FOX 4 Rides Along for Flips and Spins in an Air Show Plane

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – This weekend is the Air National Guard’s air show in St. Joseph, called the Sound of Speed Airshow

For people on the ground watching, the show promises to make many wonder how do they do that?  How would that feel?

FOX 4′s Abby Eden now gets to tell you first hand how it feels to be in that plane while it’s flying in all sorts of directions.

Strapped into the parachute, Eden and photojournalist Jerry Paauwe are assured they’re about to have the time of their lives with pilot John Klatt, who’s been flying 25 years.

“I went out and bought an airplane and taught myself aerobatics,” said Klatt.

The flight starts off lovely.  There’s beautiful Missouri farmland below, and the plane’s right-side up, for a minute.

Then Klatt does a couple of “test tricks” wheels up and heads down.  Klatt does a series of spins, rolls, loops, and hammers.  It’s a terrifying set of stunts that Klatt handles masterfully, effortlessly.

To see the show in person, from the ground, click here.

The airshow is this weekend in St. Joseph, Mo.