If you're planning on attending the 2015 AAA/APM Invitational Fly-in, you may be concerned about the condition of the N-S runway, especially after the abuse of last years Fly-in left it in much less than ideal condition.

Well after the Fly-in was over and our weather pattern changed to a drier one, we were able to smooth a lot of the ruts and get the sod coming back before the onset of winter.

Once spring arrived we again set to work with our sod drag, a roller and our Bad Boy mower to continue the work of getting the runway back in nominal shape.

It should be noted that once the Fly-in was over last year and we were able to get to work on it , its been usable and used throughout these past ten months.

While work will continue on the runway right up until the beginning of the AAA/APM Invitational Fly-in on Sept. 2nd, we’re happy to report that the runway is in good shape and improving.

We’ve hauled in several loads of good dirt (via the chair of our Fly-in Security volunteers, Denny Whitson) for the ramp in front of AAA HQ, Hangars 1 & 2, as well as for the N-S runway. Ben Taylor & Barry Taylor have spent a lot of time leveling up the dirt using our sod drag, preparing it for and seeding all those areas. We still have a couple more loads of dirt needed on the N half of the runway and one or two loads needed on the very S end but we plan to have that project taken care of by the end of next week (weather permitting).

To give you a bit of perspective five ton of good fill dirt is $100 and 20 lbs. of grass seed is $50. Twenty tons of dirt and forty pounds or so of grass seed have gone down in the damaged areas of the ramp and runway so far with at least another 15 tons of dirt to go.

Expenses like that are the reason we started the 2015 APM Capital Campaign. Thanks to all who have donated so far!

Denny Whitson spreading one of several loads of dirt on the most tore up areas of the N-S runway. this area has now been smoothed, seeded and grass is coming up.

An overhead shot of IA27 from late June, shows how green and full the grass and ground cover is. The runway is in good shape and we’re working hard to have it back in great shape by the AAA/APM Fly-in.

Bob Lock updated us on his Champ:

Planning on test flight of Champ on my birthday. Getting close to finishing and need a deadline. Just completed restoring the old windshield to like new by polishing for most of the day. Installing wing gap fairings. Need to order seat cushions and finish nose cowl and paint.

Howard Cox of Bideford, UK flew his V-77 at the end of June at Hoogeveen, The Netherlands. Howard says:

For assembly, we used two gantry frames with hoists and with a wood frame spanning 3 ribs at approx the point of balance. One guy on a platform at the tip just to hold steady with no real effort required.

First wing took about 20 min to learn the method and the second was done in 10. The work was done at ATN Aviation at Hoogeveen and these lads include the owners of ATN ( Jac and Hans van Egmond ) and their friends who come round on Saturdays.

Under covers are fuselages of Vultee PTxx trainers being rebuilt. If you ever are in Holland then make a side visit here and away from the flesh pots of Amsterdam. Some interesting aircraft here.

Well here it is, the latest Brent Taylor Productions​ video!

Join us for a relaxing Saturday afternoon at Antique Airfield.

The Northwest Missouri Chapter is having a pancake breakfast this coming Saturday, July 11!

Last year saw many improvements in and around the Pub, including new glass doors at the rear entrance, new lights for the “Pub Angel” on the roof, landscape work in the beer garden area out back and some electrical (read FM) work/improvements. Of course there was the usual efforts to stem the roof from leaking but more on the roof in a minute.

First, the food. The Pilots Pub will once again enjoy the culinary artistry of Chef Ken aided by Luke, Eric, Jeff, the other Erik and Mark (aka “Uncle Ken & the Disciples”). Teri, Jane and Sheila will be keeping the peanut trays full and the other volunteers on task making certain the Patrons enjoy themselves.

Please remember your donations and the Pub crews billfolds are the only funding for the culinary classics they provide, so plan to drop a few bucks in the tip jars if you would.

Started last year in order to provide maintenance and improvements to the Pub, including the eventual and complete re-roofing, we’re again offering the opportunity to become a Patron of the Pub.

“Flying Flivver” level, 25-50 hp ($) will receive 4 current year koozies.

“Lightplane” level, 51-99 hp ($) will receive 4 koozies and a Pub t-shirt.

“Sportsman Pilot” level 100-150 hp ($), will receive 4 koozies, a Pub t-shirt and your choice of a Pub flag or custom patron design boxer style shorts

“Bamboo Bomber” level over 150 hp ($) will receive 4 koozies, a Pub t-shirt and your choice of a custom patron design vest, skirt or shirt.

By the way, both the design and production of these “custom patron design” items are due to the efforts of Teri Lancaster. Donations can be sent in advance and earmarked as Pub Patron, or brought in during the fly-in.

There is also a Pub raffle planned that will feature such items as an autographed Antique Airfield windsock, a Brent Taylor Productions canvas print and a “spokescandies” character!

Keep watch here on the Antique Airfield website for more details/pics of the Patron premiums as they become available or contact us here at antiqueairfield@sirisonline.com if you have questions.

So stop in. Meet old friends. Tell a yarn. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy! Join Mark & Teri Lancaster, as well as the rest of the Pub crew, nightly, Wed (Sept 2nd) - Sun (Sept. 5th) , 6 pm to midnight.

A couple of pics from last fun at Antique Airfield.....a photo shoot of Howard Wilson's Rose Parrakeet, restored by TACO Aviation, aka Barry Taylor.

Howard flew the Parrakeet and photo plane pilot duties were ably handled by Ben Taylor. (Brent Taylor photos)

With less than ninety days until the start of the AAA/APM Invitational Fly-in, there is much to be done to be ready to host all our AAA members and guests in what we plan to be a much drier and better attended event as opposed to last year’s “Lakesburg” event.

