©2011 Galesburg Broadcasting Co.
| Stearman Pilots Passionate About Flying |
A Mississippi pilot in town for a festival of flying says getting rid of one of his Stearman planes would be like losing a child. Carey Hardin flew into Galesburg for this week's Stearman Fly-In in Galesburg and says his passion for planes and flight began when he was a young child living on a farm.
He said they had a landing strip on the property and planes used to land and refuel or add other chemicals and leave the planes idling. He says just that sound was more than enough for him to fall in love with planes.
Hardin tells WGIL after some time, he finally decided he needed a Stearman to purchase.
"I was always interested in flying," Hardin said. "After I did a lot of other things in my flying career, I decided, 'I really would like to have a Stearman, at least for a year or two, just to enjoy it.'"
Hardin tells WGIL after flying his "new" Stearman, one from 1942, his one or two year plane plan began to change.
"That was six years ago," Hardin said. "I suspect that if I sell my last Stearman, it'll probably be after I'm done with my flying career. I can't imagine being without one to fly."
Another pilot that flies with Hardin, Texas native Mike Nebrig, says Stearmen, depending on the engines and maintenance that needs to be done, could run a buyer at least $100,000. Nebrig says many of the pilots do their own maintenance on their planes to help keep down costs.
Hardin says he loves to formation fly with other pilots because he says it's a special feeling of community and bonding with those who also enjoy flying.
(WGIL News Story and Photos by Dominic Fortini.) |
|
| 09 12 09 by Newsroom |
Click here for the WGIL News Archive
Click here for national news
The following provision applies to all visitors (which shall include persons and representatives of legal entities, whether such representatives are persons or digital engines of a kind that crawls, indexes, scrapes, copies, stores or transmits digital content). By accessing this Web site or digital service, you specifically acknowledge and agree that: (i) Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium; (ii) No Associated Press materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use; (iii) The Associated Press will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing; (iv) The Associated Press is an intended third party beneficiary of these terms and conditions and it may exercise all rights and remedies available to it; and (v) The Associated Press reserves the right to audit possible unauthorized commercial use of AP materials or any portion thereof at any time.
