Summer is in full swing, and fly-ins occur almost every turn.
The 21st Aeronca Fly-in was held by the National Aeronca Association at Middletown Regional Airport/Hook Field (KMWO) June 15-18th.
I had gone for a little bit to the last fly-in two years ago with an aircraft historian friend who was educating me more on the airplane my mom and uncle had built before my parents were married, an Aeronca Chief.
Bringing home 3 wings and laundry baskets full of parts, my mom and uncle, with some friends, rebuilt this prewar Chief in my grandparents’ garage. At least that’s what my uncle had told me about this airplane. I have never seen it myself though my childhood friend and our aircraft historian friend did locate it not far from Blakesburg, Iowa, recently though no longer registered.
Middletown is a homecoming for Aeronca’s as they were built adjacent to the airport at the Aeronca factory.
The Champ, like the similar Piper Cub, has trained generations of pilots beginning around WWII and continuing to modern day. Constructed of metal tubing with a fabric covering, most Champs do not have an electrical system and require assistance to start from an outside source; hand propping.
In the Chief, the two seats are configured side-by-side, and the Sedan is a four-seat version of the Chief. The Champ is a tandem trainer with the front seat used for solo flights.
The fun part of any fly-in is the people – and this one was no different. Running into the Plant-based Barnstormer and Fifinella, along with their little barnstormer, who at two weeks old was attending her first of likely many fly-ins, is a small part of why I moved to Ohio. Grassroots flying is indeed more accessible and welcoming than corporate and commercial aviation.
The weather for this year’s fly-in was less than ideal for Friday’s arrival. Morning brought low ceilings and cool weather. By afternoon, the ceilings and temperatures both became more accommodating.
With the higher ceilings, airplanes from further away made their way to Middletown. By the end of the day, about 50 airplanes had arrived.
As per usual with fly-ins, food is a consideration – Frish’s is across the street from the airport and a short walk, and the evening brought a food truck with barbecue.
Some of the Aeroncas at the fly-in will make their way later in the summer to Oshkosh; while small compared to other airplanes, it does not mean they are any less capable of flying long distances.
Several airplanes present had tents under the wings with their pilots sleeping right with them, and one had even brought a bicycle!
Small aircraft, like the Champ, require more forethought when packing for a long flight due to the limited weight and space available. Two-person tents with sleeping bags and a backpack are the limits to the space if flying with another person.
Seeing the different iterations of the airplanes along the flight line was like stepping back in time – vintage airplanes have a distinct smell and patina that comes with experience and is better than any cologne. Kinda like old books bring memories of places and stories read years before, airplane smells do the same.
Several of the Chiefs present were in good condition. The prewar Chiefs, like what mom and my uncle rebuilt, came with 65hp engines. While it doesn’t seem like a lot, there’s enough there to fly on most days though not very quickly.
The Chiefs had more room for baggage than the Champ.
The tandem and side-by-side seating changed the flying characteristics of the airplane; learning how to fly tailwheel in a Champ, I have wondered how the Chief flies in comparison. Likely down the road, it’ll make more sense.
Since moving to Ohio, I have become more cognizant of fabric aircraft and their construction. Not every airplane is covered in metal and flies on instruments.
Learning about older aircraft like Aeroncas has been interesting. More economical to fly than the Bonanza, their mission seems to be more about having fun and going short distances rather than the Bonanza’s going places.
Besides airplanes, Aeronca has also made parts for other aircraft and space programs, such as thrust reversers for Learjets and the Space Shuttle.
The factory has long since stopped producing Aeroncas but is active.
Gone but not forgotten, the simple stick and rudder flying of aircraft like the Aeronca’s invites using grass strips and enjoying the journey as much as the destination.