Along with those preparations we have also undertaken the 2015 APM Capitol Improvement Fund to help finance not only repairs to the field as a result of last years fly-in but also finance some major and much needed infrastructure projects.

Several of those projects were worked on over the weekend, along with a couple of unplanned but worthwhile ones. Following are pictures of the weekends efforts by; Gary Van Farowe, Bob Tejchma, Ken Marth, Eric Fritz, Luke Pieper, Jessica Fuller, Mark Lancaster, Barry Taylor, Ben, Marcy & Brent Taylor.

Bob Tejchma & Gary Van Farowe at work replacing the roof (new roof panels to the left) on the N half of the APM Annex

Bob & Gary continue making progress on the roofing project including leveling the porch roof that has suffered frost heave over the last few years.

With the APM porch roof structure back in place, re-roofing continued.

Meanwhile Denny was busy hauling in several loads of dirt for the ramp in front of AAA HQ, Hangars 1 & 2, as well as for the N-S runway. Ben Taylor & Barry Taylor spent time leveling up the dirt using our sod drag and now all is ready for grass seed.

To give you a bit of perspective, Barry Taylor is shown seeding approximately five tons of fill after being smoothed !! Five ton of good fill dirt is $100 and 20 lbs. of grass seed is $50. Fifteen tons of dirt and thirty pounds or so of grass seed went down in the damaged areas of the ramp and runway over the weekend with at least another 15 tons of dirt to go next week alone. Expenses per above, are the reason we started the 2015 APM Capital Campaign Fun. "Thanks" to all who have donated so far !!!

One unplanned project that was finished over the weekend was the installation of a decorative fence and flagpole around the the flower bed/rock garden Marcy Taylor & Cindy Grimm put in a couple of weeks ago. Ken Marth, Eric Fritz & Luke Pieper work on installing the fence while.....

...Ben Taylor cuts some steel pipe to use for support of the flagpole.

Test fitting the flagpole installation before final assembly of the whole structure. As the flag went up, it was noted most appropriately by those involved, that this was the 71st Anniversary of D-Day!

With installation of the fence and flagpole completed, this somewhat unplanned project certainly helped improve the looks of the grounds at the APM. Note the new roof on the APM Annex in the background!

Work on the N wall in Powell Hall continued and “Thanks” to Ken Marth & Luke Pieper, framing of the new wall is complete. Next will come insulation and the wall covering, then we can turn our attention to removing the old outside wall and replacing it with steel siding.

We plan to have another work weekend on June 26th & 27th to finish moving the N wall in Powell Hall, continue with the re-roofing of the APM Annex and prepare to replace the doors on the APM Main Museum hangar. If you can come help, please let Brent Taylor at AAA Headquarters know and we hope to see you then!

Please remember all these ongoing projects are "Thanks" to the generosity of those AAA members, APM donors, fans & friends via the 2015 APM Capital Campaign Fun.

We're over halfway to our goal of $20K but could use your help in meeting our goal and having all our planned projects done in time for the AAA/APM Invitational Fly-in (Sept 2nd - 7th). Remember your donation is fully tax deductible and every donation, no matter the size, counts!

Brent Taylor

Our local (to Antique Airfield) metal artisan, Brian Stansberry from Moulton, IA, sent along a few photos of some of his recent work/projects for others.

Brian is also restoring a Piper J-4 “Cub Coupe” for himself and we can personally attest to his excellent workmanship on that project.

“Brent, here are pictures of some of the projects in the shop. The buck for the Cirigliano cowl, Ryan nose bowl and Bucker wheelpants.”

Brent Taylor

The Potomac Antique Aero Squadron (PAAS) held its 47th annual Fly-In this year on the weekend of May15-16 at the picturesque Horn Point Aerodrome near Maryland’s historic eastern shore town of Cambridge. This year we had the best weather that we have had in several years.

Not only did we have beautiful CAVU weather conditions on the day of the fly-in itself, but the dry days just prior to the Fly-In Saturday permitted the University of Maryland Extension Owner Group to closely cut the grass in the aircraft parking areas for us. This made for near ideal conditions for our Friday field set-up day as well as for all of our Fly-In operations on Saturday.

We had excellent attendance this year with nearly sixty airplanes on the field. Our Air Traffic Control, Airplane Parking and Aircraft Judging Teams were kept very busy throughout day. With the wide variety and number of registered airplanes in attendance, we were able to make awards for ten of our twelve major judging categories.

Of the several excellent aircraft that were awarded winning plaques, there was one which stood out from all of the other winners. It was the “Antique Grand Champion” award winner, a WACO UBF-2 “open cockpit biplane”, owned by Andy Hochhans of Norfolk Virginia, which literally sparkled in the sunlight It’s unpainted aluminum engine ring cowl was polished to a mirror-like finish.

We were very pleased that Anne Fichera was able to have our departed founder Joe Fichera’s pristine 1930 Brunner Winkle Bird biplane flown in for display throughout the day. Joe’s outstanding restoration of this historically significant Lindberg aircraft is a fitting memorial in memory of PAAS Founder and Master Craftsman Joe Fichera’s legendary talents. Our President Art Kudner saw fit to award the “Bird” our PAAS President’s Choice Award this year.

There were also several aircraft that were new to our fly-in; standouts that would have brought many admirers at any gathering of vintage aircraft. We had many attendees from the surrounding towns with professional level cameras in hand to photograph the many interesting airplanes.

Our suitably costumed “Tophatted” gentleman was back again this year with his horse and antique passenger buggy soliciting rides for all who wanted them. All in all, we had a very successful day which was professionally handled by our many dedicated volunteers who covered all phases of air traffic control, aircraft as well as some special car parking, reception, registration, judging and crowd control.

Pete D’Anna
PAAS Chief Judge
May 31, 2015

Click for the Award Winners List