WHERE IN SUSSEX?

Joe Kempka and Rich Denman recognized our Where in Sussex photo from the issue of May 28. It was taken at Sussex Airport. Rich also added a bit of history, personal and otherwise. He wrote: The ...photo is of the memorial at Sussex Airport to the legendary aerobatic pilot, and my childhood hero, Leo Loudenslager. His airplane is now in the Smithsonian Museum with the following description: “Loudenslager Laser 200 — Loudenslager won an unprecedented seven U.S. National Aerobatic Championships with the Laser 200, a record that still stands, as well as the 1980 World Aerobatic Championship. The Laser 200 heavily influenced the look and performance of the next generation of aerobatic aircraft, including the Extra, which dominated competition throughout the 1990s.” The aircraft is now on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. I grew up watching Leo perform at the Sussex Airshow every year. I would even stop by his hangar and listen to some of his adventurous stories. Tragically, Leo was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1997. A year ago, I decided to fulfill my dream of flying aerobatics, and I purchased an Extra 300, a direct descendent of Leo’s original design. Today, I am living that dream, flying aerobatics over Sussex, just like my childhood hero, Leo Loudenslager.