It’s as much for the public as it is for the pilots.
This year marks the 53rd year of the National Stearman Fly-In, which starts Monday with the fly-over during the Galesburg Labor Day Parade, and continues through Saturday, all based at the Galesburg Municipal Airport.
The public is invited to see the planes all week, and even sit in on the various pilot seminars, and watch any of the aerobatic competitions that might take place.
Diane Stickle, one of the fly-in’s board members, tells Galesburg’s Morning News on WGIL you can also see the planes up close, but within reason.
“Basically, for the general public, we don’t allow them on the field, because we consider it live at all times because the Stearman pilots are free to come and go as they please,” said Stickle. “For the safety of the public as well as for the airplanes, we are pretty particular about who actually has access to the field.”
That’s why, Stickle says, visits with the planes are limited to narrated tram rides. But, those are available all week between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
“We have declared this year Saturday, September 7th, as Community Day,” said Stickle. “In the past, the Galesburg Noon Lions Club has served their pancake breakfast on Sunday morning. This year, on Saturday September 7th, Community Day, the pancake breakfast will be on Saturday morning.”
Stickle says, activities will start with the Lions Club pancake breakfast on Saturday, and continue with everything else.
Children can get a free ticket for the tram rides if they come to the breakfast.
Click any of the links above for more information. Most events are free, but tram rides and any rides pilots give out, will cost money, as well as the pancake breakfast.
