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The Old Turf Cross
By Ben Keirn, Contributing Editor & Photographer

In Northeastern Indiana, lies a rather rare private airfield. This is an airfield in the truest sense of the word. Landing strips lie nestled among the patchwork of corn, wheat, and bean fields and old grain bins from a bygone era lie just right of the approach end of runway 9 and most of the hangars served as farm equipment storage in a former life. What makes this private airport truly unique, though, is that it has two crossing sod runways. Most airports in farm country have only one runway of sod or asphalt. But this old turf cross, well planned as it was, offers minimal crosswinds no matter the wind direction. As a result, it makes for a perfect airport for a weekend fly in, no matter what you fly.

There are, of course, some limitations as the runways are shorter than the 5,000 feet of asphalt at most public airports near me. The farmers couldn't give up too many bushels of corn to carve out landing strips from the fields, you know. But the picturesque region, the friendly pilot community, and the history of the Gordon family that owns Gordon Airport (09IN), make it a wonderful place to fly if you can takeoff from 2,200 feet of sod on a hot summer's day. We arrived in the early hours just before breakfast started. Roger Howell, who heads up the annual fly in, had the grills started in no time and the coffee was percolating when we arrived. A few folks came by air before we could get there, so I was greeted by the sight of a little Ercoupe next to the local Aeronca Chief. Their owners were ready for breakfast and the planes were nestled up against the Gordon hangar, waiting for the next chance to get airborne.

A shot of the two, classic aircraft at Gordon Airport (09IN); an early Ercoupe (not an Aircoupe) and an Aeronca Chief.

The conversation was fine and the food spectacular as the morning went on. True to classic fly in style, the morning meal was full of pork and flapjacks. Biscuits and gravy were available for those not watching their weight and balance. Fruit was there for the ultralight pilots who might be getting a little too close to the weight of their aircraft. For the average folks or those unlucky enough to have to drive in, like me, sausage and eggs could also be found on the buffet table.

A Junior Ace landing interrupted the author's breakfast, as did the Titan Tornado II just barely visible over the trees between the Ace and the windsock.

Even though the food was good, aviation was the reason we were there. It's hard to keep a plate of food from going cold, with so many interesting and entertaining aircraft landing. Conversation also kept the meal on the plate a little longer than expected. As with all fly ins, there were as many folks "hangar flying" as there were folks flying for real. The veterans told their stories and, if you must ask, some of them were certainly true. The joy of the conversations for me is in the lessons learned. Take, for instance, the prominently displayed aircraft with wind streamers. Back when I was a kid, streamers on your bicycle handlebars were quite the rage. Glittery pastels for the girls and bright reds and oranges for the boys, showing off and looking like they were trailing flames. Unfortunately for one of the pilots, his streamers were neither intentional, nor something he wanted particularly to show off.

"Streamers" from a dead stick landing down a farmer's field access driveway.

Truth be told, there is nothing shameful about the incident. The carburetor on the aircraft stopped feeding fuel and the pilot had to make a dead stick landing. A field driveway was the best option, since all the fields were soft as could be. The farmers recently tilled the fields around here and recent rains saturated them. So, the best choice was a well packed driveway, albeit with grass a mite taller than you'd want if you had your druthers. In the end, the carb was cleaned, rebuilt, and returned, and the aircraft was back in the air that same day. Home in time for supper, another tale of suspense, intrigue, and warning, which starts with a typical, "there I was..."

A quick break from flying to enjoy watching skiers practice over the stern of The Dixie and earn a little cash on the lake.

After a quick hiatus for my weekend job where I work on, and occasionally pilot, The Dixie sternwheeler on Lake Webster, I returned for a bit more fly in. The midday temperatures rose and so did the winds. The interesting thing about fly ins can sometimes be what affects the crowd. Breakfast brought in mostly ultralights and light experimentals. The higher winds around noon brought out more of the manufactured planes, mostly Cessna 172s, and a few of the more robust light sport aircraft and experimentals. The fun part of it all was that the fly in was no less interesting and no less populated, it was simply a different crowd coming in.

The changing of the guard as the heavier aircraft came in for lunch.
The thrilling departure of a composite airplane which was followed by the requisite high-speed pass to wow the crowd.

Of course, this is far from a unique experience. The fly ins of summer are here and the fun is to be found in your neck of the woods as well as mine. Perhaps you have only one runway, but the old turf cross isn't necessary to have a good fly in; only a place to land, people with their heads in the clouds, and a good community to rally behind the whole event. Without the hard work of Roger, the Gordon's, and a dozen or so other dedicated folks, the day of this fly in would have just been another breezy Saturday. But thanks to dedicated folks like them, and people interested in spreading the word, this and many other fly ins offer us each the opportunity to eat a great meal, spend time with like minded individuals, and perhaps even learn a thing or two along the way.

Hopefully you'll be visiting and supporting a local fly in. Or better yet, perhaps you'll be working hard to put on a fly in yourself. If you do, consider taking out an event ad on Barnstormers.com and invite the rest of us plane nuts. Or at the very least, send in a video or photo and the date and location, so we know where to point our prop spinner (and dinner fork) next year!

By Ben Keirn, Contributing Editor & Photographer
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