Air show enthusiast F/O Pete Buffington (United) has long believed that the music set to many aerobatic routines has needed a makeover. After watching numerous performances over the years and hearing the same classic-rock standards, he felt a new soundtrack was in order—one with more of an aviation perspective that better keeps pace with changing air show routines. And thanks to an innovative technology coupled with his extensive musical and flying background, Buffington has created a fresh sound to highlight these exciting aerial displays.

Music in His Blood and a Passion for Flight

The son of a lead technician for the Wurlitzer Corporation, the iconic musical instruments manufacturer, Buffington watched as his father tuned and repaired pianos for music legends like Chubby Checker and Duke Ellington. He grew up playing the piano and, following in the family business, became a licensed piano tuner/technician.

At an early age, Buffington also developed a passion for flying, earning his pilot’s license on his 16th birthday. He attained an aviation degree from the University of North Dakota and has flown for a combined 28 years for United, American Eagle, and Air Wisconsin.

Having this dual skill set has served Buffington well, particularly during the airline industry’s more turbulent times. “My musical background was a good thing to be able to fall back on. During furloughs, I tuned pianos for churches, private homes, and schools,” he remarked.

The Birth of Genre-Bending Speed Brake Armed

Given his background, it’s no surprise that Buffington is a fan of all types of music, including the sounds of the American reggae group Stick Figure. In learning more about the band, he discovered that frontman and multi-instrumentalist Scott Woodruff uses a digital audio workstation (DAW) to record much of Stick Figure’s music. This computer application provides a full multitrack audio and MIDI recording, with editing, processing, mixing, and mastering capabilities.

Buffington realized that, with his musical skills, he could use a DAW to produce quality recordings without the help of a conventional music studio and the accompanying staff. He quickly sought the assistance of his wife, Julie, a longtime choir singer. In 2025, they formed Speed Brake Armed—a tongue-in-cheek reference to an aircraft system that deploys when the wheels touch the runway during landing or during a rejected takeoff.

The duo, with the occasional help of their daughter, has produced 10 albums, experimenting with different music styles. Channeling what they call “authentic flight deck experiences, night flights, and aviation radio echoes into original genre-blending music,” Buffington noted that he only uses artificial intelligence for the final remastering of the music. All the lyrics are original, and the voices are human.

Composing for Air Shows

The band’s second and third recordings specifically focused on air show music, in some cases customizing songs for individual performers. In addition to preparing songs for aerobatic stars like Mike Goulian, Vicky Benzing, and the Blue Angels, Buffington also signed with air show flyer Greg Koontz to provide a soundtrack that complements his performances.

The music of Speed Brake Armed has also been used to showcase larger events. Last April, Paradise City Media at the Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Fla., arranged for Buffington to furnish music throughout the week, and his music will be featured there again in 2027. In addition, Sun ’n Fun Paradise City Media has commissioned him to write a Paradise City theme song for the event.

Speed Brake Armed recordings were also played at the Northern Alabama AirFest last month, where Buffington deejayed his music.

A Journey Around the World

On September 11, 2026, 25 years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Buffington released 787 World Horizons, his 10th and most ambitious studio album yet. The aviation-themed concept album is a journey around the world, featuring songs from various stops along the way.

 “The music contains traditional and subtle elements of the different locations,” said Buffington, who noted that his recordings are available on major streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple, and YouTube. In addition, the band plans to launch a website in the near future, in part, to address the increasing demand for its CDs.

No doubt, Speed Brake Armed has brought the Buffington family closer together, and through his application of entrepreneurial creativity and his passion for both music and aviation, Buffington has discovered a unique way to make the most of his two careers.