The smallest of many photographers capturing the planes at Massey Aerodrome today.The smallest of many photographers capturing the planes at Massey Aerodrome today.
Blue Skies prevailed for another great December Fly-In!
After dawning rainy & foggy the weather cleared as predicted for the first plane to arrive at 10:20 AM. With the forecast for sunny & mild (mid 50’s) we were thankfully ready for the expected onslaught that ultimately arrived only slightly delayed. As usual, the grass was firm & dry for the nearly 160 guest planes that arrived by 1 PM. Who knows how many pilots were discouraged by the early weather and chose not to come? There were well over 125 drive-ins and the local car club had a good showing despite the wet roads. December weather has proven surprisingly reliable for us.
We want to express our sincere thanks to the many volunteers that made this a success – both in the kitchen and on the field! And a big thank you to all our friends who brought food items to share.
Grassroots aviation means taildraggers with a special place in our hearts for radial engined planes. Four Stearman flew in plus our two in the hangar made 6 on-field. Radial engines included a 1943 Howard DGA-15P, a 1952 Cessna 195 and our favorite BIRD by which we mean Mike Pangia’s “Lindbergh Bird” the 1930 Brunner Winkle Bird N727Y with Kinner power.
Radial Row: Katherine Macario’s Cessna 195, Mike Pangia’s 1930 Brunner Winkle Bird, the Jack Allen Museum’s Stearman #77 (blue & yellow USAAF) & Mark Schmid’s 450 hp P&W R-985 powered Stearman (red). (Not shown: LIGHT FLIGHT BALLOONS’ 1943 Stearman #497 N9215H)
Liaison aircraft had a very good showing with six:
Dan O’Donnell’s sparkling Aeronca 7AC newly restored as an L-16 N878
Paul Smith’s very authentic, award winning 1944 Piper L-4H N79731 (#82)
Richard Wallin’s beautiful award winning Aeronca 7BCM L-16 N9325H
Jon McLanahan’s 1955 Fuji LM-1 N8020K (Lynchburg, VA). The Fuji is a Japanese license-built 4 place Beechcraft derived from the T-34.
3 of six Liaison aircraft: Dan O’Donnell’s Aeronca 7AC L-16, Paul Smith’s 1944 Piper L-4H (#82), Austin Shartle’s 1946 Piper L-4A (#39)
Our friend, John Chirtea showed off his pristine newly acquired 1965 Alon A2 (Ercoupe follow-on) to replace the one he very graciously donated to the Massey Air Museum.
John Chirtea’s 1965 Alon A2 N423LF “Buttercup” based at Eagle Crest Airport DE25.
There were 3 gyro-copters (Autogyro GMBH) and one Robinson R44 helicopter, many Piper Cubs & RVs plus uncounted Cessnas and low-wing Pipers.
With one Cirrus and quite a few new design Light Sport planes there was something for everybody.
Mike Lesniowski’s 2016 CIRRUS SR22T N27ML, Church Hill, MD
We repaired and painted our life-size “Corsair” model in tribute to a past friend of Massey, Navy Commander Alberto Santa Maria who flew Corsairs off the carrier USS Palau and became a senior Test Pilot for Boeing-Vertol on the CH-47 Chinook. See accompanying article in “Latest News” below.
Navy Commander (then Lt.) Alberto Santa Maria flew F4U-5 Corsairs off the carrier USS Palau in 1949 with Helicopter Development Squadron VX-3 (tail code XC)
Finally, if you are a local resident, please support our sponsors: Atlantic Tractor, your one-stop shop for all John Deere equipment
and Twinny’s Place Restaurant in Galena.
