Our 2024 Speakers
Details of our 2024 Speakers will be added as they are confirmed in the run up to our Convention.
Dario Costa
Aerobatic Pilot - Red Bull
Italian born Dario Costa made his first solo flight at the age of 16, having developed a fascination with flying as a child. He took his interest seriously enough to study physics at university, then graduated to a job as an apprentice in an aerospace engineering company. At the of age 21, he began teaching aerodynamics in his former high school. His career into aerobatics started in 2003 and has gone on to instruct, compete, win and set a world record with his epic flight through the Çatalca Tunnels on Turkey's Northern Marmara Highway.
Rikus Erasmus
Air Show South Africa
Rikus Erasmus, Ex-South African Airforce developed a sense for flight safety in display flying. As a warbird pilot and owner, he became a custodian of the formation of Airshow South Africa in 2003. He was elected as chairman, and instrumental in producing the Air Show Manual with FDD chapters as his master line. He was awarded Gold Wings in 2013. Under mentorship of the late Gen Des Barker he became sought after to officiate at complex multi-disciplined airshows in SA. Rikus hosts annual workshops for airside officials preceding each airshow season.
Marcus Jannitto
USAF (Retd)
Marcus Jannitto is passionate about making people think differently about how they lead, and the essential role air shows play both in inspiring people of all ages with the magic of flight and developing the next generation of aviators. He served on the ICAS Board of Directors as Vice Chair, and facilitated two ICAS Academies at the Rhode Island Open House and Air Show, where he worked as a director for 25 years. Before retiring after a 38-year AF career he served the Director of the Air National Guard Commanders Development Course, a 9-day leadership course for new Group and Wing commanders taught 3 times per year at the Pentagon and Andrews AFB. Brig Gen Jannitto has accumulated 5200 flying hours and more than 50 combat missions in the C-130 aircraft and is a veteran of numerous deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Qatar and Bosnia, as well as deploying to Ground Zero during 9/11. He is a graduate of the Air War College, the Combat Aircrew Training (CATS) Instructor School at Nellis AFB and was a certified JTF Commander and Director of Mobility Forces (DIRMOBFOR). He spent 10 years as an athletic administrator, men’s and women’s volleyball coach and adjunct faculty member at both Roger Williams University and Salve Regina University and mentors local high school and college athletic teams on peer leadership, team culture and captain development. As a certified Clifton Strengths coach he works closely with businesses, non-profits and government agencies throughout Southern New England and speaks on leadership nationwide. For fun he plays in a Chicago tribute band and flies paramotors.
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Chris Crockford
Electric Airshows
Dr Chris Crockford, is a twice failed European Space Agency Astronaut candidate. He holds a PhD in Geospatial Rendering Systems and an MBA in Corporate Strategy. He was the Business Development Director for McLaren the F1 team between 2008 and 2012, including one World Championship win. He has extensive experiences working in the tech sector from complex IT and Satellite systems through to medical devices. He has run Electric Airshows for the last 2 years providing Drone Light shows to a wide range of clients from Goodwood Racetrack through to Alton Towers Theme Park in the UK. Crockford holds multiple patents regarding Drone Light Shows and sees a future where drones are used for Aerial Advertising throughout the year. He is an Instrument Rated Seaplane Pilot.
Jorg Thurnheer
EAC / Swiss FOCA
Jorg has been a member of the EAC board for a number of years, combining his role with the Swiss Federal Aviation Authority, bringing his regulatory background and knowledge to the great use. He currently leads the EAC European Airshow Regulators meetings, a workshop for all European regulators to meet and discuss airshow related aspects of best practice, new ideas and safety.
International Airshow Commentator
Joe McGrath
Giovanni is an airline Captain with over 12000 hours of flight time and has been with Helvetic Airlines since 2008 operating the Embraer E2-190 and E2-195 series of aircraft. He is a perfomance specilist with an interest in safety and sustainabiity. Giovanni has also displayed the Dorneir 328 and fly's as part of a display team, utilising the YAK 18A as his chosen mount.
COO - Wings over Windsor
Nicholas Chute
Giovanni is an airline Captain with over 12000 hours of flight time and has been with Helvetic Airlines since 2008 operating the Embraer E2-190 and E2-195 series of aircraft. He is a perfomance specilist with an interest in safety and sustainabiity. Giovanni has also displayed the Dorneir 328 and fly's as part of a display team, utilising the YAK 18A as his chosen mount.
AirPower / Austrain Air Force
Sebastian Schwab
Giovanni is an airline Captain with over 12000 hours of flight time and has been with Helvetic Airlines since 2008 operating the Embraer E2-190 and E2-195 series of aircraft. He is a perfomance specilist with an interest in safety and sustainabiity. Giovanni has also displayed the Dorneir 328 and fly's as part of a display team, utilising the YAK 18A as his chosen mount.
Modern College of Business & Science(MCBS)-Muscat
Fahad ibne Masood
Giovanni is an airline Captain with over 12000 hours of flight time and has been with Helvetic Airlines since 2008 operating the Embraer E2-190 and E2-195 series of aircraft. He is a perfomance specilist with an interest in safety and sustainabiity. Giovanni has also displayed the Dorneir 328 and fly's as part of a display team, utilising the YAK 18A as his chosen mount.
Captain - Helvetic Airways
Giovanni Zanivan
Giovanni is an airline Captain with over 12000 hours of flight time and has been with Helvetic Airlines since 2008 operating the Embraer E2-190 and E2-195 series of aircraft. He is a perfomance specilist with an interest in safety and sustainabiity. Giovanni has also displayed the Dorneir 328 and fly's as part of a display team, utilising the YAK 18A as his chosen mount.