Racing through the air in his Russian Yakolev Yak-55M single-seat airplane, pilot Bill Cowden enjoys the precision and speed of aerobatic flying. Cowden, 46, of Menomonie, Wis., will perform as part of the first Menomonie Airfest & Autorama at Menomonie Municipal Airport in Wisconsin on June 21 and 22.
The rain date is June 23.
“It’s very demanding,” Cowden said of aerobatic flying, noting his airplane travels as fast as 220 mph. “You’re going from high speeds to low speeds to going backwards. It’s all precision flying.”
Cowden, a pilot for Delta Air Lines, learned to fly when he entered the Air Force in 1986, when he was selected for pilot training. He accumulated 1,500 hours flying in a Lockheed Martin F-16 Flying Falcon before retiring in 2006 with the rank of major.
For the complete story by Pamela Powers of the (Eau Claire) Leader-Telegram, click here.
Photo via StevensPointAirShow.com
