Twin Beech 18 - Day
Magic By Moonlight
Super Decathlon
Matt Younkin’s Beech 18 performance is likely the most unusual act on the airshow circuit today. The Beech 18 was never designed for aerobatic flight; however that doesn’t make it incapable of doing just that.
The performance is almost a mirror image of the one his father Bobby pioneered and flew for over 15 years. It begins with a roll on takeoff followed by a series of Cuban eights, point-rolls, and even a loop.
The conclusion is a dirty pass dubbed the “Elephant Waltz” in which Matt rocks the huge transport’s wings more than 90 degrees with the landing gear and flaps extended!
The performance begins and ends to light-hearted music which capitalizes on an overly obese airplane executing maneuvers that its designers and airshow audience members alike never conceived possible for a large transport plane. As a contrast, the majority of the performance flows with beauty and grace to equally beautiful music and a special tribute to Bobby Younkin.
This is truly a show-stopping act and has been a major highlight in every airshow it has participated in for years.
Imagine the airshow circuit’s largest, noisiest, and smokiest airplane lit up like a Christmas tree and performing aerobatics at night! Imagination has become reality! Keeping with Younkin Airshows tradition of pioneering the unusual, this new variation of an existing amazement will surely be the highlight of any night airshow.
Twin Beech after dark consists of the industries only ground started night spectacular. With the lights and smoke, the airplane appears to climb vertically like the spaceshuttle Discovery. The Beech Ellie Smallreturns shortly for a spectacular display of strobes, spotlights, and illuminated smoke. The bottom of the airplane contains a series of red and white strobes and military position lights that combine to create an effect that will thrill even UFO enthusiasts.
In contrast, the top of the airplane contains spotlights which illuminate the wing, tail, and at times even the fuselage based on spectator position and smoke enhancement. With powerful music that only the Twin Beech could perform to, and an obscene amount of lights top and bottom, this act is the envy of many night show performers who spend thousands on pyrotechnics.
Look for appearances at an airshow near you!
Matt Younkin’s Super Decathlon routine is unique in every way. The action is nonstop from the opening double-avalanche to the closing photo pass. Matt flies the nimble aerobatic trainer to its limits keeping the crowd on their feet the entire time. Most of His aerobatic sequence is negative-g with outside loops, pulls, pushes, and tumbles.
His signature maneuver is the negative avalanche (outside loop with an outside snap-roll on top.) No one else in the airshow industry is performing this maneuver, at least not in a Decathlon. Matt also prides himself on his ability to perform an energy management sequence that flows from start to finish with no stage-left or stage-right exits.
Every time the airplane changes direction, it’s done with a precision maneuver unlike any previously performed. From the flashy and original red and black paint scheme to the sharp sound of the 3-bladed composite prop this airplane adds a unique flair to any airshow!