Stearman Fly-In to feature bi-plane events

From the Quad City Times: Stearman Fly-In to feature bi-plane events

The centennial of naval aviation is being celebrated at this year’s National Stearman Fly-In at Galesburg, Ill., an event that is marking its 40th anniversary itself.

Events take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday at the Galesburg Municipal Airport, one mile west of the U.S. 34 and Illinois 164 intersection on the western edge of the city.

Trams will take guests along the Stearman flightline for a close-up look at the airplanes. The cost of admission to the fly-in is $1 per person.

The naval anniversary will be noted by Charles S. Downey, 87, of Poplar Grove, Ill., who retired from the U.S. Navy in 1975 after a 33-year career. Commissioned in 1943, he became the youngest naval aviator in World War II, breaking a record set by a pilot who later became better-known as President George H.W. Bush. Downey served on the Ticonderoga and Hancock aircraft carriers, and he helped sink a Japanese light cruiser at Manila Bay in late 1943, an act for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Downey’s presentation, “Fly Navy,” will begin at 8:30 p.m.

Other programs throughout the week include:

Stearman pre-purchase inspections, 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Fabric work and rib stitching, 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Radial engines, 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

“Flying the Stearman,” 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

“Grassroots Pilot Tour,” 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

More information is available online at StearmanFlyin.com.