VIKING of the MONTH
October 1999
"Thunderbolt"
"Thunderbolt" is THE AVENGER's (alias Jeremy Reiley) 1971 17-30A!
This month brings a slight break from tradition as we feature "Thunderbolt" as the Viking of the Month. People often ask if there are any Viking still being flown on the airshow circuit and the answer is, yes! Jeremy Reiley has recently taken over as "The Avenger" and has ambitious plans to fly his routine at 15 air shows next year. The role of the comic book hero had most recently been played by Larry Green. As the legend goes, a massive bolt of lightning struck the young pilot, transforming his life forever. The stroke of lightning mysteriously turned the pilot into a super hero dedicated to battling evil.
Jeremy writes,"THE AVENGER act is unique in that it is designed with the children in mind, but the parents love it too. Before a show we attend eight to twelve elementary schools and promote, "Be Cool, Stay in School and Say NO to Drugs", and we promote our local sponsors and the airshow. Kids color a special coloring sheet with picture of "THE AVENGER & THUNDERBOLT" and the sponsors logo, in order to win a ride with THE AVENGER."
"THE AVENGER was started by the late Bob Sears around 1986. When Bob's health failed he sold the act to my good friend Larry Green in OK City in the early 90's. Larry had a Pitts act called "The Neon Revolution" and it did not take long for him to realize the Bellanca was much more suited for long travel between airshows, and more fun. Two years ago I realized he had the perfect job and stated, if he ever wanted to sell the act to let me know, and he did January 26th 1999."
"Thunderbolt is a 1971 17-30A, S/N 30349 N8811V, with 275 hours on an IO 520K factory reman. The only mods are a gel-cell battery, disconnection of the auto-axion system, two G meters, and a really good smoke system which uses the auxilliary fuselage tank. Not much different than most Super Vikings, Thunderbolt cruises close to 200 mph on 15-16 gph."
"We will be performing at the Kenedy Air Expo in Kenedy, TX on October 30, 1999, and we have five shows planned for next year, but are in desperate need of sponsorship to help out with the expenses. We would like to do 15 shows in 2000 and we plan to attend at least 20 fly-ins all over the US & Canada. So, if you're community is having an airshow or fly-in, please let us know!"
Jeremy has also invited all Viking owners to a fly-in at his home airport on November 6, 1999. It's at Zuehl Airport (54R) which is 10 miles east of San Antonio. Zuehl has a 3,000 x 300 foot grass runway and is the home of Thunderbolt! More info to come on the "Future Events" page.
If you'd like more info on the THE AVENGER Airshows or the Zuehl Fly-In Nov. 6th, contact Jeremy at 830-625-0340 or 830-708-4409 or email:
theavenger71@hotmail.com
Picture YOUR Airplane Here
Send me photos and some history about your Viking, and I'll place it on this page for all Bellanca Fans to see! Snail mail photos to: 3741 N. Forgeus Ave, Tucson, AZ 85716 (all photos will be returned promptly)...or e-mail .jpg files to:
Vikingdrvr@att.net
Previous "Vikings of the Month"
N 1285R...Don Ame's 1972 Turbo Viking
N 93570...Larry Smalley's 1973 17-31A
N 39819...Jim Howell's 1973 17-30A
N 4081B...Tom Binder's 1975 17-31ATC
N 4052B...The DeFoe's 1976 17-30A
N 28067...Craig Gifford's 1979 17-30A
N 6578V...James Gryder's 1970 17-31ATC
N 93554...Troy Foster's 1974 17-31ATC
N 110CB...RJ Lint's 1974 17-30A
N 6639V...Michael Waiwood's 1970 17-30A
N 147PH...Ron Bianchi's 1974 17-30A
N 7379V...Bob & Bette Nixon's 1969 17-30
N 7358V...Troy Foster's 1969 17-31TC
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