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Kyle Franklin "Stunt Pilot" Kyle
Franklin, is one of the youngest airshow professionals in the airshow
industry. He is the only son of legendary airshow pilot Jimmy Franklin.
Kyle has been performing in airshows for over 10 years has been around
aviation his entire life. He experienced his first airplane ride when
he was just 4 weeks old! Kyle grew up living with his family in an apartment
built inside an airplane hangar. In addition to becoming his favorite
playground, the hanger became a means for Kyle to spend quality time
with his father by helping him work on the Wacos, Super Cubs, and his
Aerostar and because of this, Kyle is now a licensed A&P mechanic.
Kyle's Father taught him how to fly when he was 8 and later taught him
aerobatics in te Super Cub. Kyle is now an accomplished pilot of over
19 years, is not new to what some people would call dare-devilish feats.
As a toddler, he learned to ride a tricycle on just 2 wheels! A few
of years later, Kyle graduated to BMX free-styling and air-walking and
then mastered motorcycles. At the age of 8, Kyle fell in love with DeLorean
cars. As a sophomore in high school, he had bought a DeLorean of his
own and modified it with a bigger engine, flame thrower, oil slick,
and smoke system (only to work it into the airshow line-up of course).
![]() Like his father, Kyle began flying at very young age. As a preschooler, he seized every opportunity to wing-walk on Dad's WACO "Mystery Ship" as it taxied about on the ground at airshows. At age 14 Kyle went for his first flying wing-walk on the Waco "Mystery Ship" and by the time he was 17, he was wing-walking professionally at airshows around the country as the world's youngest Wingwalker. He and Jimmy also made up the first father/son wing-walking team in history! In 1999, his father debuted the new Jet Waco. Naturally, Kyle didn't hesitate at the opportunity to climb through the flying wires of this beast! At this point, Kyle became the world's first Jet Wingwalker. In addition, Kyle is the ONLY other person who ever piloted Jimmy's Jet WACO! Wing-walking was only one of Kyle's many aerial talents. He performed the daring motorcycle-to-airplane transfer for over 5 years. Kyle now performs as the pilot in which the transferer jumps from the back of a moving motorcycle onto a rope ladder hanging from the bottom of Kyle's Super Cub. Kyle also flies one of the wildest Comedy acts you'll ever see; so wild he has steel skid plates taped to the wingtips so when he intentionally drags the wings on the ground it doesn't hurt them. In the Summer of 2003, Kyle began
performing in his Father's one of a kind Waco "Mystery Ship."
This is one of the few big bi-plane aerobatic acts you will find on
the airshow circuit today. Besides a full complement of loops, rolls,
Cuban 8's and hammer heads, Kyle is one of a handful of pilots that
will actually torque roll, tail slide, and even lomcevak tumble his
massive Waco bi-plane. This act has it all: noise, smoke, speed, looks,
nostalgia and low-flying aerobatics. |
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Amanda has been Matt Younkin's full time Beech 18 announcer since 2007. As of 2009, she has also become Kyle's full time "Pirated Skies" wing walker. Whether holding a telephone, microphone, or wing strut, it is undeniable that Amanda is the glue that keeps the "Sons of Legends" team together performing at air shows all across the country. On a side note, Amanda Franklin is a "Bombshell" in the 2010 Warbird Bombshells calendar. Pick up your copy from our On-Line Store |
![]() Kyle and Amanda started dating in May 2004 at an airshow at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. On October 18, 2005 Amanda (Younkin) and Kyle Franklin were married at Kyle's Mother's home in beautiful Ruidoso, New Mexico. |
![]() Jackson "Our Child and Mascot" Jackson is a full blooded Golden Retriever, born on Halloween of 2000. Amanda has raised him from the time he was 7 weeks old. Jackson is a pilot as well, he has flown in everything from a Cub to a Lear Jet. He travels across the country with the Franklin's. "We don't think of him as a dog, he's more of our child" says Kyle. The picture on the left was taken on Halloween 2006, his 6th birthday. ![]() |
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Matt
Younkin"Stunt Pilot" (Younkin Airshows) ![]() Matt Younkin, is normally the motorcycle driver for the transfer act when he's there with one of his many amazing acts. Matt Younkin is a third generation pilot. He is the son of legendary airshow pilot Bobby Younkin, who is famous for his amazing aerobatic displays in the AT-6, Beech 18, Learjet 23, Samson, and most recently, the Super Decathlon. Bobby is considered to be one of the greatest airshow pilots of all time. Matt is also the grandson of Jim Younkin who is well-known for designing the Century and Trutrak autopilots. Jim is also famous for his antique aircraft restorations, as well as building beautiful replicas of the 1930s air racers such as the Howard Mr. Mulligan and the Travel Air Mystery Ship. Matt learned to fly at the age of 14 from
family friend Ken Collier in a Piper J-3 Cub. At age 15, Chuck Irvin,
the same instructor who taught Bobby how to fly, refined Matts
piloting skills. On his sixteenth birthday, Matt soloed his grandfathers
1928 Travel Air 4000 biplane.
Bobby gave Matt two hours of aerobatic instruction
which focused mainly on slow rolls. Bobby said, Almost every
aerobatic maneuver is based on a slow roll. If you can master the
slow roll, you can master anything. Matts latest and greatest achievement is perfecting the worlds only night aerobatic display in the Beech 18. Equipped with 17 spotlights and 13 strobes, the top airplane appears to glow in the dark while the bottom side twinkles violently. Combined with smoke, noise, choreography, and an incredible musical score, the Twin Beech Night Spectacular is quickly becoming one of the most sought after acts in the airshow arena. Matt is also performing the daytime aerobatic
display in the Beech 18 that his father Bobby perfected so many years
ago. By lacking the intensity night show, this display has been described
by many as the most graceful and beautiful performance the airshow
industry has to offer. Matt is also a certified flight instructor equipped with CFI, CFII, and MEI certificates. He is currently working for Summit Aviation in Bentonville, AR. Matt specializes in tail wheel training, upset recovery/ spin training, and basic aerobatics. Anyone interested in flying with Matt can email him at younkinair@aol.com or checkout summitaviationllc.com. For more information on Matt Younkin and
Younkin Airshows please visit his website at www.younkinair.com |
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