GhostWriter Airshows
The Performer
GhostWriter Airshows delivers one of the most versatile and visually dynamic performances on today’s airshow circuit—a rare three‑act experience flown with a single aircraft. Piloted by veteran aviator Nathan K. Hammond, GhostWriter seamlessly blends daytime aerobatics, precision skywriting, and an electrifying night airshow filled with lights and pyrotechnics, engaging audiences from the moment gates open until long after sunset.
Hammond’s aviation roots trace back to Rhinebeck, New York, where exposure to the historic aircraft and performances at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome sparked a lifelong passion for flight. He soloed at 16, earned his pilot certificate at 17, and has since accumulated more than 7,000 flight hours across an extraordinary range of aircraft—from 1917 Curtiss Jennys and classic warbirds to modern turboprops and jets.
His professional airshow career began in 1998, when he joined SkyDancer Airshows and mastered the highly specialized discipline of skywriting—an art form practiced by only a handful of pilots worldwide. In 2016, Hammond acquired the iconic aircraft formerly known as the Pepsi SkyDancer, ushering in the next chapter of its legacy under the name GhostWriter.
The Aircraft: Super Chipmunk
At the heart of the act is a meticulously transformed 1956 de Havilland DHC‑1 Chipmunk, originally built as a primary trainer for the Royal Canadian Air Force. Through nearly 3,000 man‑hours of engineering and refinement, the aircraft has been converted into one of the finest examples of a “Super Chipmunk” flying today.
Now powered by a high‑output engine and optimized for aerobatic performance, GhostWriter features:
Cruise speeds near 150 mph
Climb rates of approximately 2,500 feet per minute
Operating ceilings around 17,500 feet
Specialized systems for aerobatic smoke, skywriting, LED lighting, and pyrotechnics
The aircraft’s recognizable lineage adds historical gravity to the performance, while its modern enhancements allow it to deliver energy, sound, and spectacle well beyond what audiences expect from a classic trainer design.
