MATHER – Aviation daredevil Eric Tucker brought vintage thrills and sky-high comedy to Saturday’s sold-out crowd at the 2024 California Capital Airshow, performing three distinct acts that left audiences of all ages cheering from the tarmac at Mather Airport. For Tucker, flying and entertaining is something he truly love—and it shows. Every loop, glide, and breath taking landing that yields cheers and laughs all in one is a reflection of his deep passion for aviation and his lifelong commitment to sharing it with others.
Tucker, the mastermind behind Tuckers Air Patrol, dazzled the crowd with a blend of old-school showmanship and jaw-dropping aerobatics aboard his bright yellow 1941 J3 Cub. From gliding silently through the sky to landing on top of a moving vehicle, Tucker’s performances were a nod to the golden era of barnstorming—made even more impressive by his technical precision and infectious stage presence.
His first appearance featured the Deadstick Aerobatics routine. From nearly a mile above the crowd, Tucker intentionally shut off his engine and performed a series of loops, spins, and hammerheads, gliding gracefully in complete silence before touching down with pinpoint accuracy. “The Cub is a really special aircraft because you can fly so slow that if you have an engine failure, you can land almost anywhere,” Tucker explains. “It’s just this beautiful way to connect with physics and our beautiful planet.”
Later in the day, he returned for The Comedy Routine, which blended aviation with theater in a lighthearted act that had the audience laughing out loud. Take flight in a slapstick spectacle that climaxed with a daring attempt to land atop a fire-engine-red 1990 ambulance known as “Rescue 82.” With lights flashing and sirens blaring, the “Campbulance”—Tucker’s repurposed family camper—became a mobile landing strip and crowd favorite.
Folsom Times photos by Bill Sullivan.
He wrapped up his performances with Barnstorming Aerobatics, taking off from the roof of the same vehicle he had landed on minutes earlier. Tucker then performed a series of tight, low-altitude stunts, echoing the fearless spirit of aviation’s early days and closing out his trio of acts to roaring applause.
Tucker’s roots in aviation run deep. The son of airshow legend and National Aviation Hall of Fame inductee Sean D. Tucker, Eric grew up in the heart of the airshow world. His first aerobatic flight came before he was even born—literally—when his mother flew pregnant in an aerobatic aircraft. From ages 9 to 16, he toured the airshow circuit, narrating his father’s routines and gaining valuable early exposure to the rhythm and demands of performance flying.
By age 14, Tucker had soloed a glider; by 16, he soloed the family’s Pitts S-2B. He earned a degree in Aerospace Engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and soon after joined Columbia Aircraft as a test pilot. But his passion always pulled him back toward the thrill of live performance. He would eventually become a member of the “Stars of Tomorrow” formation team and work behind the scenes managing Team Oracle and its sports marketing program.
Tucker’s professional life is a blend of artistry, science, and service. Beyond the skies, he’s a co-founder of the Bob Hoover Academy, a nonprofit that uses aviation to change the lives of at-risk youth. He’s also flown as a corporate pilot in high-performance jets like the Falcon 900 and Citation X, and yet, perhaps ironically, it’s the humble 100-horsepower Cub that best represents his flying spirit.
Though his airshow routines are theatrical, Tucker takes safety and precision seriously. “Flying is all about having an out, having an ace up your sleeve at any given moment,” Tucker says. “My idea is to mitigate the risk down to where it’s about equivalent to driving my kids to school.” That dedication to calculated safety is baked into every detail of his performances. “I really do think that with training and with thinking through all these little itty-bitty details, you can mitigate the risk down to something that’s fairly common risk that we all take anyways,” he adds.
For Tucker, aviation isn’t about pushing danger—it’s about embracing life. “I definitely don’t want to die doing what I love, but I want to live doing what I love,” he says. It’s a mindset that threads through all of his acts, where meticulous planning meets joyful performance. “The game of flying,” Tucker continues, “is how much fun can you have, with the priority of being safe and mitigating as much risk as possible.”
It’s a philosophy that defines both his performance and his lifestyle. Tucker believes you should be passionate about something in life and pursue it, and this weekend in Mather, thousands of airshow fans saw that passion soar firsthand.
Of course, Tucker’s Air Patrol was just one of many highlights at what turned out to be one of the most spectacular opening days in California Capital Airshow history. Saturday’s schedule was packed with nonstop action and featured a stunning lineup of aircraft from every era. The day began with a powerful opening ceremony flyover by the U-2 Dragon Lady, followed by joint demonstrations from Beale Air Force Base’s U-2 and T-38 aircraft. Historic warbirds then took to the skies, including the rare de Havilland Mosquito and Supermarine Spitfire, followed by breathtaking performances from the P-51 Mustang, B-25 Mitchell, P-47 Thunderbolt, and more—many accompanied by dramatic pyro effects in themed “Victory in Europe” and “Victory in the Pacific” segments.
The United States Coast Guard flew its C-27J Spartan, and CAL FIRE wowed the crowd with an aerial firefighting demo, showcasing the critical role aviation plays in emergency response. Modern military might was on full display with jaw-dropping aerobatics from the U.S. Air Force F-16 Viper Demo Team and a special Heritage Flight pairing the F-16 with the iconic P-51. The U.S. Marine Corps’ cutting-edge F-35B Lightning II impressed with its short takeoff and vertical landing capabilities, showing off technology that blends stealth and raw power.
The day culminated with the always highly anticipated appearance of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, whose precise formation flying brought the crowd to its feet. The six-jet demonstration team flew in perfect synchronicity, slicing through the skies with thunderous speed and leaving trails of admiration behind them. From vintage prop planes to state-of-the-art jets, Saturday’s show offered something for everyone—combining patriotic celebration with a deep appreciation for aviation’s evolution.
Tucker’s performances were just part of a huge day lineup that featured military jets, historic warbirds, and the spectacular finale by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. But for many in the crowd, Tucker’s timeless display of skill, humor, and heart was the unexpected highlight of the show.
The California Capital Airshow continues through Sunday at Mather Airport. The event is completely sold out.
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