By Barbara A. Schmitz
The three-ship Jack Aces Formation Aerobatic Team made its EAA AirVenture Oshkosh debut this week, and said they were humbled to fly their precision formation aerobatics show that highlights the history of the P-51 Mustang.
“We grew up as kids idolizing this airplane and to be able to fly them here is very humbling,” said pilot Marco Rusconi, of Canada. Lead pilot Louis Horschel, of the U.S., agreed. “This is an iconic airplane, one of the most famous airplanes in our history. The people who designed this plane, those who flew it into combat, had a mission of saving the world.”
Horschel said the war in Europe was not going well when the Mustang came out, and it was a huge turning point in the war.
“What we really try to do in our show is to honor the airplane and its history as best we can,” Marco said. And in 2026, the 250th birthday of the U.S., flying P-51s makes their performance even more relevant, he said.
Ariel Luedi, of Switzerland, the third member of the team, said this is his first time in Oshkosh. “Even in Europe, all pilots speak of Oshkosh and the event. To perform here is surreal. It puts some pressure on me, as I want to perform well in front of all these people. I am very honored because I know everyone wants to fly at Oshkosh.”
Ariel also performs aerobatics as a three-ship team called SUBITO in the PC-7 Pilatus in Switzerland, and all three do solo shows as well.
With the team having three pilots from three different countries, it creates an interesting international dynamic. Ariel said it was fate that they ended up together.
In 2017, Marco was a P-51 instructor at Stallion 51 in Florida, and Louis and Ariel were beginning Mustang training with him. They’ve been flying together ever since and share a passion for the airplane.
“A six-hour difference in time zones makes it interesting when we get together,” Louis said. And Ariel flies over from Europe about eight times a year for shows or training.
“I come here, rest one day, practice the flight, and then we’re ready for the show,” Ariel said.
Marco said the three get together in the winter months for an intense two- or three-week training camp. “We fly one or two flights a day, every day. We have a commitment to not only make the show safe, but also account for its intricacies and complexities … due to the fluid environment we operate in.”
On the planning side, their process is similar to what professional athletes go through, they said. They mentally prepare before each flight, and after the flight watch their show on video to pick out where they can improve. “It doesn’t matter about how we felt about the flight,” Marco said. “It’s what the crowd sees.”
A short documentary on the team was released Wednesday. You can view it on any of their social media accounts.