The Swift’s 76th anniversary was heralded with a patriotic “Spirit of 76” celebration during the 2022 Swift National Fly-In at the Swift Museum Foundation in Athens, Tennessee.
A banner year for bold and beautiful Beechcraft
There were newcomers and old timers at the 2022 event, and of the latter, there were three remaining members of the original Tullahoma Bunch, the group that became the Staggerwing Club, then evolved into the Beechcraft Heritage Museum.
A fun and friendly grassroots fly-in
The Grassroots Fly-In is “a family, fun atmosphere where people not only fly their antique and classic airplanes in, but they fly them throughout the fly-in, said Midwest Antique Airplane Club President Justin Niemyjski. “It’s where guys share rides and let their friends fly their airplanes. You don’t find that happening very often.”
Earning her wings after a 30-year hiatus
Always fascinated by aviation, Gail Franks took almost 30 years to earn her private pilot certificate, but only because she was immersed in another aspect of aviation: Building her own airfield.
Full circle with Dick Willetts and his Comedy Cub Capers
Dick Willetts of Albia, Iowa, is an integral part of air show history, performing his Comedy Cub Capers for 50 years. In 2021, he celebrated the restoration of his beloved Cub at Antique Airfield in Iowa.
The elegant Waco UEC
“If you can fly a J-3 Cub, you can fly this airplane.”
Baby, Oh Baby: A great little biplane
The Baby Great Lakes flies right into the category of “once you’ve seen one, you won’t forget it!” It is tiny, but those who own these airplanes love them.
The Storyteller and the Stearman
“For me, aviation is more than a physical experience, it is also a spiritual thing,” says Hans Nordsiek, who is known as The Storyteller. He shares his passion for aviation with children of all ages to inspire them to be their best and strive to do something that they love.
Beech Party: Starship, Staggerwings and STOL
The annual Beech Party broke records in 2021, with a bumper crop of Beechcraft aircraft showing up for the fly-in in Tullahoma, Tennessee.