Page 20 - World Airshow News Q3 2024

...AuStIN RIEDER JOINS REDLINE AIRSHOWS.

Ken Rieder (left) with his son and wingman, Austin
Rieder (right, photo by Jim Froneberger).

dad flew their first airshow together in performance, Ken leads in Redline Two pilot flying the Airbus A320 series jets,
Waynesville, Ohio. and Austin flies wing in One. The dif- and he also owns a Cincinnati construc-
With a fresh SAC card, Austin was ferences in the two airplanes dictate that tion company where Austin is in charge
limited to an 800-foot hard deck, so that choice. Redline Two happens to be an air- of logistics and project management. Ken
meant Ken would also be limited to 800 plane Ken built 20-years ago that is really has a total of over 13,000 flying hours and
feet when flying with Austin. So, in 2022, painted blue, but they just covered it in has built four Van’s Aircraft RV-8 custom
Ken continued to fly the two-ship show a wrap that matches the paint scheme of airplanes. The new airplane he’s working
with Adam Baker’s Extra 330 at venues Redline One. on will be his fifth RV-8.
that hired them both. He also worked “I built Number One specifically to- Unlike his dad, the vast majority of
on booking other shows with Austin to ward aerobatics,” explains Ken. “It has a Austin’s flight time is in the RV-8, and
help his son gain experience and start the very light nose and a heavier tail to make well over half of those hours are flying for-
process of bringing Austin’s altitude limit the airplane more balanced for our in- mation and aerobatics on his dad’s wing.
down to the more entertaining levels. verted stuff. It also has a larger Hartzell What Austin may lack in total flight hours
By the 2023 season, Austin was flying advanced composite prop.” he makes up for by learning and cutting
most shows with his dad, and he now has “So, Number One has superior per- his teeth in the exact aviation environ-
his SAC card down to 250 feet, which is formance for braking, gripping, climb- ment in which he now flies professionally.
the level that Redline has always used for ing, and pulling into position in forma- “Flying formation aerobatics felt like it
their two-ship routine. Austin made his tion,” Ken continues. “Number Two has came very natural to me, but I had a great
SUN ‘n FUN debut this past April. a Hartzell blended airfoil metal prop, so teacher,” says Austin. “When I go home,
For now, Ken is flying the Redline night that airplane is a little bit slippery and we talk about it. When I go to work, it
airshow as solo act because only Redline doesn’t slow down as easy. That makes comes up in work conversations. I tell
One has the necessary mounting points Redline One a better fit for Austin’s wing my dad that I never know which hat he’s
and electronic firing system to support position and Redline Two a better fit for wearing. Is he wearing his construction
night pyrotechnics. Ken and Austin are me in lead. We thought about changing hat where he’s my boss, is he my flight
building a new RV-8 which will have pyro the numbers, but finally just decided to lead, or is he my dad? I’m always looking
capability, so when that plane is ready, leave it.” for that next critique!”
they can begin working to train and cer-
tify Austin for night performances. WEARING mANY HAtS Thanks to Michael J. Gallagher for
While Redline One is Ken’s airplane, Flying airshows is not a full-time job his assistance with an interview for this
and Redline Two is Austin’s, during their for either Ken or Austin. Ken is an airline feature.

www.airshowmag.com 20 Quarter 3, 2024