AirFest a homecoming for Blackhawk Tech grad
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Dax Wanless talks to pilot Greg Poe during his performance at Southern Wisconsin AirFest on Saturday. For Wanless, a graduate of Blackhawk Technical College in Janesville, the show at AirFest is a homecoming of sorts.
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JANESVILLE — When Dax Wanless attended Blackhawk Technical College, he had one goal in mind: become an airplane mechanic.
“I loved it so much. I just kind of buried my nose in the books and worked hard,” the 37-year-old said. “As a kid, I was always tinkering with things, from my tricycle to my big wheel to bikes.”
Wanless received his airplane mechanic’s license and went on to become operations manager for Greg Poe Air Shows, an aerobatic stunt-flying act that’s performing at Southern Wisconsin AirFest this weekend.
AirFest is a homecoming for him, and he has about a dozen family members and friends attending the show.
“It’s a little nerve-wracking. You just want to put on a good show everybody,” he said. “You talk about it all the time, but now they actually show up.”
Wanless grew up in the Madison area. He attended Blackhawk for two years. He then labored as an airplane mechanic in Middleton.
Three years ago, he met Greg Poe, the stunt pilot who flies a couple dozen air shows a year. They’ve been working together ever since.
Wanless maintains two of Poe’s airplanes, the ethanol-powered MX2 aerobatic plane and the Bonanza A36. Wanless also announces while Poe performs high-flying stunts in front of thousands.
“He’s the best in the business. He’s recognized as that by his peers,” Poe said. “He’s the backbone of this operation. I’m the face, so to speak, but he’s the backbone.”
During Saturday’s show, Wanless had the microphone during Poe’s performance.
He used his radio voice to describe the pilot’s ratchet rolls and inverted passes. He played to the crowd. He was right on cue.
After Poe landed, Wanless asked him how the plane flew. He then helped pushed it into a hangar.
Wanless travels across the country for air shows, but his work has never brought him to his old stomping grounds until this weekend.
“It’s a lot of fun seeing the town I haven’t been in for years, kind of hanging out with everybody,” he said.
Jun 7, 2009 at 1:34 a.m.
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I would like to express my gratitude to the Blue Angels, Make A Wish Foundation, Glen Erin Golf Club, and the Rock County Airport for allowing us to participate in a picnic lunch and private air show. My kids loved the show, as did I. My daughter loved meeting the female air pilot. THANK YOU!!
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