More Pictures:
Thanks to Ed White for climbing the Beacon Tower to take these wide shots looking south later in the day after some planes were starting to leave.Thanks to Ed White for climbing the Beacon Tower to take these wide shots looking south later in the day after some planes were starting to leave.Thanks to Ed White for climbing the Beacon Tower to take these wide shots looking south later in the day after some planes were starting to leave.Relaxing by the cars with happily surprised bicyclists that stumbled on Massey’s Fly-In by accident.Matthew Taylor’s 1943 HOWARD DGA-15P N67436 (450 hp P&W R-985 engine)N1066M 1942 Stearman B75N1 “Yellow Bird”, Brandy Station, VAThe LIGHT FLIGHT BALLOONS Stearman N9215H #497 & N101SC Benjamin Anderson’s unique ‘Midwing Special’ (highly modified Super Cub w/shoulder mounted clipped wings) arrived & left in formation.The LIGHT FLIGHT BALLOONS Stearman N9215H #497 & N101SC Benjamin Anderson’s unique ‘Midwing Special’ (highly modified Super Cub w/shoulder mounted clipped wings) arrived & left in formation.N101SC Benjamin Anderson’s unique ‘Midwing Special’ (highly modified 1964 Piper Super Cub w/shoulder mounted, clipped wings), aerobatic smoke system.A few of the Show Cars at Massey.A Cavalon & a Calidus (German) autogyro (Rob Dant Photo)Bill Cloughley’s RV-7 N18LC (Rob Dant Photo)Tail feathers on Radial Row (Rob Dant Photo)Open Hangar Party buffet in Massey’s shop. (Rob Dant photo) Not shown is table seating in attached Museum building.
Paul Smith’s very authentic, award winning 1944 Piper L-4H N79731 (#82)Austin Shartle’s newly restored 1946 Piper L-4A “Grasshopper” N87910 (#39)Larry Kelley’s unmistakable camouflaged (Giraffe spots) 1958 Aeronca 7FC L-16 N7513ERichard Wallin’s beautiful award winning Aeronca 7BCM L-16 N9325HJon McLanahan’s 1955 Fuji LM-1 N8020K (Lynchburg, VA). The Fuji is a license-built 4 place Beechcraft derived from the T-34.Jack Allen Museum’s Stearman #77 N55508 (blue & yellow USAAF) & Mark Schmid’s 450 hp P&W R-985 powered Stearman N49936 (red)N9215H 1943 STEARMAN (NAVY #497 ), LIGHT FLIGHT BALLOONS INC., STREET, MDN49936 1942 Stearman (PT17), MARK SCHMID, Phila., PA, Engine: 450 hp P&W R-985Jack Allen Museum’s Stearman #77 N55508 (blue & yellow USAAF)N885G 2017 Aeroprakt Mfg. SP Z O.O. A22LS (Poland), Engine: 100 hp ROTAX 912ULS, Light-SportN288PT 2012 BRM AERO BRISTELL S-LSA, TERRY L. ENDY, LENHARTSVILLE, PA, (Engine: 100 hp ROTAX 912ULS) Light-Sport.N593BL 2014 BRM AERO BRISTELL S-LSA Carbon Edition, SPORT FLYING USA INC., RONKONKOMA, NY, (Engine: 100 hp ROTAX 912ULS) Light-Sport.N432BL 20124 BRM AERO BRISTELL S-LSA, SPORT FLYING USA INC., LITITZ, PA, (Engine: 100 hp ROTAX 912ULS) Light-Sport.N399F 1955 CESSNA 180, MICHAEL D. STRIETER, LAUREL, MD, Engine: CONT. O-470N394PR 2010 Davis DA-2A, RONALD H. DIXON, Bowie, MD, Engine: Cont. O-200. See article Sport Aviation Dec. 2017 by Budd Davison “Cubic Efficiency”N394PR 2010 Davis DA-2A, RONALD H. DIXON, Bowie, MD, Engine: Cont. O-200. See article Sport Aviation Dec. 2017 by Budd Davison “Cubic Efficiency”Marshaler Daniel Shuron (left). Thanks to all our volunteer marshalers without whom we couldn’t conduct our fly-In.Marshaler Tom Paradis. Thanks to all our volunteer marshalers without whom we couldn’t conduct our fly-In.
Marshaler Paul Kelsch. Thanks to all our volunteer marshalers without whom we couldn’t conduct our fly-In.Marshaler John Bowers. Thanks to all our volunteer marshalers without whom we couldn’t conduct our fly-In.Marshaler Ray Lynn doing double duty shuttling pilots to the “south forty” in Gator from Atlantic Tractor. Thanks to all our volunteer marshalers without whom we couldn’t conduct our fly-In.Bill Dilling transported pilots in a John Deere Gator from Atlantic Tractor
Finally, if you are a local resident, please support our sponsors: Atlantic Tractor, your one-stop shop for all John Deere equipment
