Back to Blakesburg is one of the most-anticipated events of the fly-in season.
“Back to Blakesburg” is the rallying call for pilots who make it to the Antique Airplane Association/Airpower Museum‘s (AAA/APM) Invitational Fly-in, held over Labor Day weekend at Antique Airfield (IA27) in Iowa.
The 2022 fly-in, held Aug. 30-Sept. 5, attracted close to 200 aircraft.
While this year’s fly-in was not the biggest, “it certainly was one of the best,” says Brent Taylor, president of the Antique Airplane Association, “with good weather, a great crowd with many new faces, as well as familiar ones, lots of flying, plus an outstanding variety of aircraft.”
“With the volunteers we had, including several new ones, the field was ready, and the operations went smoothly,” he says.
“To all who have faith in what we do, came to help, attend, and support the 2022 AAA/APM Invitational Fly-in, thank you,” Taylor adds.
Highlights of this year’s fly-in included the inaugural Blakesburg Bendix Air King Charity Challenge, which honors the Bendix Trophy, a race from Burbank, California, to Cleveland, Ohio, founded in 1931 by industrialist Vincent Bendix as part of the National Air Races.
For the Blakesburg Bendix, racers started at the Hastings Municipal Airport (KHSI) in Nebraska, making stops at Crete Municipal Airport (KCEK) in Nebraska, Red Oak Municipal Airport (KRDK) in Iowa, and Greenfield Municipal Airport (KGFZ) in Iowa, with Antique Airfield the end of the race.
“This new event, in cooperation with the Nebraska chapter of the AAA, and a group at the Red Oak, Iowa, airport, along with the Crete, Nebraska airport, and the Iowa Aviation Museum in Greenfield, worked out much better than expected,” Taylor reports. “The six participants in the Air King Charity Challenge really got into the spirit of the 1930s air races, and the group of 15 or so antiques and classics following along added to the fun.”
Another highlight was the rededication service of The Gone West Memorial, he says.
“Justin Niemyjski did a wonderful job, along with help from Clifford Hatz, Carolyn Applegate, and the VFW honor guard,” he adds.
While clean-up of the 2022 event is still going on, Taylor notes that the 2023 AAA/APM Invitational Fly-In “is already on our minds.”
“After all, 2023 will be the 70th anniversary of the founding of the AAA,” he says. “Coincidentally it will also be the 30th year that I have either been co-chairman or chairman of the fly-in.”
Expect the return of the Blakesburg Bendix, he adds, noting the Nebraska chapter has agreed to once again host the 1930s-style air race challenge, while the sponsor of the Air King Charity Challenge has “confirmed his intention to sponsor the event once again as well.”
General Aviation News photographer Megan Vande Voort was at the 2022 fly-in and captured many great photos. Enjoy!
What a beautiful Champ! Oh, that’s my Champ. My wife named her “ Little Bird” and she is such a proud little airplane to be pictured with the “ Big Boys”. She brought her people all the way from Alabama to enjoy the fly-in at the Antique Airfield in Blakesburg Iowa. What wonderful time we had seeing all the planes and meeting so many nice people. Little Bird was born on March 7, 1946 in Middletown Ohio and spent most of her time in Ohio, but in 2020 she decided to spread her wings and fly south. She loves to fly, especially now that she sports around with new aluminum wings and colors just like our American flag. Little Bird is not a hanger queen, oh no, she flies weekly to so many fun places like through downtown St Louis at 1500 ft. right in front of Arch. At 76 Little Bird is full of life and loves to see America and take her people along. If you ever see Little Bird on your travels, come by see her because she is a proud “Little Bird”.
i had not been able attend this annual get together in 2020 and 2021.
This was a most exceptional fly-in. The airplanes were exceptional. The members were there in goodly numbers. The airfield was in excellent shape. The food on the field was varied and tasty. Registration of both people and airplanes went smoothly. The Air Race event was popular and well watched and photographed. This fly-in is one to be remembered by all who attended and enjoyed vicariously by those could not attend who will read the many articles to come about this 2022 gathering of planes and people.
Ann Holtgren Pellegreno
The Goose, and the Callair were once owned by friends here in Seattle..