They will come together, in part, through programs and seminars scheduled during the 47th annual Fly-In Sept. 3-8, 2018, at Galesburg Municipal Airport.
There is no charge for admission to the airport during the National Stearman Fly-In.
All of these events are free and open to the public:
>> 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7: “Sammy Mason: A Stearman Upbringing,” presented by Sammy Mason, a 24-year-old internationally-known airshow performer from Santa Paula, CA.
Mason grew up in a legacy Stearman family, performed his first airshow at age 14, took his private pilot checkride in the family’s 450-horsepower Stearman, and flies shows in his Mom’s stock Stearman and in his restored Pitts S-1S.
Mike Rutledge, president of the Stearman Restorers Association, will moderate the program.
>> 7:35 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 6: “A Life in Aviation,” presented by Hans Nordsiek, Bergeijk, The Netherlands.
Nordsiek retired as a captain for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. He flies a N2S-3 Stearman he christened “The Old Crow.” He’s also known as “The Storyteller,” and recently completed a series of “Talk of Life” presentations to youngsters in Thailand. Nordsiek’s illustrated children’s book, “The Pilot With Five Stripes,” will be published later this year.
>> 2:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 6: Seminar, “Covering a Stearman With Rowena,” presented by Rowena Mason, Santa Paula, CA. Stearman Fly-In seminar tent, Galesburg Municipal Airport.
Mason, owner of Rowena’s Flying Fabric, is known as the “First Lady of Fabric.” She’s operated the business since 1990, and also is manager of the Santa Paula Airport.
The seminar will include a demonstration of rib-stitching, time for attendees to practice, and a discussion of covering processes and techniques – including those Mason has found to be best for Stearman aircraft in particular.
>> 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5: Seminar, “Support Facilities for Stearman Pilots,” presented by Bob Swint, Geneseo, IL. Stearman Fly-In seminar tent, Galesburg Municipal Airport.
>> 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5: Seminar, “Aero Medical Issues,” presented by Dr. Bruce Chien, Senior Aviation Medical Examiner, Bolingbrook, IL. Jet Air hangar, Galesburg Municipal Airport.
>> 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 4: Seminar, “An Unintentional Passenger: The Loss of Control Accident.” Presented by Warren Smith, FAA Safety Program Manager, Springfield, IL, Flight Standards Office. Jet Air, Inc. hangar, Galesburg Municipal Airport.
>> 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 3: Video night in Jet Air, Inc. hangar. Showing a collection of Stearman-interest videos.
