2024 Leesburg Airshow - Robert Schmidle
Robert (Bob) “Rooster” Schmidle is a highly decorated retired Marine Corps Lieutenant General. A TOPGUN graduate with over 6000 hours of flight time, 4700 hours in tactical fighters - primarily the F-4 Phantom and the F/A-18 Hornet - and more than 35 years of teaching advanced fighter tactics. He planned and led the largest Marine Corps strike of Operation Desert Storm, on the first night of the war, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat V for Valor.
Bob was the Commanding Officer of Fighter Attack Squadron 251, “The Thunderbolts,” deployed aboard the USS America and was selected for an extraordinary second Operational Command of the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115, the “Silver Eagles.” In addition to the F-4 Phantom and the F/A-18 Hornet, Bob has flown over 25 different military aircraft including the F-5, A-4, AV-8 Harrier, F-16, the British Typhoon and numerous helicopters, including the V-22 Osprey.
Bob raced in the National Air Races in Reno, Nevada, flying his Pitts S-1D, and currently competes in International Aerobatics Club competitions in his Pitts S-2B aircraft. He can also be found on the airshow circuit in his Pitts Special with its easily recognizable and traditional red Pitts paint scheme. “Rooster” flies a high-energy show, performing maneuvers similar to those flown in tactical fighter aircraft. As a Certified Flight Instructor, Bob teaches and trains pilots of all skill levels in his Pitts S-2B and Super Decathlon aircraft, flying out of Leesburg (JYO) Virginia.
He's flying a routine in his S-2B over the Leesburg Executive Airport - his hometown airshow. I also had an opportunity to mount a GoPro inside Rooster's Pitts; that video will be shown separately.
The 2024 Leesburg Airshow took place on Saturday September 28, 2024 at the Leesburg Executive Airport (KJYO); all airshow video was taken on that day.
MUSIC DISCLAIMER: Please keep in mind that any music in the video was played through a public address system and ZINGER AVIATION MEDIA does not have any control over what music is being played during an air show. Over the years, the music industry has increased its concern to ensure they are paid when copyrighted music is played. Therefore, according to Air Combat Command Aerial Events, any U.S. air show, civilian or military, hosting an Air Force aircraft performance which includes music, secure the necessary music licenses for broadcast of pre-recorded copyrighted music over public address systems. For the 2024 airshow season, the International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) has negotiated a deal that will allow issuance of music licenses for ICAS member air shows for all three US music licensing organizations: ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. Each ICAS member air show is eligible for a single package of the three music licenses for one air show at the cost of $650 for a one (1) day air show; $950 for a two (2) day air show; $1,200 for a three (3) day air show; $1,450 for a four (4) day air show; $1,700 for a five (5) day air show, $1,950 for a six (6) day air show; and $2,200 for a seven (7) day air show. The rate applies only to music broadcast over the public address system during the air show portion of the program and does not provide the air show with the right to use pre-recorded music at concerts or other non-air show special events held in conjunction with the air show.
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