LCDR Wallace "Gump" Miller
The U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet Tactical Demonstration Team will scream over northwest Georgia as they return for the fifth annual air show at Rome, Georgia's Richard Russell Regional Airport on Saturday and Sunday.
Known throughout the Navy's fleet operations as a cost effective, low maintenance aircraft, the Super Hornet will perform air-to-air and air-to-ground combat missions. The F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet series can fly nearly 40% farther and deliver more payload ordnance than the other variants in the same class.
GA native and F/A-18 instructor pilot LCDR Wallace "Gump" Miller will be behind the stick as his jet takes-off for a nearly twenty minute afternoon performance. The team will fly the military's high performance strike fighter during the show with LCDR Miller and LT Danielle “Purple” Thiriot piloting the "Rhino" or F-series.
Mr. Miller, 32, was raised in metro Atlanta near Stone Mountain and graduated from Parkview High in 2002. After stops at U.S. Naval Academy and earning a master's degree at Georgia Tech, the military aviator later earned his wings of gold at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas. Mr. Miller will finish his assignment with the TAC Demo Team near his hometown.
"I'm really excited to be flying a show in Georgia, especially as my final air show," said Mr. Miller. "Many of us went to air shows as kids and were inspired to pursue military aviation, so we try to return the favor to the next generation, and it's great to get to do that near where I grew up."
"It's a ton of fun to fly on a daily basis and it's a huge honor to have the opportunity, too," LCDR Miller continued. "There's at least 30 seconds of every flight where you get to sit back and think 'I can't believe I get to do this'. It's pretty awesome!"
LT Thiriot, “Purple” will also perform during the two-day event. "The jet is incredibly capable. It takes years of training to become proficient in the F/A-18 with constant practice in the simulator and the jet to ensure the aircrew are fully prepared for each show," LT Thiriot said. "The handling characteristics of the Super Hornet are top notch, the flight controls are powered by two fully digital flight control computers providing maximum redundancy and instantaneous control inputs."
"The Max speed during the airshow is just under Mach 1 and around 650 mph," LT Thiriot said. We are careful not to exceed the speed of sound during the show, due to FAA regulations and the risk of breaking windows in the surrounding area. During the performance, the aircrew experience up to 7.5 times the force of gravity."
In addition to the Super Hornet TAC Demo, the Wings Over North Georgia Air Show will also feature performances by the USAF Thunderbirds, world-class aerobatic performers Michael Goulian, Patty Wagstaff, Mike Wiskus, and Buck Roetman. The US SOCOM Para-Commandos will open the air show on Saturday and Sunday with their skydiving demonstration. Saturday’s show will wrap up with the continuation of the Smoke-n-Thunder Concert Series featuring Grammy-Award Winning Artist, Travis Tritt.
The air show was recently named the top fall family event in Northwest GA and offers something for everyone in the family. For a complete listing of performers, information on tickets, parking and other activities, visit www.wingsovernorthgeorgia.com. Tickets and special packages for The Wings Over North Georgia Air Show are available online as well as information regarding on-site parking, air show camping and special concert seating.