Sept 5, 2008

As I made my way from home across the runway to work this morning, it occurred to me that just a week ago Antique Airfield was bustling with people, planes and activity. But now I look around and it has once again returned to it's normal bucolic state with the only indication a major aviation event had occurred, being the worn and browned grass on the runway, taxiways and parking areas.

By all accounts and comments the 2008 AAA/APM Invitational Fly-in was a success. From the number and quality of the aircraft, to the fine group of folks whom attended, to the almost perfect weather. But before I get to the highlights I would be amiss if I didn't thank the people whom help with their time, money and talents to make this fly-in possible. For those that may not be aware the full time staff at Antique Airfield consists of only five people and there is just no way five people can put on an event like the AAA/APM Fly-in. From field preparations, aircraft and car parking, flagging (ATC), registration, the museum store, the flymarket, ice cream sales, vendors, trash pickup, facility maintenance, security, aircraft fueling, the Pilot's Pub, movies, awards, food services, the memorial service, PA system set up and take down, web site updates, aircraft count etc. It takes a myriad of talented people who volunteer to help make the AAA/APM Invitational Fly-in the premiere aviation event it is. They are not only due thanks and praise from myself and Antique Airfield's staff, but also from all participants and visitors to the fly-in. So to those wonderful volunteers THANK YOU !!!

So for those that were in attendance and those that could not be following are but a few highlights.

Our theme for 2008 was "Air Mail Days" a celebration of the 90th Anniversary of Scheduled Airmail in the US. Due to the hard work and diligence of APM board President, Mike Gretz and Blakesburg Postmaster, Susie Pierson, this once in a lifetime event turned out to be very successful. We flew the mail for four days from Antique Airfield to nearby Ottumwa airport and for two days onto Iowa City and return. We had a wide variety of aircraft (18) participate in these flights over the four days but the sights and sounds of a Hisso "Jenny", a DeHavilland DH-4, a Boeing 40 and a Ford Tri-motor once again flying the mail made these flights truly historically significant. Other aircraft participating in the flights over the four days included a Sikorsky S-39 flying boat, two Stearman model 4 "Speedmails", the oldest flyable Stearman in existence (C3B), a Stinson Tri-motor, Waco Staightwing, Waco UEC, New Standard D-25 (which flew mail and postal officials as well), Bird CK, two Navy marked N2S Stearmans, the APM Aeronca Champ and some international mail flown in a Canadian registered DeHavilland Tiger Moth.

To go along with the airmail theme the "Runway Cinema" in the evenings featured such movies as "Blaze of Noon" and John Ford's "Airmail". Bill Tinkler gave a program on Fri, "Air Mail 60", about his flight in 1984 to retrace the transcontinental airmail route from E-W that was well attended and received.

On Saturday one of the big events, and a big surprise for AAA President Robert Taylor, happened. RLT received the FAA "Charles Taylor Master Mechanic" award from Ken Rieger (DSM FSDO Manager) in a surprise ceremony that had been ostensibly set as a meeting/discussion about a new FAA advisory circular. To see him receive recognition for his years of efforts to preserve, protect and help keep antique airplanes flying, in front of others whom have benefited from those efforts, as well as happening on his own airport was a special moment for all in attendance.

By Sunday with the weather still great it was suggested (by son Ben) that we hold the awards ceremony outside in front of Hangar #1 instead of inside the APM Hangar. So it was that as the sun set on the backdrop of Frank Schelling's Jenny and Addison Pemberton's Boeing 40 those assembled were treated to a couple of short video's of fly-in's past followed by Paul Berge and RLT handing out the awards. Grand Champion Antique was awarded to Frank Schelling for his Hisso powered Curtiss JN-4H "Jenny" capping off a great week.

As a final note in this abbreviated report I offer the following. Though we had a few exciting moments in connection with aircraft operations there were no accidents nor incidents making it a very safe fly-in. For that we are thankful and applaud the abilities and diligence of those 331 aircraft pilots operating strictly in a see and be seen, non radio mode into and out of Antique Airfield during the fly-in.

We hope to see you all next year Sep 2nd - 7th, 2009!

Brent Taylor
Fly-in Chairman