Matt Younkin (29) is a third generation pilot. He is the son of legendary airshow pilot Bobby Younkin, who is famous for his amazing aerobatic displays in the AT-6, Beech 18, Learjet 23, Samson, and most recently, the Super Decathlon. Bobby is considered to be one of the greatest airshow pilots of all time.

Matt is also the grandson of Jim Younkin who is well-known for designing the Century and Trutrak autopilots. Jim is also famous for his antique aircraft restorations, as well as building beautiful replicas of the 1930’s air racers such as the Howard “Mr. Mulligan” and the Travel Air “Mystery Ship.”

Matt learned to fly at the age of 14 from family friend Ken Collier in a Piper J-3 Cub. At age 15, Chuck Irvin, the same instructor who taught Bobby how to fly, refined Matt’s piloting skills. On his sixteenth birthday, Matt soloed his grandfather’s 1928 Travel Air 4000 biplane.

Matt is now proficient in over 50 types of airplanes ranging from the Piper Cub to the North American B-25.  He is also a fully rated flight instructor and now has almost 3000 hours of total flying time and currently resides in Siloam Springs, AR with his loving wife Michelle and their daughter Kimberly.

Matt is also an accomplished radio-controlled model airplane pilot. Like his father before him, Matt learned most of his aerobatic skills by flying R/C models and later refined them in the Super Decathlon.

Bobby gave Matt two hours of aerobatic instruction which focused mainly on slow rolls. Bobby said, “Almost every aerobatic maneuver is based on a slow roll. If you can master the slow roll, you can master anything.”

When Matt took the Decathlon out to perfect his slow rolls, he soon discovered that he could perform every maneuver that Bobby performed in the airplane, plus a few new ones of his own.

Matt’s latest and greatest achievement is perfecting the world’s only night aerobatic display in the Beech 18.  Equipped with 17 spotlights and 13 strobes, the top airplane appears to glow in the dark while the bottom side twinkles violently.  Combined with smoke, noise, choreography, and an incredible musical score, the Twin Beech Night Spectacular is quickly becoming one of the most sought after acts in the airshow arena. 

Matt is also performing the daytime aerobatic display in the Beech 18 that his father Bobby perfected so many years ago.  By lacking the intensity night show, this display has been described by many as “the most graceful and beautiful performance the airshow industry has to offer.”

Matt’s other airshow mounts include a Super Decathlon and the only flying example of a 1929 Travel Air “Mystery Ship.”   

Bobby always said, “An airshow act must be unique and original to be successful. People come to airshows to see the impossible take place.” Matt is keeping with the Younkin Airshows tradition by performing unique aerobatics in precision aircraft and precision aerobatics in unique aircraft.

Matt is also a certified flight instructor equipped with CFI, CFII, and MEI certificates. He is currently working for Summit Aviation in Bentonville, AR. Matt specializes in tail wheel training, upset recovery/ spin training, and basic aerobatics. Anyone interested in flying with Matt can email him at younkinair@aol.com or checkout summitaviationllc.com.

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Amanda Franklin, is the daughter of legendary airshow pilot Bobby Younkin. She is Kyle Franklin's wife, Matt Younkin's sister, and most importantly is the "Brains" behind the "Sons of Legends." Serving as Business Manager for both Franklin's Flying Circus and Younkin Airshows, Inc., she is responsible for all airshow booking and sponsorship activity.

Amanda grew up around airplanes and air shows. As a small girl, she was always with her father Bobby as he was signing autographs and interacting with the crowd. Amanda worked for Bobby from age 14 through her senior year in high school processing airshow paperwork and learning all manner of airshow related ins and outs.

Amanda learned to fly and soloed an airplane at age 16. She is anaccomplished tail wheel and multi-engine pilot having flown 12 different types of aircraft to date. She resides with her husband Kyle, and two spoiled dogs in Neosho, Missouri. When not flying herself, Amanda spends most of her time keeping Matt and Kyle out of trouble!

Amanda has been Matt Younkin's full time Beech 18 announcer since 2007. As of 2009, she has also become Kyle's full time "Pirated Skies" wing walker. Whether holding a telephone, microphone, or wing strut, it is undeniable that Amanda is the glue that keeps the "Sons of Legends" team together performing at air shows all across the country.

