Thanks for visiting our website. My name is Keoki Gray. My wife, Jan Meires, and I founded Amelia Island Aerobatics, Inc., during the summer of 1998. As Chief Pilot, I bring a wealth of aerobatic experience to the company. My flying history includes: 5 years as the Slot and Solo pilot with The Red Baron Squadron 2 years with The Holiday Inn Aerobatic Team (Left Wing) 2 years with the Holiday Inn/Coca-Cola Aerobatic Team (Slot) 2 years with (and a founding member of) the 2COOL Gliders Aerobatic Team (Wing position).
With 12 years’ experience in and around the air show industry, I’ve logged more than 10,500 hours in over 100 different types of aircraft. As Certified Flight Instructor since 1983, flight instruction has been my full-time profession since 1996. That has let me develop a calm, safety-oriented teaching style that my students appreciate. AIA is based at the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport (55J), on enchanting Amelia Island, at the very northeastern corner of Florida. The aircraft of choice is a pristine Pitts S-2A biplane. Detailed flight instruction, and coaching in air show flying (solo or team performances), are offered. While the Pitts is dual-only, I may be qualified to instruct in your own aerobatic aircraft. If you’re looking for a challenging, fun way to become a better pilot, and want to fly with someone who has the experience, AIA should be your instruction center of choice. Please take a moment to contact us about our instruction services, we would be glad to help.
"Our Precious Girl"
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT The Pitts paint has been developing cracks -- not uncommon with the high-gloss finishes. After all, the cover is 14+ years old. So we determined it's time to recover. Our best estimate is that the Pitts will be down at least until the end of February. We will keep you posted as to the progress and completion date throughout the process. IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
- April Update - I am available for flights in clients' aircraft. The rate for these flights is 100/flight (up to two hours, including ground instruction). The Pitts is progressing slowly, but steadily. There have been many little items that are being addressed, but they take time. It's plain why a recover is so expensive--very labor-intensive.
I will be speaking at Sun 'N Fun on Tuesday, 8 April at 9:00 AM. The title is, "What My Horse Taught Me About Flying Aerobatics."
Markus, in Germany, is looking for a "run-out" Pitts S-2A for rebuild.He writes: Hello Keoki,
Thank you for answer. I'll waiting. In Europe you can get S2B´s very cheap - but no S2A. Maybe because fuel increases so much the last year. We now pay 2,30 € per Liter - its about 13,70 $ per gallon. Flying get's expensive here. I hope that I will find one to have a reason to got to America and fly a few hours.
Greetings to you and Jan.
Markus OUCH! Makes the $5 - 6/gallon stuff we buy here seem better. Well . . . almost.
What a Hoot! 
Tom's "One Design" AircraftTom came down to work on advanced spins and vertical maneuvers just as a "put-your-mind-at-ease" review. Here's a note he sent after getting back into his One Design. *************** Just got back from a practice and also did upright flat spins which weren't as fast a yaw rate nor as high a pitch attitude as the Pitts (maybe more forward cg and less fuselage inertia) then plain inverted spins just to get back into them in the 1D, then pure tailslide and several torque rolls. Found out my sight gage is not far enough aft. Also, quite a few rolls going up. Probably 2 before it backs up and I got at least 1 or more going backwards. What a hoot!! Gonna enjoy acro more now.... (Note--Tom placed fourth overall in the Sportsman category at the Sebring contest in November. Congratulations, Tom!)
Check This Out! We have recently done some work with Carl Pascarell (of Aerobatics Unlimited) down at St. Augustine. Carl and I are offering formation training courses.
Contact us if you're interested. 
"Like looking into a mirror." 
"About 110 degrees into a loop."
Alex Quest! Alex (on the left, with dad, Jay) has a gift. He can fly with a maturity beyond his years. In fact, with only a season of competition under his belt, he took a Sukhoi Su-26 to the Nationals in a quest to make the Advanced World Aerobatic Team. See how he fared on these web sites. What is Alex up to now? Flying the family CJ-6 at Sun 'N Fun. See the story here.
Lynne & FifinellaLynne (third from the right) provided news of her first competition in the UK. Flying an aircraft she had never flown (let alone "aerobatted") before, and with no warning, is quite a challenge yet she turned in a decent performance nonetheless. "Next thing," she tells us, "is to repeat the performance in Fifinella!" 
Lynne and "Fifinella" ready for "aeros."
Michelle
Michelle flew with us again recently to brush up on her spin recovery techniques before going to the UK for her Instructor rating. Here's a photo of Michelle and the examiner after her second checkride in less than a week. Pretty easy to tell how she did . . . 
And, with her instructor in the UK (and the Robin 2060). I had never flown a Robin 2060I. I was expecting a faster entry into the spin, it was quite docile actually. I also didn't really know whether I could actually "count" my turns, but I did ;O) It was fun. I am glad we did the work we did this time round. I was at ease and the examiner could tell I was not afraid of the spin. He felt totally comfortable of my handling of the plane. Thank you again for working with me. I will keep you posted about my checkride next week. Michelle
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