Pilots, Props and Planes is to television what Air Shows are to the general public. You don’t have to own an airplane or be a pilot to “enjoy the show.”Among the themes to be featured are: “Medi-Vac”, pilots, planes and crew; “Crop-Dusters” The stunt flyers of Agriculture; “Police in the air” – fixed wing and helicopter; and “Forest Service Fire Fighters” – air tankers. Each program will include “Bill’s Scrapbook”, archival footage from the Phoenix Producers Group library.
Chuck Carson
Creator Pilots, Props & Planes
Producer/Director
Chuck produced and was head writer of the unique television documentary, “The Master Storytellers of Mariposa.” Distributed to PBS stations by Pacific Mountain Network of Denver, Co. and airing on over 300 stations. He also co-wrote, directed and produced “Oh Little Town” the story of how the “General Grant” tree in King’s Canyon National Park became the Nation’s Christmas Tree. This program was also distributed to PBS stations by Pacific Mountain Network. Carson continued his passion for documentaries by writing, producing and hosting “After the Game is Over” as a companion piece to the Ken Burns PBS series for Valley Public Television. The program featured interviews with retired major league players from California’s
San Joaquin Valley.
As Director for Phoenix Producers Group, Carson produced and narrated the critically acclaimed documentary, The Barnstormers – Pioneers of the Skies.” shown on select PBS stations in the U.S. He also produced “Rare Birds” featuring unique aircraft and pilots. The Central Valley Aviation Association commissioned him to produce the documentary “The Little Airport That Could!” the story of Fresno Chandler Executive Airport. In 2019 he directed the award winning documentary, Warnors – A Legacy, the story of Warnors Theatre in Fresno, California. A long time aviation enthusiast and C.E.O. of Phoenix Producers Group and Vintage Years Airshows, Chuck looks forward to producing and directing his first series, PILOTS , PROPS & PLANES
Bill Vasilovich
Host
Show host Bill Vasilovich has a long and distinguished career as an aviation historian and professional airshow announcer. His distinct style and vocal delivery continue to be in demand at major performances across the U.S.
Bill has been associated with some of the top air show teams in the country including a seven year stint as a member of The Red Baron Stearman Squad. His inquisitive nature has garnered an extraordinary amount of knowledge regarding all facets of aviation which he will be sharing with viewers of Pilots, Props and Planes.
Bob Tyrcha
Director of Photography
Bob has been a photojournalist covering major news events and producing documentaries for five decades. He has been an award-winning producer for a regional PBS affiliate for much of the last twenty years, specializing in documentary films about the arts. He was the director of photography for a historical documentary about the Fresno Chandler Executive Airport, one of the earliest commercial airports in California, and he filmed the award-winning documentary, Warnors – A Legacy, about an ornate 90-year-old theater built by
Alexander Pantages. Bob’s father was an Air Force crew chief who worked on P-61 Black Widow night fighters, T-6 and F-86 through F-16 aircraft. Bob grew up with those planes and later, as a cameraman, he spent many hours shooting from every type of flying machine from hot air balloons and open cockpit antiques to modern helicopters and planes of every sort. As an aviation junkie, Bob is excited to be a part of this great new series.
Steven Lee
Production Manager
Steven’s recent background includes a 15-year run as Broadcast Operations Manager for a regional PBS affiliate. During this time, He continually pursued knowledge and innovations in Information Technology allowing him to guide the station from linear based editing systems to the more efficient non-linear. This change allowed new work flows as well as improving On Air systems. Steven was an integral part of a number of regional Emmy nominated shows including but not limited to “Valley’s Gold”, “Hey Kids, Let’s Cook” and “Valley of Hope: The Armenian Journey from Terror to Triumph.” He is a partner in Vulcan's Hammer Production and Executive Director and Host of the web series, “Fresh Start” featuring restaurants and the people behind them. “Fresh Start” was nominated for a TASTE Award. We are pleased to have Steven as Production Manager for Pilots, Props and Planes.
Shatera Sangster
Social Media Manager
Shatera Sangster is the founder of Social Media Sidekick who is committed to providing social media management, training, and resources. She has spent the last eight years working with various clients from multiple industries and was a part of the marketing team at the PBS affiliate in Fresno where she oversaw digital services. She was also part of PBS's Digital Immersion project, which aimed to further digital success at local level stations. She is currently most passionate about the work she is doing now to cultivate new audiences.
As a social media manager turned specialist, Shatera has developed a unique perspective on digital marketing. Influenced by the paradigm shift of social media and ever-so-changing platforms, she aspires to become a resource for many brands in the next stages of her career.
Oscar Speace
Camera Operator
Since 2002, Oscar’s one-woman play, JANKA, about his mother’s Holocaust experience, has played to audiences in theaters all over the United States including the June Havoc Theater in New York as well as the Edinburgh Festival, London, Sydney, Australia and Sighet, Romania. Oscar Speace has been an award-winning producer-director for Valley PBS in Fresno since 1981. He was the creator and producer-director of Valley Press. The program ended a 19- year run in 2008. Over 750 programs were produced since its inception in 1989. Guests have included: Vice President Dan Quayle, Calif. Governor Pete Wilson, Bruce Herschensohn, Kathleen Brown, Senator Barbara Boxer, Congressman Sony Bono, Authors Victor Davis Hanson and Mas Masumoto, and Comedian Jimmie Walker. He is currently directing WATER IN A THIRSTY LAND, a four part series on the history of water in the Valley. He is also the Technical Advisor for Valley PBS ByYou, a website video sharing site for events, people and stories in the
Central Valley. He is also an Emmy-nominated (Northern California) producer-director of Ed EmanuEl’s CONQUEST OF MY BROTHER distributed nationally by the American Program Service. John
Kelly was the director of photography.