Michael Goulian – A Jumbotron of Entertainment
Variations & Combinations Unlimited
Jumbotron? Yes, it’s a word and if you’ve seen a Michael Goulian air show performance, you’ve felt its power. Imagine attending an event that combines award-winning live aerobatic flying with leading edge aircraft technology and a special blend of choreographed music on a super large video display (a jumbotron). Now – put all that together, add a live-feed cockpit cam displayed on the giant screen and you’ve experienced a Michael Goulian air show. It’s an emotional encounter that few will ever forget.
The key to any air show performance is the synergy of the pilot and his/her aircraft. Mikey, one of Michael Goulian’s nicknames, currently flies the Castrol Aviator EXTRA 300 SHP on the airshow circuit in North America. The aircraft delivers exceptional performance and adheres to Goulian’s commitment to perfection. His commitment intertwines hard-hitting aerobatic training with pre-eminent competitive aircraft, maintained to perfection with the purpose of demonstrating the excitement that flying can deliver. His aerial performances are an inspiring adventure.
There is no question that Goulian is committed to synergy with his aircraft. He worked closely with Extra Aircraft in 2006 to design a unique plane that remained true to the Extra’s classic look and maneuverability. Their teamwork designed a new tail and cowling, lightened the plane by 100 pounds and changed the center of gravity further aft. The cowling of his one-of-a-kind EA-300 SHP harnesses a 350HP Lycoming, Thunderbolt IO-580 engine with a climb rate exceeding 3200 fpm and capable of rolling 380 degrees per second. The aircraft maneuverability delivers G forces of +12 and -10 G.
Goulian wasn’t always able to fly such hot aircraft. He earned his wings from the ground up washing and fueling other flyers aircraft. He started flying lessons in 1984 and began aerobatic training in 1985. On his 16th birthday he soloed in a Cessna 150, flying before he could officially drive a car. It wasn’t long before he realized that aerobatics delivered the “need for speed” that Goulian thrives on. He became an Aerobatic instructor, quickly establishing an Aerobatic School with a Decathlon Trainer at Executive Flyers Aviation. It was a natural since his family founded Executive Flyers Aviation (EFA) in 1964, one of the Northeast’s largest flying schools.
He, like many of the flyers on today’s air show circuit, worked a day job as a corporate jet pilot while transitioning toward the opportunity of full time aerobatic flying. At age 22 he became US National Champion in the Advanced Category. A year later he won the prestigious Fond du Lac Cup invitational competition and by 1992 he was the top ranked US male aerobatic pilot and Silver Medalist in the Unlimited Category, an achievement he repeated in 1993. He joined the 1994 US National Aerobatic Team representing America at the World Aerobatic Championship held in Hungary. In 1995 Mike reached the pinnacle of American aerobatics by becoming the US National Champion in the Unlimited Category. Not one to rest on his laurels, Mike has been a member of the 1994, ‘96, & ‘98 US Aerobatic Teams and recently was awarded the airshow industry’s top award. In 2007, Goulian was awarded the Art Scholl Showmanship Award for his aerial entertainment.
During the last ten years, Goulian has extended his flying skills and ability to deliver exciting air shows through the important help of his sponsors. Castrol Aviator, owned by AirBP, produces many high quality aviation products including greases, hydraulic fluids, sealants and corrosion preventives. Michael uses Castrol’s premium monograde aviation piston engine oil to protect his high performance engines. Several other sponsors help to defray the expense of delivering leading edge air show performances, including: Lycoming, Champion Aerospace, Hartzell, Oxford Aviation, and Sennheiser.
Michael Goulian’s focus on safety requires exceptional maintenance. Each winter the Castrol Aviator EXTRA 300SHP goes through a complete overhaul to ensure structural and mechanical integrity. Like his aircraft, Michael maintains a personal fitness regimen including five hour decathlons to help keep his personal edge. His personal flying expertise and focus was recognized with being one of only six pilots invited to compete in the first annual Championship Air Show Pilots Association (CASPA) series.
Besides delivering some of the best air show performances on the continent, Team Goulian has become an important participant in the Red Bull Air Races. The races are an international competition based on speed and precision. To say the races are competitive is an understatement. They are an ultra competitive event pitting individual pilots against the clock to achieve the fastest possible time in a dynamic discipline of flying, called ‘air racing.’ Their objective is to navigate a challenging race course in the sky and execute tight turns through a slalom course of specially designed pylons or ‘Air Gates.’ Speeds can reach almost 250 mph and pilots can face 10 Gs. The air race is not just about speed either, mistakes incur penalty points which are then added to the pilot’s time. The pilots compete in elimination rounds with the two fastest pilots going head to head in the final round. Last November Goulian placed second in the Perth Australia race.
I asked Michael about his participation in the events; he said, “The races are an exhilarating experience for the pilot but equally important, the air races are attracting new people to aviation. People who were not necessarily aviation enthusiasts saw the televised races on Fox Sports and found flying an exciting spectator sport. On the air show flightline we meet people who tell us they’ve never been to an air show before but they watched a televised air race and had to come and see a show for themselves. The air races are introducing aviation to a whole new group of people.” Fox Sports television began coverage of the international air race events in August, 2007.
Michael is giving back some of the rewards that aviation has given to him. He has hosted the FAA safety videos ‘Avoiding Wake Turbulence’ and ‘Loss of Control Avoiding Spins.’ Sean D. Tucker and Michael have mentored six future air show pilots in a new EAA program, Stars of Tomorrow, to introduce young talent to the Oshkosh AirVenture audiences.
Talking to Michael about GA pilot safety, he said, “One of the best things that any pilot can do is take a few hours of aerobatic training. The trainers make learning safe and with a little practice the pilot will be much better prepared for that sudden, unplanned change in aircraft attitude.” He added, “Many pilots look for somewhere to fly to build hours. Why not practice loops and rolls? You can always improve and people will find it’s a lot of fun and prepares them for the unexpected.” I read his co-authored book, Basic and Advanced Aerobatics, one of a series of aerobatic training books published by McGraw Hill. It’s a book that can help pilots improve their aerobatic flying with important tips and even help the aviation enthusiast enjoy a more competitive air show. Do you really want to fly like Michael Goulian? Try a virtual flight from his website at: http://www.mikegoulian.com/html/videos.html - it is an experience!
By John Cilio, a freelance writer living in Connecticut. You can contact him at: questions@vintageflyer.com