Our April 2025 Creator Highlight focuses on Leland Kracher, #1 Lead of the NextGen Eagles display team! As the World’s only Christen Eagle team, they are honored to be writing the next chapter in the incredible story of these historic air show airplanes. With a mission to Inspire, Entertain, and Connect they are constantly working on ways to expand the reach of air shows. From an active social media presence, to flying these iconic airplanes of the 80s, their performance is for everybody from the long-time air show veterans, to the first-timers experiencing their first event!
Leland utilises Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 to perform site surveys in advance of their air show performances, and has a long history of playing Flight Simulator from an early age. We had the opportunity to interview Leland to ask him about his career, use of MSFS 2024 for planning displays, and more!
Could you please let us know a little bit more about you, your experience in the aviation industry, alongside some information about the NextGen Eagles?
My family has told me since before even knowing what they were, I’ve always been looking up at airplanes. Luckily my late mother was a flight attendant and my grandfather was as airplane-obsessed as I am, so I was no stranger to an air show throughout my childhood. Having always dreamt of flying, on Christmas 2005 my parents fulfilled that dream with gift certificates to our local flight school. Two days later I took my first flying lesson at the age of 13, went on to solo on my 16th birthday, and have been flying ever since.
It was at one of those air shows I was first introduced to the plane our team flies today, the iconic Christen Eagle, and I immediately fell in love. From the beautiful colors of the paint to the unmistakable outline of a biplane, it was at that moment I knew what I wanted to do with my life – I was going to do whatever it took to be the flight lead of a Christen Eagle team.
From starting as a kid flying simulators, I am now in my early 30s and proud to say I have achieved my goal of becoming a Commercial Pilot with the incredible privilege of flying air shows, in my dream airplane, as my full-time job.
What similarities and differences do you think there are between flying in the real world and in the simulator?
Simulator flying has taught me many skills that have translated into real-world flying. From knowing where to look in manoeuvres, to what certain control inputs will make an airplane do, I was able to make mistakes and explore all envelopes of flight without any risk – all the while saving thousands of dollars in flight time. All those hours practicing in the simulator made the transition to executing those same things in real-world flying that much easier.
The main difference I’ve noticed primarily comes from “feeling” the plane. For example, I flew countless hours of formation in the simulator and learned a ton. From seeing the sight picture of holding the correct position, to what power/control inputs were needed to stay in position, and even to how to fly smoothly as a lead, I was able to see all facets of formation flying, and lemme tell you, it was difficult to stay in position! So when it came time to try it in real-world flying for the first time, I knew what it would look like to be close to other planes, and in theory how to put the proper controls in to stay in position from my time in the sim.
However, to my surprise, once we got into the flight, holding position almost felt easier than it did in the simulator, because even though I had learned where to look and what controls to put in, I could now feel the plane responding to those controls, and it just all clicked! All those hours on the simulator learning, and all those mistakes I made in the safe, controlled environment of Flight Sim, allowed me to be prepared for the real-world opportunity, saving me money, keeping me safe, and making for one memorable first formation flight!
How has flight simulator influenced your career in aviation?
My aviation career wouldn’t be anywhere near where it is today without Flight Sim. My first MSFS experience was on Flight Sim ’98 – from trying to land the 737, to learning the basics of aerobatics in Patty Wagstaff’s Extra, I played non-stop as a kid. From there I’ve owned and played every version of MSFS, with the bulk of my simming time in FSX. The built-in online lobbies were a game changer for meeting other simmers, and through those relationships, was able to start a team flying virtual air shows in two Christen Eagles (built by IRIS Simulations) emulating the Iron Eagle Aerobatic team.
Little did I know, my simulator air show flying would lead to me traveling with the Iron Eagles to real-world air shows with the pilots, Bill Gordon and Billy Segalla, showing me behind the curtain of what it takes to be an air show pilot. From how to execute a maneuver, to how they look over the airports when they arrive, I would take what they taught me at the show, and go home and practice that in Flight Sim. That tradition has carried on to today and is the origin of our modern-day site surveys in MSFS 2024.
Can you give us some details as to how you best utilise MSFS to enhance your real world displays?
Our primary use of MSFS these days is to take advantage of the incredible satellite imagery and fly over our air show sites to get familiar with the lay of the land. From learning what obstacles may be around the airport, to seeing what the runway layout looks like, we get invaluable information before ever arriving at the show site – thus saving us time, and saving the air shows fuel costs. This sets us up to come into the show with enhanced situational awareness, allowing us to execute our performance as efficiently and safely as possible.
Do you have any advice for aspiring pilots, or any recommendations for steps they can take to get started?
My main advice for anybody aspiring to do aerobatics is to DO IT!!! Simply put there is absolutely nothing like the feeling of aerobatics. The realization you can control these machines in any attitude is a beautiful and empowering feeling that is not only fun but makes you a more well-rounded pilot.
The first step to take that leap is to find a local aerobatic flight school and take an aerobatic discovery flight, and the best way to find those schools is through the International Aerobatic Club, or IAC. The IAC is an incredible organization fullof like-minded aerobatic pilots who will help you find your way into aerobatics. Having chapters around the nation, you will have access to aerobatic contests, practice days, mentorship, and other aerobatic-based events – not to mention all the incredible resources the club has in place for you to draw from to learn the fundamentals of aerobatics the correct way, all with an impeccable safety record.
Want to see the NextGen Eagles live? Go and support them at some of their upcoming performances including:
- May 2-4 – Red, White & Blue Air Show – Monroe, LA
- May 16-18 – Central Texas Air Fest – Temple, TX
- June 13-15 – NJ Air Show – West Milford, NJ
- July 2-6 – Festival of Flight – Battle Creek, MI
- July 21-27 – EAA Airventure – Oshkosh, WI
You can find out more the NextGen Eagles via their website: https://thenextgeneagles.com/
You can follow the NextGen Eagles on their instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/thenextgeneagles/
Or check out their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/thenextgeneagles/