A Unique Flying Experience at the Iowa State Fair
Imagine soaring through the air, with a bird’s eye view of the Iowa State Fair, feeling the wind whip across your face as you zip from one trapeze to another. For April and Justin Chodkowski, this is not just a dream—it’s their daily reality. As leaders of the Flying Royals, they perform this breathtaking act six times a day, suspended 35 feet in the air on a custom trapeze rigging.
The Flying Royals are a traveling troupe of elite trapeze artists hailing from across the Americas and Europe. April and Justin, who have been performing together since 2009 under the names Catcher and Flier, formed the Flying Royals in 2018. Their journey began during a stint with La Nouba, a now-closed Cirque du Soleil show at Disney Springs in Florida, where they were approached by someone interested in reviving a classic criss-crossing trapeze act that has since become synonymous with the group.
This year, as the 2020 election season captures national attention, Iowa remains in the spotlight. While politics dominate headlines, the Iowa State Fair continues to draw thousands of visitors each day. For those looking for fair updates, the 2025 Iowa State Fair daily guide is a must-have resource.
Watching performers defy gravity as they move gracefully through the air is already impressive. However, what makes the Flying Royals’ act even more remarkable is that it hasn’t been seen for over two decades. “There’s no YouTube tutorial for us to learn the things we’re doing on the very special, unique rigging that we have,” said Justin Chodkowski. “We’re basically pioneering all of the crazy tricks and sequences, and it happens just in trying.”
According to the Flying Royals’ website, the criss-crossing trapeze act was first introduced by the Great Otari Troupe in the 1950s. It was later revived in the mid-1990s by the Caballero family but eventually faded from popularity—until the Flying Royals brought it back with a modern twist. “We share the airspace as we’re completing these quasi-traditional maneuvers, but a lot of them are stuff we’ve completely come up with on our own,” April Chodkowski explained. “We’re the only act of its kind, so you can only see them here on our rig.”
While trapeze is the highlight of their performance at the Iowa State Fair, the Flying Royals are far from being one-dimensional. They also showcase other talents such as juggling, slack wire balancing, aerial silks, and acrobatics at various events across the United States.
April Chodkowski estimates that each show at the fair attracts around 1,500 people. With six shows a day over 11 days, the Iowa State Fair has become one of the largest audiences the group has ever performed for. “This is our first time in Des Moines, and it’s absolutely the best fair we’ve been to yet,” said Justin Chodkowski. “The biggest, the most amount of people. It’s a little difficult out here because of the weather, but, you know, the amount of people surrounding us and watching our shows just puts it all to rest as much as possible.”
The Flying Royals continue to captivate audiences with their daring performances, bringing a sense of wonder and excitement to every show they grace. Whether it’s the thrill of the trapeze or the artistry of their other acts, there’s something undeniably magical about their performance that leaves spectators in awe.
