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ISSUE 578 - March 2019
Over 9,000 Total Ads Listed
1,000+ NEW Ads Per Week |
| 2018 National Stearman Fly-in - Part III |
By Kevin Moore, Contributing
Editor & Photographer
Watford, Ontario, Canada |
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Scott Murphy flying his lovely Stearman alongside us
on our return trip from Kewanee to Galesburg. |
| We return to the 2018 National Stearman Fly-in this week for Part III, and the final segment, about our time at this great annual event. |
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| There were various booths where one could spend some money, including assorted clothing from Dennis at Rag Bag Aero Works, left, as well as lots of hats, right. |
| When you're at the NSFI you have to make sure you visit one of the retail booths on hand such as RagBag (Rag Bag Aero Works) where you can pick up a hat, t-shirt, sweatshirt or banner with "Stearman" on it, or many other aircraft makes such as Piper, Cessna and Aeronca to name but a few. You may have your own design in mind so, talk to Dennis about having your idea come to life on a shirt, hat or banner. His work is excellent and he's committed to each and every project. |
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| With their lovely US Navy 917, left, Aaron Marshall and his daughter, Skylar, spent lots of time in the air but also kept themselves involved in other aspects of the fly-in. Proof positive, both Aaron & Skylar received certificates, 3rd & 2nd place respectively, honouring their 'hangar shenanigans' while at the NSFI. |
In this day and age, when it seems the younger generations tend to have their heads stuck to their cell phones, tablets, computers and television, it's imperative that older generations keep the younger generations engaged in activities outside of the home. To that end, Stearman owner & pilot, Aaron Marshall has his 12 year old daughter, Skylar, well engaged when it comes to aeroplanes and aviation. She's an up and coming Stearman pilot and, no doubt, she'll soon be flying her own aircraft to events such as the National Stearman Fly-in. |
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| At the end of the week a big dinner, assorted presentations and an auction is held, left, where items, such as a Stearman banner, right, can be bid on with monies donated to the NSFI to help with expenses. |
| The week's events culminated with a final night of great food, beverages, presentations, an auction and loads of fun. The food, throughout the week, was great and the NSFI's food and beverage vendors outdid themselves. Not to be outdone, much fun was had during the auction where various donated items as well as the event's banners are auctioned off to the highest bidders in an effort to help raise funds. It was a great night with great people! |
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| Even if you don't have the opportunity to get up in the air, there are plenty of aircraft on the ground that you can spend time photographing. |
| While at the NSFI, for a small donation fee, you can hop the hangar train, a covered but open ride, that takes you out to the parking area so you can have a closer look at the aircraft in attendance. You'll get to go up and down each row of aircraft in order to get photos and maybe chat with a pilot or two. Make sure you bring extra batteries as well as extra SD cards for your camera or make sure your phone is fully charged before coming as you don't want to miss out on a photo opportunity while there. |
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An original style instrument panel, left, and more modernized,
updated instrument panel, right. |
Though the Stearman was built in the 1940s, many still fly with mostly original cockpit instrument panels housing the minimum of instruments such as an altimeter, air speed indicator, compass, engine RPM indicator, cylinder head and oil temp gages and even a g-meter in some. Other Stearmans have been outfitted with more modern and updated instrument panels with more instruments and electronics. Regardless of the instrument panel, the aeroplanes still fly the same and are as much fun today as they were 70 years ago. |
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| Make plans to visit the 2019 National Stearman Fly-in at Galesburg Airport, Galesburg, Illinois. Arrive early and stay for the entire week and partake in all the different events that happen throughout the week including the workshops, fly-outs and meals. Meet other owners & pilots, find some much needed parts for your aircraft or that special Stearman t-shirt, hat or banner. |
| Flying and/or owning a Stearman is a dream for many and a dream that has come true for thousands of people around the world. It's a workhorse for those who want to use it in airshows or for wing walking; it's a fun aeroplane to fly to an airport just for a fly-in breakfast or lunch; and it's a head turner no matter where you go. Most of all, and any Stearman pilot will tell you, it's a fun aeroplane to fly. You won't necessarily get anywhere fast but you'll always have fun getting there. If you really want to take your aircraft to the Mecca of aviation events for Stearman owners and pilots, make plans to get to the 2019 National Stearman Fly-in in Galesburg, Illinois and make your own Stearman history. |
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For more information on the National Stearman Fly-in, visit their website. |
| National Stearman Fly-in: stearmanflyin.com |
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Not everything was Stearman at the event.
Here is one of a couple of T-6's that visited the NSFI during the week. |
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There were plenty of Stearman wearing civilian colour schemes and this one is a beautiful example, affectionately known as "Tillie," wearing a distinctive red & yellow scheme including a checkerboard tail. |
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| One of several Stearman that wear the big 450hp engine, left. There were some colourful and unique Stearman tails, right, that could be found on quite a few aircraft. |
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The NSFI is a great place for aviation photographers, especially with such photogenic aircraft like the Jet Blue US Navy Stearman, left, piloted by Phillip Wolford. |
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Aaron Marshall with copilot, Skylar, just before touching down at Galesburg. |
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| There were aircraft coming and going when the weather was suitable for flying and, though the weather didn't cooperate over several days, many took to the skies when the weather permitted. |
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Nicely lined up in the grassy parking area at Kewanee Airport. |
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My ride, Canadian Stearman C-GSDK, owned & flown by Bruce Bond. |
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Formation over the Galesburg, Illinois area with Phillip Wolford in the Jet Blue, US Navy Stearman and Daniel Wolford in his trainer yellow Stearman. |
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Mark it on your calendar, in your phone, on your computer and
make plans to attend the 2019 National Stearman Fly-in. |
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