Air Show Pilot Tom Daly and Team Will Skytype with WW II Aircraft During Memorial Day Weekend Event at Jones Beach State Park
 
(Oakdale, N.Y.) Tom Daly is living his dream in aviation.  A 1971 graduate of the Dowling College School of Aviation and current Director of Academic and Flight Training Programs at Dowling’s Brookhaven Campus, Daly will participate as a GEICO Skytyper in the Bethpage Federal Credit Union Air Show during the 2011 Memorial Day Weekend festivities at Jones Beach State Park.
 
“Flying in front of our hometown crowd is always exciting for the GEICO Skytypers.  This is my eighth year performing in this show and knowing that my aviation students are watching from the Dowling Aviation tent on the beach below makes the event extra special for me,” said Daly.  “I will fly in the wing-solo position of the six-plane formation and we’ll be flying SNJ-2’s World War II Fighter Trainers.”  
 
Daly is a pilot for the GEICO Skytypers air show team, the only flying unit in the world that operates specially restored, equipped, and modified World War II-era aircraft—North American SNJ-2’s—at various air shows and types messages in the sky using a small, custom-built computer that commands “smoke puffs” in each of the aircraft.
 
Skytyper performances are fascinating for many reasons:

• Six of the 11 SNJ-2’s remaining in the world are used by the Skytypers.
• The Skytypers fly abreast in a wide line formation, approximately 250 feet apart, which makes each letter as tall as the Empire State Building.
• Messages created by the Skytypers can be as long as six to eight miles wide and can be seen for approximately 400 square miles on a clear day.
• Skytyping is 17 times faster than skywriting because pilots can create one letter every four seconds.
• The SNJ-2’s contain a 180-gallon fuel tank, allowing the Skytypers to operate for over four hours at a time.

The Skytypers also have the ability to perform a low-altitude, precision flying routine combined with a thrilling aeronautical demonstration. The six aircraft fill the sky and come from all directions, providing spectators with a unique viewing experience.
 
From the early age of eight years old, Daly took an interest in flying after listening to stories of his father’s experiences as a turret gunner in the A20 Havoc during World War II. Today, more than 40 years since he entered Dowling’s School of Aviation in 1968, Daly has put together an impressive list of professional accomplishments for himself.
 
He has served as a patrol and rescue helicopter pilot for the Nassau County Police Department, where he earned numerous awards for his heroism and other police-related activities. Additionally, he is a successful business owner and an educator in aviation at Dowling’s 105-acre aviation facility in Brookhaven.
 
Do Not Miss the Chance to See Tom Daly and the GEICO Skytypers in Action!
Attend the Bethpage Federal Credit Union Air Show at Jones Beach State Park

Saturday, May 28, 2011 and Sunday, May 29, 2011, 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
 
Admission is free; $10 parking fee collected at the gate.
New for 2011—Media will be given access to pilots and air show representatives for interviews after the performance.
 
For more on Dowling College School of Aviation visit: http://www.dowling.edu/school-aviation/
 
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Dowling College is an independent, coeducational college serving more than 6,000 students at our three Long Island campuses. Our historic Rudolph-Oakdale Campus is located on the banks of the Connetquot River in Oakdale, New York. Our Brookhaven Campus and aviation facility is located on 105 acres adjacent to Brookhaven airport in eastern Long Island, and our Melville Center is located in the heart of the Melville business district. We offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in several disciplines through our four schools: Arts and Sciences, Aviation, Business, and Education.