Simple, relaxing, and fun—that’s how the Antique Airplane Association (AAA)/Airpower Museum describes its annual fly-in in Blakesburg, Iowa. The 2018 event will be held August 29 through September 3 at Antique Airfield’s grass runway.
About 300 airplanes descend on Blakesburg yearly to attend a fly-in that’s “by the members, for the members,” according to AAA President Brent Taylor. “It’s like nothing else,” he said, noting that there’s “no concrete and no radios.” NORDO (no radio) aircraft reign supreme at the annual gathering of classic and antique aircraft.
You can watch Curtiss Robins, Stinsons, Fairchilds, Wacos, Howards, and many more—like the Ryan PT–22 shown above—take off and land from sunrise to sunset. And you might also see airplanes that are one of a kind, such as the 1961 Bentzen Sport owned by Rob and Laura Bach. The low-wing trainer began its life as a Piper Cub that a pair of brothers cut up and rebuilt.
Jill W. Tallman
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