The Collaborators in a stacked formation.  Photo by Phil Weston. Watch the Collaborators

Collaborators are defined as those who work together. But it’s also an appropriate name for the new formation aerobatics team unveiling its show to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2007 crowds this week.

Performing Wednesday and Friday at EAA AirVenture, the Collaborators include Sean D. Tucker, flying lead in his Challenger III; Eric Tucker, Sean’s son, flying left wingman in the Extra 300L; Ben Freelove, right wingman, also flying the Extra 300L; and Bill Stein, slot pilot and safety officer, flying an Edge 540.

"This is a huge endeavor for all of us," Sean says. "We are working as a team to bring shared knowledge, passion, and a commitment to grow as aerial entertainers and aviators."

How to best describe their act? Sean says it is a melee.

"It’s a chaotic battle that’s scripted," adds Bill, noting there is a lot of action.

And their performance goes back to their name—a true collaboration. "Bill made up the figures, but we all had a part in it," Sean says.

"We designed a sequence and flew it, and then modified it and then flew it, and modified it again," Bill says. "If we liked it in the sequence, we kept it. If not, we tried something else."

The Collaborators:  Ben Freelove, Sean D. Tucker, Eric Tucker and Bill Stein

Ben says he doesn’t have a favorite part of their performance. "I like the whole thing. But I love those few miniscule moments when you’re just in the right spot and you feel attached to your airplane."

Eric doesn’t have a favorite part of their performance, either. "It’s the whole flight and how one twitch from one plane transfers down to all of us," he says. "You have to keep track of situational awareness and yet stay focused on your own flying."

The idea for the formation team began in 2005 with the Stars of Tomorrow, a group mentored by Sean and Bill to help young aerobatic pilots make it into the highly competitive air show business. But when Sean saw how much fun it was, he was stuck on the idea to form his own team. Luckily, he worked with others who also shared his passion and skill. The four work together at Tutima Academy of Aviation Safety in King City, California, where they teach flying, aerobatics, and more.

This spring they practiced for three weeks and then spent two weeks in Nebraska prior to AirVenture, making three flights a day. On their way to Oshkosh, they decided to do a little barnstorming. And in Pella, Iowa, a town of about 10,000, they put on a show that the locals likely won’t forget. "About 15,000 people showed up, and every single one of them was mesmerized," Sean says.

Sean says the four worked hard to be here and want to share their love of flying. All have performed at AirVenture before, with the exception of Ben. But Ben said he wasn’t nervous to be here, just excited.

Sean says they remain committed to their formation team and plan to grow it to six planes within two years, and possibly nine planes in four years. And while they need someone with the piloting skills, they also need someone they can trust.

"For every hour we spend in the plane we need to spend 10 hours on learning to think alike," Bill says.