Aeroshell Aerobatic Team: The team was founded in 1984 by Alan Henley and Steve Gustafson as the North American Aerobatic Team. Alan, Steve, and Ben Cunningham flew together for 12 years, and were joined in 1996 by Gene McNeely. In 1997, Cunningham retired, and Alan’s twin brother Mark was asked to join the team. The Henley brothers, Gustafson and McNeely would fly as the North American Aerobatic Team until 2001.
The AeroShell Aerobatic Team performs tight, awe-inspiring formation aerial maneuvers in front of millions of airshow fans all over North America. With Mark Henley, team lead; Bryan Regan, right wing; Steve Gustafson, left wing; and Jimmy Fordham, slot; this four-ship of T-6 Texan aircraft perform a series of loops, rolls, and bomb bursts in close formation for a classic aerobatic routine.
North American T-6 Texan: Nicknamed “The Pilot Maker”, the North American AT-6 Texan first appeared in 1938. Originally designed as a basic trainer for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC), the Texan was the primary training platform for all U.S. airmen in World War II that went on to fly fighter aircraft such as the P-51 Mustang, F4U Corsair, P-40 Warhawk, and others.
