STEVE FALON

Steve’s dad, Ray Falon, was a charter member of the South Dakota Air National Guard in 1946. Ray, a member of the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame, was also a flight instructor and taught Steve to fly in the 1960s.

Steve’s flying began in Cherokee 140s and, as all pilots are aware, the quest for “more aviation” is non-stop. His first airplane was a Mirage Ultralite. Since then, he has owned a Sonerai, RV-4, Christen Eagle, Pitts S2B and now flies the Pitts Special S1S in his air show routine.

Steve is a District Manager for the Ann Arbor, MI based Avfuel Corporation, “the nation’s leading independent supplier of aviation fuel and services”. He travels 9 states throughout the Midwest calling on FBOs and corporate flight departments. Steve is married to Kathy Moore, a Citibank manager, and has one son and 3 grandchildren. Steve is a past president of the South Dakota Pilots Association. In addition to Steve’s enthusiasm for general aviation and flying air shows he is also a skydiver with more than 800 jumps.

PITTS SPECIAL S1S

The Pitts Special, first developed and flown by Curtis Pitts in the early 1940s, has been the “best bang for the buck” aerobatic biplane for 60 years. Steve’s 2000 model Pitts S1S was originally built by a master airplane builder, John Lafferty, in Austin, MN. John built the airplane exactly as Curtis Pitts designed it.

The Pitts is powered by a pumped up 230 hp Lycoming engine with a fixed pitch propeller. It has an empty weight of only 770 pounds which provides an excellent weight to horsepower ratio. As a result, the Pitts is an impressive little performer.

During Steve’s air show routine the airplane will meet its design limits of +6 Gs and -3 Gs. While gathering energy the airplane will attain speeds in excess of 200 mph and slow to almost 0 mph on the top of some maneuvers.

The airplanes’ bright yellow and purple paint scheme makes it a real “people magnet”. In addition, the super-sonic propeller tips and billowing smoke system provides spectators with an impressive air show experience.

VIDEO

Steve has produced a DVD available upon request. Click below for a cockpit view. You will need WindowsMedia Player.