Rob Harrison has been thrilling audiences in the Southwest United States for 15 years in his Zlin-50 "Tumbling Bear". Rob is the son of a career Naval Aviator, who took Rob up in a Piper Cub at the age of six. Rob began experiencing aerobatics at the age of 13. Rob holds a Certificate of Flight Test Engineering and an FAA Statement of Aerobatic Competency. Additionally, Rob is an Aerobatic Competency Examiner, which means that he can license other performers to do aerobatics at airshows. 

Rob does a great job in the sky performing loops, spins, and a host of aerobatic manuevers. His Zlin-50 gracefully dances through the air, in and out of clouds of smoke. At the end of his performance, he performs a "NASCAR burnout", spinning the aircraft on the ground with the smoke on at show center. Once out of the cockpit, you will find Rob walking along the crowd line, signing autographs, handing out temporary tattoos to the children, shaking hands and meeting the fans with his wife Susan at his side.

On March 1, 2008, Rob Harrison was awarded the prestigious Amelia Reid Spirit Award. Southwest Airshow Network President Jacquie Warda stated "“Rob was chosen to receive the Amelia Reid Spirit Award simply because for as long as anyone has known him, he has always been willing to contribute to the conference and the safety seminar with the best possible attitude. He gives of his time selflessly to help out, and that Spirit is what makes him a valuable asset to SWAN and the air show industry as a whole! His 'esprit de corp' when at air shows is great! He is a very positive role model for kids - big and small! We appreciate his contribution!”

A big congratulations goes out to Rob for this well-deserved award. We look forward to many more years of great performances.

This is the very first picture I ever took of  Rob, at Riverside in March of 2006.

Back to the Profiles in Aviation section

Home