September brings with it many changes. Cooler mornings, harvest time, and then the leaves begin to blush. What better time for a dawn patrol, a pancake breakfast, and a few Young Eagles rides. Add a local car show and rides on a warbird for the rest of the family, and you've got a wonderful mix for the last fly-in before fall.

For those sad souls who had to drive in to the fly-in, there was a wonderful consolation prize. Wings and Wheels at the Kendallville Municipal Airport (C62) invited visitors to show up in their classic cars for a taste of nostalgia. Regardless of the decade, the cars that came out were immaculate. One of the cars at the show may look familiar to some of the more seasoned readers. Though lesser known than the Plymouth Fury, the Savoy does have one claim to fame. 1958 Savoys like the one that came to Kendallville made a name for themselves in the 1980's. And that name was...Christine! Several of the lower trim line Savoys were used along with Furys during the filming of the 1983 horror film. The Savoys, sadly, were the majority of the cars destroyed during filming.

Eventually, our focus was drawn to the other side of the airport beacon and fence. There was a notable visitor to the Wings and Wheels fly-in this year. A C-47 from the Yankee Air Museum came to give rides for those who didn't qualify for a Young Eagles ride. The folks at Kendallville really know how to get the entire family involved and excited about aviation.

Not to be outdone by a museum with their flying warbird, some regional pilots put their own bit of war history on display. A local PT-13, aka Boeing Stearman, was on hand for a look at trainers of yesteryear. Sporting similar colors, a slightly younger Fairchild PT-19 added to the WWII displays. The Primary Trainers were both used to train young pilots during WWII, including pilots who might have eventually transitioned to cargo planes like the C-47, bombers, or even fighters.

Plenty of people were already enjoying breakfast, but a new line began to form. Volunteers and families started to prepare for the first EAA Young Eagles flight of the day. The ramp volunteers and pilots also were getting prepared. A sea of orange vests huddled together around the pilots discussing the business of getting nearly a dozen young aeronauts safely across the ramp and into the sky.

For those not flying, preparing for, or going on the Young Eagles flight, there was still plenty to do and see. Several local organizations were invited out to sell concessions as a fundraiser. And plenty of other aircraft were on display. The joy of a fly-in is getting to see a mix of aircraft. One local Husky was ready to go find a backcountry LZ, with tires that double as flotation devices. Rounding out the tailwheels at the airport was a Cessna 170 in pristine condition.

After a bit of planning and paperwork, the young eagles were marched onto the ramp and to their assigned aircraft. Like a small military, the team of pilots fired up the aircraft and started warming their engines for the flight. It wasn't long before the Kendallville taxiways were as congested as O'Hare.

Getting an early start, the EAA Young Eagles program gives youths ages 8-17 a chance to go skyward. Young or old, the next generation of pilots in the making climbed aboard and joined a conga line down the taxiway. Size doesn't matter, the EAA will help you in and get you flying, so long as you fall within the age restriction.

Not only were there multiple aircraft, there were also multiple kinds of aircraft that took the youth around the patch. As the aircraft returned, the differences in types made for interesting spacing. It also meant that the youth all got some special benefit. Some of the smaller planes only had one passenger, so they got to sit as co-pilot for the ride. The twin was filled to the brim with children, so only one got to sit "shotgun." But all of the kids got a longer ride, since the twin had to make a wide path to maintain spacing.

All passengers, pilots, and planes accounted for, it was time to get back to visiting planes, people, and popsicle stands. The fundraisers seemed to be going well and the C-47 ride booth was starting to attract more attention. It seems after the kids returned all beaming from their flight, the rest of the family wanted their turn. 172s of several eras were in the lineup at the fly-in parking. They lined up and staggered quite nicely, giving the chance to see the progression of round spinner to pointy spinner. Interestingly, as the spinners got sharp, the wheel pants became more blunt or rounded.

Out on the ramp everyone seemed to be having a good time. Many were waiting on their turn to either ride in the warbird or return home in their own birds. Speaking of owning planes, if you are in the market for something to fly to the next fly-in, you're likely to find an example of most of these planes for sale on Barnstormers.com. The one exception is the C-47/DC-3. But if you already have one, there are some parts on the site just waiting for you! Between the weather, the people, and the displays on both sides of the fence, Wings and Wheels was a great success and an event to look forward to next year.