Flag Skydivers Make It Banner Day for Expo

The crowd at the Van Nuys Airport Aviation Expo is accustomed to watching stunt pilots and flyovers by military jets, but Dave and Rodney Benson introduced a new event Saturday--skydiving with giant flags.

This Australian father-and-son act came tumbling out of a plane with not just parachutes, but also with flags twice the size of many single-family homes.

Dave, the 49-year-old dad, carried a 5,000-square-foot version of Old Glory. Rodney, the 27-year-old son, supported a 3,500-square-foot flag of red, white and blue streamers.

Dave Benson actually holds a Guinness world record that he earned skydiving with a 13,000-square-foot flag. The record has made him quite sought-after by corporations that want him to drop into sporting events carrying flags that bear their logos.

“Anything we can do that’s crazy, we’ll do it,” he said. “It beats working.”

The Benson family flag drop was one of the highlights of opening day at the event, which drew an estimated 200,000 people. In addition, expo officials presented recognition awards to NASA astronaut Marsha S. Ivins and veteran pilot Bob Hoover.

Attendees participated in various activities, including tours of military aircraft.

The festivities continue today from 10 a.m. to about 4 p.m. The pedestrian entrance for the air show is at 8030 Balboa Blvd. Free parking and shuttle bus service are available at three remote lots surrounding the airport, with parking for the disabled available on site at 8050 Balboa Blvd.

The Bensons will be back today with their flags near the start of the show.

Dave Benson said many air shows and corporations want him to try to break his own record, but he doesn’t cede to the pressure.

He says he thinks a 13,000-square-foot flag is the maximum. That flag weighed about 260 pounds, posing a major challenge for a parachutist to hold as he descends toward the Earth.

“The more weight there is, it makes everything go faster,” Benson said. “The record is on the fringe.” But he said he has no plans to return to his previous line of work as a mechanic.

“Look at how clean these hands are,” he said, holding up his palms. “They will never be dirty again.”