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ISSUE
37 - October 2008
Over 7,000 Total Ads Listed
1,000 NEW Ads Per Week
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THE BRODHEAD
FLY IN |
By Andy
Heins, Contributing Editor & Photographer
Mt. Vernon, Ohio
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Whether we fly or drive there is
one antique airplane gathering that I consider a must-attend
and that is the annual MAAC (Midwest Antique Airplane Club)
Fly-in at Brodhead, Wisconsin. This Fly-in is always held
the weekend following Labor Day at a beautiful grass strip
in southern Wisconsin just across the Illinois/Wisconsin
border. What makes this gathering so unique is the perfect
setting for the large amount of rare and interesting aircraft
that attend as well as the friendly people. |
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1917 Polson Special NC271 |
The fall Fly-in
at Brodhead is one of the few Fly-ins where you will find
a large and distinguished gathering of the people who are
truly respected for their knowledge in the antique airplane
world. This is part of the reason the Fly-in is also known
as “Grassroots.”
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This year at “Grassroots”,
the fly-in started off rather soggy, with remnants of Hurricane
Gustav invading the mid-west. We chose to drive to the
gathering on Thursday from Ohio instead of waiting and
hoping we might be able to fly. It rained the entire time
from Indianapolis to Brodhead. Arriving at Brodhead in
the mid-afternoon, we weren’t surprised to see the
field nearly empty.
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1940 Porterfield CP-65 NC25499 |
Several airplanes had arrived earlier
in the week after attending the Antique Airplane Association
meet in Blakesburg, IA. Thursday was a complete washout
and Friday morning greeted us with light drizzle. However,
by 10:00a.m., the skies began to clear. Anyone who has
attended Grassroots knows, one thing that always holds
true, if the weather is flyable, they will come and this
year was no different. |
Soon the pattern became active with
one of the first arrivals being Addison Pemberton in his
beautiful Boeing Model 40. |
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1928 Boeing Model 40-C NC5339.jpg 05 |
As the day progressed, the flightline
began filling up and the skies became active with the sounds
of Hissos, Wrights, Continentals, Warners and Kinners.
This Fly-in is well-known for the amount of airplanes that
always seem to be in the pattern from dawn to dusk. No
parking and tying down for the weekend…..everyone
flies!
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1929 Waco ASO NC608N.jpg 06 |
Saturday came and at first light
airplanes began arriving. By dinner time, close to 300
airplanes had attended the gathering. Camping is the expected
rule and tents can be seen dotting the many pine trees
that surround the field. Food is offered daily on the field
for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The dinners are always
the highlight of the day with Chili being served up by
Tom Dietrich and Bob Revell of Canada on Thursday.
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1941 NAVY N3N-3 NC12063.jpg 07 |
Friday is the annual Fish Boil and
Saturday grilled Pork Chops. Saturday morning a pancake
breakfast is served. Shower facilities are available on
the field for the campers. Each night there is a bonfire
near the clubhouse where everyone gathers to swap stories
and tales. This truly is one of the most relaxed gatherings
you can ever attend. There is one catch; you must be a
member to attend. Dues are only $10.00 a year per person. |
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1936 Waco EQC-6 NC16214.jpg 08 |
This year the airplanes that attended
represented a broad spectrum of aviation history spanning
from 1909 – 2008.
Brodhead Airport is well known for the interesting airplanes
based in addition to being the home of the Pietenpol Fly-in
the opening weekend of Oshkosh.
This is also the airport where the late Denny Trone kept
a significant portion of his rare airplanes and engine collection.
The late Al Kelch and his wife Lois also have three hangars
filled with rare and interesting aircraft. Where else can
you go to see a 1928 Thunderbird, Lindbergh’s Travel
Air 2000, a 1929 Butler
Blackhawk, and a 1924 Lincoln Sport, within 75 feet of each
other?
Other interesting aircraft attending were a Hisso-powered
Curtiss Jenny all the way from Sonoma, California, a Stearman
4E from Reno, Nevada,
numerous Wacos,
two Ryan SCWs,
a Stinson Detroiter, a Stinson Jr., two Cessna Airmasters,
Howard, Dart, Meyers OTW
and two Meyers 145s,
two Fairchild 22s,
three Fairchild 24s,
two Birds, two Fleets,
a Grumman Widgeon, several Boeing Stearmans, a Commonwealth Skyranger,
Cessna 195s, a Travel Air,
a Spartan C-3,
a Heath Parasol, an Aeronca C-3,
plus many more. |
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1928 Travel Air 4000 NC2709 |
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1931 Stinson JR-S NC10886 |
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1941 Meyers OTW-145 NC26487 |
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1948 Meyers MAC-145 NC34360 |
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1933 Fairchild 22-C7D NC14768 |
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1946 Fairchild 24R-46 NC81363 |
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1929 Fleet Model 1 NC8616 |
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1946 Commonwealth 185 Skyranger
NC73811 |
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1929 Spartan C3-165 NC705N |
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There was the usual abundance of the
various models of Luscombes, Pipers, Aeroncas and Taylorcrafts
as well as several types of homebuilts including at least
five Pietenpols.
If you are an antique airplane enthusiast, then Brodhead is the place to be.
The setting is perfect and the atmosphere abounds with the sound and talk of
aviation’s golden age. |
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