Firebirds pilot Jack Knutson (Tony Jones photo) | ZOOM |

        BLUE ASH — The laws of aerodynamics seemingly were defied on a regular basis Friday at the Blue Ash Airport.

        Pilots propelled their specially engineered planes into loops and tumbles. At times they dove straight toward the ground or climbed vertically and hung motionless in the air. The maneuvers took place during a rehearsal for this weekend's Blue Ash Airport Days.

        “What we do just keeps evolving,” said Jack Knutson, a member of the two-man Firebirds from Pittsburgh. He and Jae Walker, both commercial pilots, maintain second careers performing aerobatics in their Extra 300 planes.

        “Although it's stretching the limits of aerodynamics, none of it is dangerous,” said Cheryll Popp as she watched the Firebirds perform their maneuvers. “They have literally thousands of hours of experience doing this, both solo and together.“

The Firebirds of Pittsburgh run through maneuvers Friday in a rehearsal for this weekend's Blue Ash Airport Days. | ZOOM |

        Ms. Popp and her husband, Tom, both private pilots, started Airport Days in 1997 to involve the community in its airport.

        “We wanted to show that it's a friendly atmosphere here, and that this is not a rich man's sport,” Mr. Popp explained. “We decided to have a gathering.”

        That “gathering” has grown from one airborne act into an event that draws more than 20,000 people from all over the Tristate and features national performers such as the Firebirds, who are new to the show this year.

IF YOU GO

• What: Blue Ash Airport Days 2001.    • When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. today and Sunday. Warbirds pancake breakfast 8-11 a.m., air show is noon-2 p.m. each day.    • Where: Blue Ash Airport, 4273 Glendale-Milford Road.    • Admission: $5 ages 12 and up. Additional cost for flights and some activities.    • Information: 981-0088.

        The program features acts by seven performance teams, military fly-bys and a pancake breakfast hosted by the Cincinnati Warbirds. The public can take sightseeing flights on airplanes or helicopters. There are also ground-based displays and demonstrations, with a classic car show scheduled for Sunday. Caribbean and oldies bands will provide music. Proceeds from the show benefit Children's Hospital Medical Center.

        The organizers emphasized that there is something for a range of interests at the air show. But the centerpiece, as always, is old-fashioned barnstorming flying.
       

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