Saturday’s events started slowly because of low clouds and rain. Dewey Davenport, a pilot from Xenia who organized the carnival, announced shortly after noon, “Mother Nature has not co-operated. We have 20 different planes at grass runways all across Ohio waiting for the clouds to lift.”
An hour later, however, clouds had raised and Davenport was on the public-address system announcing, “It looks like a couple Pietenpols might be showing up behind us” as pilots arrived.
The Pietenpol was designed to be built with the average person’s hand tools. They don’t fly any faster than a car drives, making the cross-country trips that some flew impressive. They seemed to fascinate spectators.
Pietenpol pilot Andrew King traveled to Springfield from the Washington D.C., area. Among other types at the airport are an Aeronca C-3, called the “flying bathtub” due to its unusually wide shape, an early airliner, biplanes, and other rare aircraft.
As at barnstorming shows of the 1920s, biplane rides are featured attractions at the airport this weekend. Rides are being sold on 1929 Travel Air and New Standard biplanes for anyone who wants to experience the low and slow, hair-in-the-wind style of flying from the 1920s.
Davenport, who describes himself as a “full-time barnstormer,” travels to air shows and festivals throughout Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania, giving rides. Last year, he even flew from a pumpkin patch in Xenia, calling that “true barnstorming.”
Scale model aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles are also featured this weekend. SelectTech Geospatial, based at the airport, is displaying its various UAVs. Model aircraft pilots are also giving demonstrations of a turbine powered jet, giant scale aerobatic planes, and helicopters.
Admission to the Barnstorming Carnival is free. Gates are open today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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