times. She is also a six-time member of the U.S. Aerobatic Team that competes in Olympic-level international competition, and has been the highest-placing American pilot in the competition many times.

Wagstaff has also received the “Bill Barber Award For Showmanship,” an annual award presented by World Airshow News to recognize an air show entertainer who has demonstrated superb showmanship ability. Billl Barber, namesake of the award, flew five types of show planes and performed six distinct acts. Nominations for this award are solicited from the air show entertainment industry, and final selection is made by individual ballots of past recipients.

Dan Buchanan, also a Bill Barber award winner, will take to the skies at Air Expo ’03 as he performs “Flying Colors,” a glider performance that starts from a custom designed rolling launch pad. After lifting off, he climbs to an altitude of 1,500 feet. Releasing at altitude, he wheels, circles and dives to a musical accompaniment while sharing his love of flight with the audience via a radio link. During his descent, colored smoke and streamers trail behind, punctuated by showers and streaks of pyrotechnics.

Buchanan was a custom homebuilder until 1981, when he became paraplegic due to consecutive sporting accidents. Despite his disability, Buchanan returned to flying a year later and since has accumulated more than 2,400 hours of flight time in hang gliders.

Headlining Pax River’s celebration of a century of powered flight and the station’s 60th anniversary will be the Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels.

Parking and admission for Air Expo ’03 are free. Gates open at 9 a.m. The flying portion of the show begins at 11 a.m. and will run until approximately 4 p.m. Optional paid seating is available. For more information, visit http://www.airshownetwork.com.

No weapons or explosives, coolers, alcoholic beverages, glass containers, pets, bicycles, roller blades, skateboards, scooters or backpacks are permitted on the show site. Vehicles, diaper bags, camera bags and cameras will be searched. Please do not load film into cameras before entering the show site.

Those who have Department of Defense identification cards and DoD automobile decals, or DoD identification cards only, enter the air station through Gate 1. All others may enter the air station through Gate 2.

For more information on Air Expo ’03, call 301-757-EXPO or visit http://homepages.navair.navy.mil/AirExpo03/.

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Aerobatic pilot Patty Wagstaff will take to the skies in her Extra 300S here when NAS Patuxent River celebrates aviation heritage at Air Expo ’03 May 24 and 25. Wagstaff, a three-time U.S. National Aerobatic Champion, will join Pax River’s salute to a century of powered flight and celebration of Pax River’s 60th anniversary. Headlining the show will be the Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels.

Glider pilot Dan Buchanan will perform “Flying Colors” at Air Expo ’03 here May 24 and 25. Buchanan will be joining Air Expo ’03 headliners the Blue Angels, the Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron, at Pax River’s two-day salute to a century of powered flight and a celebration of Pax River’s 60th anniversary.