Gary Ward developed an interest in airplanes as an early teenager, soloed at age 16 in a Piper J-3 Cub and has been passionate about aviation ever since.
After high school and a tour with the USAF as a jet engine mechanic, Gary graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree in Aerospace Engineering. Gary started flying airshows in 1998 in a Pitts S2-B and then flew airshows in the Giles 202 from 1999 through 2005, and in 2006, he became the first pilot to begin flying airshows in the awesome new MX2!
The MX2 is the absolute latest in unlimited aerobatic aircraft. It is strong, fast, and very agile. The entire airframe is constructed of aerospace quality carbon fiber to provide maximum strength and stiffness with minimum weight
The MX2 is powered by a Lycoming engine modified by LYCON to produce more than 350 HP! Gary puts the MX2 through one of the most exciting performances you will ever see.
The action starts on take off as Gary pulls steeply up and goes into a spectacular take off maneuver.
The entire sequence is jam packed with breathtaking gyrations that range from zero speed hovers to dives in excess of 250 mPH.
Skyfest 2017 welcomes Ward to this year’s Skyfest 2017.
The MX2 is so powerful that at the end of an inverted flat spin, rotation is stopped and the MX2 will fly out, inverted, without the nose ever dropping below the horizon.
Gary makes full use of the power and agility of the MX2 to perform many maneuvers that an “airplane just isn’t supposed to do.”