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Flyover salutes Cincinnati pilot who died in Virginia air show

603 views · Published 30 October 2018 · 1:43 · Indexed 25 September 2026

Channel: LOCAL 12 · 2018 · News & Politics

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LINWOOD, Ohio (WKRC) - Jon Thocker loved to fly, and Tuesday he got a fitting sendoff high above Cincinnati.

A 12-plane flyover saluted the skill and precision that Thocker flew with. His wingman and business partner of 12 years Ken Rieder flew Thocker's original RV aircraft.

"Ken set the right altitude, airspeed and attitude, and Jon trusted him because he didn't know where the sky ends and the ground begins. But the two of them fly like one," said air show announcer Rob Reider.

The two flew together the night Thocker crashed at an air show in Virginia earlier in October.

Inside the Waypoint Aviation Hanger, hundreds of friends and pilots shared stories of Thocker, including Rieder.

"Business partners, flying partners, wingman, the guy I hung out with the most on a day-to-day basis. We talked all the time," Rieder said.

Thocker's daughter told the crowd of the lessons her father taught her: to dream big and make sure everyone sees you.

"When we show up as our best selves every single day and do the things that bring us the most joy, you look around you. Look around you. Look how many lives you can impact when you unapologetically show up as you," Haley Thocker said.

A final flyover typically reserved for military, the missing man formation, Rieder pulling out to honor his friend.

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