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ISSUE 85 - September 2009
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The Annual Grassroots Fly-in

By Andy Heins, Contributing Editor & Photographer
Dayton, Ohio

The annual Grassroots Fly-in hosted the weekend of September 17-20, 2009 by the Mid-West Antique Airplane Club at Brodhead, Wisconsin can best be described as a laid-back affair with true “antiquers” who just love to fly. The assortment of aircraft that attend is truly amazing. Where else on earth could you watch a 1932 Pitcairn PA-18 Autogyro fly formation with a 1929 Bird Model BK

1932 Pitcairn PA-18 Autogyro

while a Hispano-Suiza powered 1929 Waco DSO and a 1929 OX-5 powered Bird A are in the pattern hopping rides?

Hispano-Suiza powered 1929 Waco DSO

Early in the week prior to the event the forecast was not good with scattered thunderstorms forecasted around the area for the entire weekend. However, by Wednesday afternoon, the forecast changed 100% and nothing but blue skies with east winds became the new forecast. Four gorgeous days followed with light winds, temperatures in the high 70’s to low 80’s and bright blue skies.

1932 Fleet 10 NC751V
1935 Waco YOC NC15244

1930 Waco CRG NC600Y
1943 Howard DGA-15P NC9599H

Each day was filled with new arrivals and on Saturday, the skies literally opened up with aircraft. I would have to guess close to 250 airplanes attended the gathering.

1930 Stearman 4E NC785H
1940 Rearwin 8135 Cloudster NC4404W

1930 Bird BK NC894W
1930 Fairchild KR-21 NC207V

What makes Grassroots so appealing though are the types of aircraft present. Where else can you watch Wacos, Travel Airs, Howards, Birds, Fleets, Fairchilds, Rearwins, Great Lakes, Ryans, and Meyers fly into a show in multiple numbers?

1935 Rearwin 7000 Sportster NC14486
1940 Culver LCA NC281W

1938 Ryan SCW-145 NC18912
1939 DeHavilland DH.82A N82MK

Best represented this year were the Wacos with no less than fourteen present representing ten different models. There were a few “big iron” antiques present with no less than three Beech 18’s, a Lockheed 12A and a Grumman G44 Widgeon.

1929 Bird A NC9181
1930 Great Lakes 2T-1A NC647K

1936 Lockheed 12A NC2072
1929 Fleet 1 NC8616

Other interesting antiques present were three DeHavilland DH.82A Tiger Moths, two Culver Cadets, Culver Dart, two Cessna Airmasters, Stearman C-2, Stearman 4D, Butler Blackhawk, Heath Parasol, four Cessna 195’s, Stinson SM-2AA, Stinson Jr. S, and a Bucker Jungman, just to name a few.

1931 Waco QCF-2 NC11440
1933 Waco UIC NC13072

Flying at Grassroots begins at first light and continues non-stop until dusk. You can walk the field and visit with the pilots and view the aircraft or just go sit by the beautiful grass runway and watch the activity. Friday night the Club has their famous Wisconsin Fish Boil. Saturday night is the hugely attended pork chop dinner. Breakfast and lunch is served daily for all those who attend. Everyone is friendly and is willing to share their knowledge and experience. No awards are given save one.

Each year, one aircraft is selected to receive a “special” award. It has been tradition for all the kids on the field to go around to all the pilots and solicit “donations” from the pilots to not receive the award! When you awake Sunday morning, it is clearly easy to see who the winner is!

Jim Hammond wins the "special" award

This year’s recipient was Jim Hammond from Yellow Springs, Ohio in his 1931 Stinson Jr. S. Jim took it all in stride and vowed to not be a repeat winner next year!

1931 Stinson Jr. S NC10886 (Before the Award)

Andy Heins
Contributing Editor & Photographer

wacoaso@aol.com

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