OLIVIA -- A special aerobatic show featuring one of the world's most famous stunt planes will highlight the Olivia Lions Flight Breakfast on Sunday.
Rob Ator, aviation manager for Fagen's Inc. of Granite Falls, will fly a Pitts S-1S bi-wing. The plane is celebrated for its ability to ''dance in the sky'' and perform snaps, rolls, loops and other gymnastics at break-neck speeds.
The airplane dominated world competition in the early 1970's and 1980's. It can zip through the skies at 200 miles per hour in vertical and horizontal flight.
The aircraft is capable of up to 8 G's positive and -- 6 G's negative. During Ator's performance he will pull up to 7 Gs and -- 4.5 Gs.
A 'G' is defined as a unit of force equal to the force exerted by gravity on a body at rest.
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Ator, 45, has flown charter and air ambulance for 18 years prior to coming to Minnesota. He has been in corporate aviation since 1988 and is rated in the Citation 500 series business jets, the Citation 525 series business jets, the Citation Excel jet, the Learjet, and the Boeing 737 and the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. His other hobbies include scuba diving and shooting.
The air show is scheduled for 11 a.m. The Fly-in, Drive-in breakfast starts at 8 a.m. and runs till 12:30 p.m. The menu is pancakes, eggs, and sausage plus coffee, orange juice, and milk.
Because the Lions are committed to Community Service Projects, this will be a "freewill" offering event.
