200,000 View Giant Flags, Flyovers in Van Nuys Show

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

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

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

The elder Benson holds a Guinness world record by skydiving with a 13,000-square-foot flag. The feat has made him highly sought by corporations wanting him to skydive into sporting events carrying flags that bear their business logos.

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

The Benson family flag drop was one of the highlights of opening day at the Van Nuys event, now in its 38th year. Also, Aviation Expo officials presented recognition awards to NASA astronaut Marsha S. Ivins and veteran pilot Bob Hoover.

Airport spokesman Richard French estimated that about 200,000 attended the free air show Saturday.

The event continues today from 10 a.m. to 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 lots surrounding the airport. Parking for the disabled is available at 8050 Balboa Blvd.

The Bensons will perform again today near the start of the show.

Benson said many air shows and companies want him to try to break his record, but he has declined. He said he believes a 13,000-square-foot flag is the maximum. That flag weighed about 260 pounds, which is a major challenge for a parachuter to hold while descending toward the earth.

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

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