During World War II, approximately 6,000 people were trained as glider pilots for the U.S. Army Air Force. They proudly wore the silver wings with the “G” designation, which officially stood for Glider, although some of the men declared that the “G” really stood for Guts. During the 1960s, a few of these men decided […]
Friends of NAS Ottumwa
A new group, “Friends of Naval Air Station (NAS) Ottumwa,” has recently been formed to preserve the history and Naval aviation heritage of the Ottumwa, Iowa, airport. The old, two-story brick administration building still exists on the property, but is in need of repair since it has been unused for years. The group seeks to […]
Celebrating 40 years at Antique Airfield
The annual invitational Antique Airplane Association (AAA) fly-in every Labor Day weekend is a closely-held tradition for hundreds of aviators. Through the years, it has evolved into an exciting-yet-relaxing “old home week” — providing a respite from the frenetic pace of the world. It’s a terrific place to see antique, vintage (including homebuilts), and classic […]
Let’s go ‘Back to Blakesburg,’ where the antiques just keep on flying
At least 360 airplanes were flown to Blakesburg, Iowa, for the 2010 AAA/APM Invitational Fly-In over Labor Day weekend. Many of those intrepid pilots dodged inclement weather along their flight paths and flocked to the field on Saturday, lured by the unique grassroots ambiance and friendly camaraderie awaiting them at Antique Airfield (IA27). (The field […]
A flight back in time: Antique Airplane Fly-In
Every Labor Day weekend, antiquers from all over the country pack their bags, load their airplanes (or autos) and head like homesick aviators to the Antique Airplane Association/Air Power Museum’s Invitational Fly-in at Antique Airfield in Blakesburg, Iowa. It’s a low-key, grassroots fly-in, where airplanes fly from dawn to dusk, and old friends reunite, while […]