The Aeroshell Aerobatics Team boasts a career that reads like a Hollywood biopic starring Tom Hanks. Its members have hung out with Harrison Ford, flown over the deep blue oceans of Acapulco’s sandy beaches and cleaned up Playboy Bunny vomit after a joyride gone bad. This year its members will be able to add an induction into the International Council of Air Shows Hall of Fame to their extensive and well-rounded resumes.

As the longest-running civilian air show in North America, the Aeroshell Aerobatics Team — known for its elaborate formations and the thick plumes of white smoke that trail each plane — has become a staple of the air show community. On Dec. 11, Southern Heritage Air Foundation Board Members, Steve Gustafson and Jimmy Fordham will be recognized along with the other members of their team at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas for their performances that have captivated audiences since 1985.

“It’s a real honor,” Gustafson said. “Especially with the people that are currently and already in it.”

Gustafson began his love of flying as a child by watching his dad perform formation acrobatics in a T-6, and he has flown with the Aeroshell team since its inception. The Mound, La. native said he developed a deep passion for flying at the ripe age of six and never looked back.

“If you find something you really love to do, you never work a day in your life,” Gustafson said. “I have really been blessed being able to fly, and being able to fly with Aeroshell. I couldn’t think of a better opportunity.”

Fellow team member and Tallulah resident Jimmy Fordham first flew with Gustafson’s father, who mentored him as he trained to become a pilot. A retired senior captain with Delta Airlines, Fordham expressed gratitude for the opportunities that led him to being awarded one of air shows’ most prestigious honors.

“It’s really neat for me because I was fortunate enough to be able to fly with Steve’s dad. He kind of mentored me in the late ‘70s,” Fordham said. “To have the opportunity to have the rest of the team invite me to come fly with them, and be a part of it, it’s really a big honor for me.”

Fordham, Gustafson and the rest of their four-member team will be showing off their moves for the Southern Heritage Air Show at the Vicksburg Tallulah Regional Airport Oct. 17-18. The Aeroshell Acrobatics Team will have a twilight show at 6:45 p.m. Oct. 17 followed by a daytime performance at noon the next day.

“I’ve flown air shows for 30 years. People in this area need to realize how blessed we are to have an event like this,” Gustafson said. “There will be a B-24 Diamond there. There’s only two B-24’s flying in the world today and one will be at the Vicksburg-Tallulah Air Show.”

Tickets for the event are $10 per person or $20 per carload. All proceeds will go to the Warrior Bonfire Project, a charity started by Dan Fordice designed to help veterans cope with life after combat.

“They’re true patriots,” Gustafson said. “They really want to give back to these veterans and organizing this thing, it’s getting bigger and bigger. It only comes around once every two years, so put it on the calendar and go.”