2023 Bill Barber Award for Showmanship goes to Nathan Hammond

World Airshow News reports that Nathan K. Hammond is the 2023 recipient of the Bill Barber Award for Showmanship.

One of the most prestigious awards in the air show industry, the list of Barber honorees reads like an air show hall of fame, according to World Airshow News officials.

In less than 10 years as an air show performer, Nathan “Nate” Hammond has established himself as one of the most creative and innovative performers on the air show circuit. His popular night air show features wing-mounted pyrotechnics and bright LED lights, officials said. They add he was instrumental in the development of innovative theme acts such as Adventures of Aviore, which was featured at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.

Nate’s path to becoming an air show star began in upstate New York where his father was a pilot for the air show at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. He took his first airplane ride at just two weeks old, riding in his mother’s lap.

When the family moved to Kentucky in the early 1990s, his dad became the crew chief and ferry pilot for Steve Oliver and Suzanne Asbury-Oliver of SkyDancer and SkyWriter fame.

Nate quickly became a 12-year-old ramp rat, helping his dad, Steve, and Suzanne any way that he could.

Nate soloed at 16, and by 18, he had earned his commercial pilot certificate. A few years later, he took over from his dad as Steve Oliver’s crew chief and ferry pilot for the SkyDancer, a highly modified Super Chipmunk. As his experience grew, Steve suggested that Nate learn how to skywrite and start working on getting his low-level aerobatic card in the Chipmunk. Steve wanted the show to be able to go on even if he got sick or couldn’t fly for some reason.

Nate’s first skywriting assignment was over the Atlanta Motor Speedway with 100,000 spectators and a national television audience looking on. When the Olivers retired from air shows in 2016, Nate took over full control of the SkyDancer, renaming it GhostWriter.

In addition to flying his day and night air show routines, Nate has also been a driving force behind the Black Flag air show training camps, which began in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdowns as a way for aerobatic pilots to stay sharp. Black Flag has since become an annual event, helping experienced aerobatic pilots stay sharp and providing a pathway for new air show pilots to get coaching and mentoring to improve their proficiency and advance their air show careers.

The Bill Barber Award for Showmanship began in 1986 and is awarded to air show performers or teams that have demonstrated great skill and showmanship, officials explain. World Airshow News magazine and the friends and family of the late Bill Barber present the award annually.

The 2023 Bill Barber Award for Showmanship presentation is currently planned to take place during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, scheduled for July 24-30, 2023.

Past Bill Barber Award winners include:

• 2022 Gary Ward
• 2021 No Award
• 2020 No Award
• 2019 Twin Tigers Aerobatic Team
• 2018 Greg Shelton
• 2017 Kyle Franklin
• 2016 Manfred Radius
• 2015 Bob Carlton
• 2014 Greg Koontz
• 2013 Skip Stewart
• 2012 Matt Younkin
• 2011 Rich and Dee Gibson
• 2010 Steve Oliver and Suzanne Asbury-Oliver
• 2009 Michael Goulian
• 2008 Bud Granley
• 2007 Dacy Family Airshow Team
• 2006 Danny Clisham
• 2005 Pietsch Airshows
• 2004 Bobby Younkin
• 2003 Jim LeRoy
• 2002 AeroShell Aerobatic Team
• 2001 Northern Lights Aerobatic Team
• 2000 John Mohr
• 1999 Dan Buchanan
• 1998 Patty Wagstaff
• 1997 Gene Soucy & Teresa Stokes
• 1996 Wayne Handley
• 1995 Bob Hoover
• 1994 Bob & Annette Hosking
• 1993 Red Baron Stearman Squadron
• 1992 Sean D. Tucker
• 1991 Julie Clark
• 1990 Leo Loudenslager
• 1989 Jimmy Franklin
• 1988 No Award
• 1987 The French Connection
• 1986 Eagles Aerobatic Flight Team

For more information on The Bill Barber Award for Showmanship, contact Sandy Parnau, publisher of World Airshow News at [email protected], 414-801-1636, or AirShowMag.com.