Coble Trench Safety sponsored and participated in the Lynchburg Air Show, May 21 and 22, at the Lynchburg Regional Airport (LYH) in Lynchburg, Va.

The air show featured the world-famous U.S. Navy Blue Angels. In addition, the Flying Circus Barnstormers and Biplanes, the Flying Daggers and many more exciting aerial daredevils participated in the air show.

Among the attractions was an entry from Coble Trench Safety: an Aero L-39 Albatros owned and flown by company president Tom Coble that was flown in the Lynchburg Air show by west coast air show stunt pilot Rich Perkins, former Lt. Col. U.S. Air Force (Ret.).

“The Lynchburg Air Show is a first for us,” said Tom Coble, CTS president and owner of the fighter jet. “We hope to see a lot of our customers and vendors from the area come out to enjoy the show. They know we’re good with the dirt, but we’re excited to show them we know a thing or two about being good in the air.”

Coble’s Aero L-39 was originally developed in Czechoslovakia for training purposes and light combat. Today more than 30 air forces around the world keep the Albatros active in their fleets. The L-39 also has found its way into pop culture, making an appearance in the James Bond movie, Tomorrow Never Dies.

The Albatros has a max speed of 553 mph and service ceiling of 36,100 ft. Its nimble handling and impressive cornering make it a crowd-pleaser at air shows around the world.

“Owning a fighter jet has been a dream ever since I was a kid,” Coble said. “It’s a treat to see that dream come true and have CTS participate in this sort of event. The only way the airshow could be more fun for me is if they let me fly the L-39 next to the Blue Angels.”

An accomplished pilot with more than 30 years of experience, Coble flew for Liberty University’s Jerry Falwell after finishing college in Lynchburg, Va. He has maintained his passion for flying throughout his business career. He has used his experience as a pilot and aircraft to minimize the time in transit while overseeing Coble Trench Safety’s 11 branch locations covering six states.

While he enjoys the business flying, Coble has a special fondness for using his aircraft to help others. He is an active participant in the Veterans Airlift Command (VAC), which helps to transport injured soldiers to facilities for medical treatment.

“It’s really a great program. We, as volunteer pilots, have the opportunity to show our appreciation to the men and women who have made a tremendous sacrifice for our country. In many cases, it’s very difficult for these men and women to fly commercially with the injuries suffered. The VAC steps in and we can help expedite the transport while minimizing some of those issues.”

He currently is pursuing training in advanced aerobatics.

For more information, visit www.CobleTrenchSafety.com or www.lynchburgairshow.com.

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