Sean D. Tucker twirls into his final season as solo performer

Photo By 2nd Lt. Deirdre Salvas | Sean D. Tucker an aerobatic pilot sponsored by Oracle, poses for a portrait in front of his plane June 6, 2018, Quonset Air National Guard Base, North Kingstown, R.I. Tucker was a performer for the 2018 Rhode Island National Guard Open House Air Show.  

NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI, UNITED STATES

06.10.2018

Story by Staff Sgt. Deirdre Salvas 

143d Airlift Wing

QUONSET AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, North Kingstown, R.I. (June 10, 2018) -- If you’ve looked to the skies over Quonset Air National Guard Base during the past 26 years, you may have seen Sean D. Tucker, an aerobatic pilot, twirling through the sky. Tucker, who flies for Team Oracle, started performing in air shows in 1976 and has made more than 540 appearances since then.
This year marks his last season as a solo performer, as he makes new plans to build a performance team. His debut with the Rhode Island National Guard Open House Air Show was in 1992.
What Tucker enjoys the most about the air show is the people of the National Guard. “The community that puts on this show is truly a family,” said Tucker. “I’ve only missed one show since the Rhody shows began. It’s really like home for me.”
Tucker brings his act to military installations across the country. In his eyes, it’s the men and women of the military that make it all possible.
“We couldn’t have our freedoms without the men and women who serve to protect those freedoms, and make the world a better place -- the Rhodys do that,” said Tucker.
Air Force Technical Sgt. Emmanuel Arias works at the Air Show and has seen about five of Tucker’s performances. His favorite part of the show was when Tucker’s plane climbed high in the sky and halted mid-air, then swooped into a loop as he took control of the plane and flew off again.
“No matter what, that takes a lot of skill,” said Arias. “You can tell. He has to be, physically, in good shape. That does not look like that’s something you can just get in a plane and do it one day.”
Arias, a noncommissioned officer in charge of knowledge operations at the 282d Combat Communications Squadron, North Smithfield, R.I., has attended at least 18 air shows in his military career and said the Sean D. Tucker name is a staple of the show here.
“You know he’s gonna be there and he’s constantly going to give you a good show,” said Arias. “He’s definitely proud to do what he does — you can tell. He’s a proud American, which is awesome and you can tell he genuinely does it from his heart.”
For Arias, the air show is a place where families and the community can gather together. Arias brought his nephew to the 2017 show. That memory sticks with him because he remembers seeing the excitement in his nephew’s eyes as he watched the air show for the first time.
For those who have seen Tucker’s past performances, he aims to make each show even better than his last one; more intense, more dramatic, more elegant and even more thrilling.
“I’m gonna be tumbling, twirling and flipping through the sky. You don’t wanna miss it, I’ve put my heart and soul into this game,” said Tucker.
Tucker flew twice each day of the air show. His first performance was in the morning and his second was in the afternoon.
Tucker says that it’s an honor and privilege to perform at the Rhode Island Open House Air Show. It’s the sense of community plus the chance to celebrate our freedoms that keeps him coming back each year. The best part for families like Arias’ is the chance for everybody to get together and celebrate life, flight, and being an American.

• Date Taken: 06.10.2018
• Date Posted: 09.26.2018 14:10
• Story ID: 292885
• Location: NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI, US