When this small aircraft flies overhead, the questions start flying as well. What kind of airplane is that? Is it an antique? Well, it does resemble one, with its angular windshield, outrigger gear, large spoked wheels, and square-shaped rudder — but it isn’t. This classy Cabin Ace SJ (N486N) is a special blend, concocted by […]
The Brilliant Bentzen Sport
“We’re all astounded at what this Bentzen Sport can do,” says Rob Bach of Pell Lake, Wisconsin, adding, “Bill and Ken Bentzen were engineers and brothers; they only built one plane — and they built it perfectly.” Though the airplane is 54 years old, it’s a fresh face on the flight line today, with an intriguing history. The […]
The playful Pober Pixie
Evoking the open-air feeling of sport plane flying from the 1930s, the single-seat Pober Pixie, with its parasol wing and open cockpit, is a playful and happy-spirited flying machine. NX321PX was completed by co-owners Rick Gritters and Tom Vander Linden of Pella, Iowa. Designed by Paul Poberezny in 1974, the Pixie’s appealing appearance is similar […]
Keeping the antiques flying, year after year
Sunny Iowa skies, homemade pies, one-of-a-kind airplanes, and colorful aviators all mixed together this past Labor Day to create the special type of ambiance for which Antique Airfield is known. Known by most as just Blakesburg, it’s the kind of fly-in where pilots don’t need radios. Red and green flags control the air traffic, and neatly-mowed […]
Back to Blakesburg
Though the weather was sizzling hot in Iowa during Labor Day weekend, hundreds of aviators, friends, and families enthusiastically made the annual pilgrimage “Back to Blakesburg.” The Antique Airplane Association had its genesis in 1953, when founder Robert Taylor placed a classified ad in Flying. The first annual fly-in was held in 1954 at Ottumwa; […]
On Silent Wings: World War II Glider Pilots hold reunion
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 […]