Team

Mark

Henley

Team Lead

Steve

Gustafson

Left Wing

Bryan

Regan

Right Wing

Jimmy

Fordham

Slot

The Aeroshell Team

History

Evolution

In 2008, Alan had a non-aviation related accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down. The team reached out to longtime friend and Red Baron Squadron veteran Bryan Regan to bring the team back to four. In 2010, Jimmy Fordham joined the team, filling in various positions as needed by the team. In 2018, Jimmy took over for Gene McNeely as the full time slot after McNeely's retirement following the 2017 season.

Gene McNeely

About The Team

The AeroShell Aerobatic Team performs tight, awe-inspiring formation aerial maneuvers in front of millions of airshow fans all over North America. With Mark Henley, team lead; Bryan Regan, right wing; Steve Gustafson, left wing; and Jimmy Fordham, slot; this four-ship of T-6 Texan aircraft perform a series of loops, rolls, and bomb bursts in close formation for a classic aerobatic routine.

Origins

The team was founded in 1984 by Alan Henley and Steve Gustafson as the North American Aerobatic Team. Alan, Steve, and Ben Cunningham flew together for 12 years, and were joined in 1996 by Gene McNeely. In 1997, Cunningham retired, and Alan's twin brother Mark was asked to join the team. The Henley brothers, Gustafson and McNeely would fly as the North American Aerobatic Team until 2001.

Alan Henley

Aeroshell Sponsor

Gene McNeely was integral in developing the team's sponsor base, and in 2001 they became the Aeroshell Aerobatic Team.

Evolution

The Team

Origins

AeroShell

Mark Henley

Mark has been flying Airshows for over 35 years.He has flown over 150 different types of aircraft. He is Type Rated in AD4 Skyraider, Grumman TBM, Grumman S2, Boeing B-17, Consolidated B-24, CV-440, and Douglas DC-3. He holds Experimental Authorization in the North American P-51, North American T-28, Chance Vought F4U Corsair, Grumman F4F Wildcat, Curtis P-40, Hawker FB-11 Seafury, and Yak 9. He is a Designated Pilot Examiner and also holds an Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic license.

Steve Gustafson

Steve soloed the very T-6 he flies with the Team while a junior in high school. He holds a commercial, single and multiengine instructors rating, seaplane and also type ratings in the F4U corsair and B-25 Mitchell. Steve has also been a certified aerial applicator for over 30 years and is an ICAS ACE examiner. Steve was one of the original founders of the Team and inherited his flying skills from his Dad, Merle Gustafson, a well known and beloved pilot in the aviation family.

Bryan Regan

Bryan dreamed of flying for most of his childhood. The Aeroshell Team found itself in need of a backup pilot in the summer of 2008, and with his Commercial, single and multi-engine license, instrument rating and over 7,500 hours, Bryan had both the availability and the experience to fill the position. His flying expertise includes flying all four positions with the Red Baron Pizza Squadron.

Jimmy Fordham

Jimmy began flying at age 14, taught by his father. By age 18 he had obtained his Commercial, Instrument, Multiengine, Seaplane, and Instructor ratings. He was introduced to airshow flying in the late 1970’s by Marion Cole and Merle Gustafson. During this time he flew a Pitts Special, Midget Mustang, and Schweitzer 126 Sailplane. Jimmy has over 22,000 hours of flight time in over 100 types of aircraft, and retired from Delta airlines as a senior captain on the Airbus 330.

The AeroShell Team, Past and Present

L to R: Gene McNeely, Jimmy Fordham, Mark Henley, Alan Henley, Ben Cunningham, Steve Gustafson, Bryan Regan