On a side note, Amanda Franklin is a "Bombshell" in the 2010 Warbird Bombshells calendar.

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Kyle Franklin (29), is one of the youngest airshow professionals in the airshow industry. He is the only son of legendary airshow pilot Jimmy Franklin. Kyle has been performing in airshows for over 10 years has been around aviation his entire life. He experienced his first airplane ride when he was just 4 weeks old! Kyle grew up living with his family in an apartment built inside an airplane hangar. In addition to becoming his favorite playground, the hanger became a means for Kyle to spend quality time with his father by helping him work on the Wacos, Super Cubs, and his Aerostar and because of this, Kyle is now a licensed A&P mechanic.

Kyle's Father taught him how to fly when he was 8 and later taught him aerobatics in te Super Cub. Kyle is now an accomplished pilot of over 19 years, is not new to what some people would call dare-devilish feats. As a toddler, he learned to ride a tricycle on just 2 wheels! A few of years later, Kyle graduated to BMX free-styling and air-walking and then mastered motorcycles. At the age of 8, Kyle fell in love with DeLorean cars. As a sophomore in high school, he had bought a DeLorean of his own and modified it with a bigger engine, flame thrower, oil slick, and smoke system (only to work it into the airshow line-up of course).

Like his father, Kyle began flying at very young age. As a preschooler, he seized every opportunity to wing-walk on Dad's WACO "Mystery Ship" as it taxied about on the ground at airshows. At age 14 Kyle went for his first flying wing-walk on the Waco "Mystery Ship" and by the time he was 17, he was wing-walking professionally at airshows around the country as the world's youngest Wingwalker. He and Jimmy also made up the first father/son wing-walking team in history! In 1999, his father debuted the new Jet Waco. Naturally, Kyle didn't hesitate at the opportunity to climb through the flying wires of this beast! At this point, Kyle became the world's first Jet Wingwalker. In addition, Kyle is the ONLY other person who ever piloted Jimmy's Jet WACO!

Wing-walking was only one of Kyle's many aerial talents. He performed the daring motorcycle-to-airplane transfer for over 5 years. Kyle now performs as the pilot in which the transferer jumps from the back of a moving motorcycle onto a rope ladder hanging from the bottom of Kyle's Super Cub.

Kyle also flies one of the wildest Comedy acts you'll ever see; so wild he has steel skid plates taped to the wingtips so when he intentionally drags the wings on the ground it doesn't hurt them.

In the Summer of 2003, Kyle began performing in his Father's one of a kind Waco "Mystery Ship." This is one of the few big bi-plane aerobatic acts you will find on the airshow circuit today. Besides a full complement of loops, rolls, Cuban 8's and hammer heads, Kyle is one of a handful of pilots that will actually torque roll, tail slide, and even lomcevak tumble his massive Waco bi-plane. This act has it all: noise, smoke, speed, looks, nostalgia and low-flying aerobatics.

Today, Kyle has retired from wingwalking, and focuses fully on his flying. Airshows are Kyle's full-time job, performing 4 different acts with the Super Cub and Waco "Mystery Ship" at airshows all across the country with his loving Wife and "Manager" Amanda.

Kyle married Amanda Younkin, daughter of world renown airshow pilot Bobby Younkin in 2005. Amanda, a pilot as well, also grew up around airplanes and airshows. Amanda now manages Franklin's Flying Circus and Younkin Airshows. Kyle says, "Amanda is the key to my continuing as an airshow pilot. I couldn't make it without her!"

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She is the newest member of the Younkin Airshows team and serves as the group’s official mascot. 

Matt Younkin has always been proud of the fact that his Beech 18 is in fact a 1943 warbird.  The airplane, with the exception of the paint scene is basically as it was when sold surplus in 1945.  Matt has long since been looking for the perfect nose art to compliment the airplane and the act.  “Miss Ellie” is the answer!

