Eastbourne International Airshow 2017
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FIREFLIES<br />
The FireFlies Aerobatic Display Team will<br />
be performing two special displays at this<br />
year’s Air Show. An afternoon display<br />
featuring close formation aerobatics,<br />
opposition and synchro work with<br />
white smoke filling the sky, and a fully<br />
aerobatic dusk display, with the use<br />
of pyrotechnics to create a truly<br />
unique spectacle.<br />
The Fireflies consist of two Vans RV4 aircraft<br />
flown by Pilots Jon Gowdy and Andy Durston.<br />
The Van’s series of sport aircraft are the most<br />
successful line of build-it-yourself kit planes.<br />
Well over 9,000 RV’s have taken to the skies<br />
around the world and the RV4’s that the<br />
team fly are a development of the original,<br />
single seat RV3.<br />
Weighing in at an empty weight of<br />
approximately 500kg the RV4 is fitted<br />
with a 5.3 Litre 160HP engine giving<br />
it performance like a hot-rod. Normal<br />
cruising speed is about 160 mph but<br />
during the display the Fireflies make<br />
the most of the entire flight envelope<br />
and will be travelling at everything<br />
from zero to over 200mph.<br />
FLYING TIMES<br />
Sat 14:55; Sun 14:33 & 20:10<br />
DIMENSIONS<br />
Height: 1.65m; Length: 6.20m<br />
Wingspan: 7.1m<br />
PERFORMANCE<br />
Max Speed: 200mph<br />
POWERPLANT<br />
1 x Lycoming O-320, O-360<br />
or IO-360, 150-180hp<br />
DID YOU KNOW?<br />
Jon flies the lead aircraft of the<br />
Fireflies, guiding the team through<br />
their dynamic sequence of<br />
manoeuvres, ensuring that every<br />
display is as safe as it is exciting.<br />
58<br />
EASTBOURNE INTERNATIONAL aIR S HOW <strong>2017</strong>
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