Those who have seen the Beech 18 daytime performance can recall the lighthearted “Pink Elephants” music that begins and ends the show.  As the airplane lumbers down the runway in preparation for the roll on takeoff, soundtrack capitalizes on an overly obese airplane attempting aerobatic maneuvers that its designers never intended on.  After a graceful aerobatic demonstration, the performance is concluded with a dutch rolling dirty pass dubbed the “Elephant Waltz” which is set to that same corny music.  Therefore, airshow spectators have often referred to the Beech 18 as the “White Elephant” of the airshow industry.  In addition, there are those who can’t help but laugh as the big Beech performs to such appropriate music.

In stark contrast, Matt Younkin’s Night Aerobatic Spectacular is bold, powerful, and anything but big and clumsy.  Matt saw this new act as the perfect opportunity to engineer a mascot whose incredible beauty could tie the two shows together. 

Now in proper World War Two attire, “Miss Ellie” proudly takes her place of honor on the nose of Younkin’s 1943 C-18S, dubbed “Magic by Moonlight.”  Look for her appearance in advertisements, on t-shirts, and on the airplane at an airshow near you!

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Jeff Gibbs is the chief mechanic for Younkin Airshows, Inc.  He holds both Airframe/ Powerplant and Aircraft Inspector certificates.  Jeff services and maintains all three of Matt’s airshow airplanes as well as all other airplanes owned by the Younkin family.

Jeff grew up in Southern Missouri.  After a three year tour with the United States Army, Jeff went to college at the Spartan School of Aeronautics.  He graduated with honors in 1989, and now holds an associates degree in Aviation Science.  Jeff’s first aviation job was a Jet Engine Overhaul Inspector for Teledyne Industries, Inc. based in Neosho, MO.  A year later, he went to work for World Wide Aircraft Services in Springfield, MO, where he performed heavy maintenance and cargo conversions on Saab 340s and Metro Liners.  In 1998, Jeff began a seven year stent with Wal-Mart Aviation.  Starting as a Maintenance Technician, Jeff worked his way through the ranks all the way to become Chief Inspector over the Avionics Repair Station.  With his vast sheet metal, avionics, and inspection skills thoroughly honed in, Jeff left Wal-Mart Aviation to pursue a career as an on demand aviation mechanic.

The C-18S that Matt performs in today was completely restored in 2000.  However, for many reasons, the airplane was still a work in progress and was lacking many safety related improvements that needed to be made.  In 2007, Blue Skies Aircraft Maintenance offered to sponsor a condition inspection on the Younkin Beech 18.   Jeff was called in to do the majority of the inspection because the full time mechanics of Blue Skies were busy on other projects.  In addition to upgrading a large amount of the existing equipment, Jeff also made some discoveries on the airframe that if left unattended would have proven fatal.  Many other mechanics had been over the airplane with a fine-toothed comb in the past but had not seen these fatal flaws.  Needless to say, from that time on, Jeff was the man for the job any time heavy maintenance was required.

In late 2007, Jeff was solely responsible for turning Matt’s idea of putting an overwhelming amount of ridiculous lights on the Beech 18 for the 2008 début of his night show.  Matt perfected the concept and Jeff engineered the final result which has become one of the most sought after acts in the nighttime airshow lineup. 

Jeff currently resides in Jane, MO with his loving wife Tammy and their children Tianna and Jeremy.

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Katherine “Michelle” Younkin is Matt’s loving wife who is the mother to be of their first child due in December of this year.  She and Matt started dating on October 23,1999 and were married six years to the day later.  Matt and Michelle were high school sweethearts and have been the best of friends ever since.  She is truly the rock of the Younkin household and has been very supportive of Matt’s decision to continue his father’s legacy on the airshow circuit. 

Michelle is a graduate of the University of Arkansas and holds a degree in Middle Level Education.  She is also a gifted computer programmer.  Matt’s father Bobby stated in June of 2005, “Michelle is the computer guru of all the computer gurus we know.”  To this date, that statement is beyond accurate!  In addition to carrying a full time job, Michelle takes care of this website.  She has in fact designed and built every website update that younkinair.com has received since 2005.

Michelle became the proud mommy of Kimberly Rae Thanksgiving Day '09, 11/26. Michelle and Kimmy will travel with their father when ever practical and hopefully Kimmy will grow to love airplanes as much as her parents do.

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