50TH Anniversary Galesburg Illinois Stearman Days Fly-In

For lovers of the air, plane enthusiasts, thrill-seekers, the curious, and anybody looking for a carnival-style corn dog, the 50th Anniversary of the Galesburg Illinois Stearman Fly-In has plenty to check out. This year includes some special attractions, including the US Army showing off one of its' most impressive aircraft, the Boeing CH-47 Chinook. Even if you're not the affluent type and can pop for a few hundred dollars for one of these special event tour flights, this is really an amazing craft.

The CH-47, besides being an earth shaker as it flies over, is an American twin-engined, tandem rotor, a heavy-lift helicopter that can fly at a top speed of 200 miles per hour. Seeing one land, up close and personal, is like watching CNN footage or a scene from a movie. This year, the heavy-life aircraft was on full display at the Galesburg airport, ready to amaze and enthuse as it went out, displaying its' incredible air capabilities, and then returned for a soft, safe-looking, landing. First developed in the 60's era there have been more than 1200 of these impressive twin-rotor beasts made and they don't appear to be in jeopardy of being replaced. Perhaps you remember the Chinook from the film Lone Survivor. If not, check out the scene below.

I've been going to the Stearman Fly-In since I was a kid. This year, after thinking about the Stearman-Fly in, I had to go out and see what they had in store for the 50th anniversary.

While there's been some speeches, one from a pilot, commander, and Col Mark Tillman, that flew Air Force One when President Bush was evacuated to the skies, there's also a presence from our troops as they show off some of their coolest craft like the Chinook. All the while, there are the actual Stearman planes to check out as they perform maneuvers and formation flights overhead.

While I'm not a big fan of flying, they always look like they are having a good time as they show off their skills at the stick, waving at the fans as they go. Some will do circles, some take people up for aerial tours for which they might never get the same view again, and some simply talk to passersby about their plane and its' history.

This is a great chance to get the kids out and expose them to some amazing aeronautics as they do aerial acrobatics one day, have symposiums on another, and host a dinner and 30s/40s themed dance on Friday night.

Some will get into classic dress clothes from the time and dance the night away to the tunes of Josh Duffee and his Orchestra of the Quad Cities for the Big Band hangar dance. But, if you're not into the oldies from before WW2, maybe you can luck out and catch the event one year, and get to enjoy the kids marveling as they tour a beast like this.

The Berlin Express is a World War 2 era bomber that has been fully restored and is operational. For ten dollars you can see the inside of it, via guided tour, and get up into the gunner's area to see the view our brave guys in the air must have had as they fought against the Germans. If it's sightseeing and attractions you're interested in, maybe hoping to get a picture of the kids to remember the day, other scenes include the multitude of planes, local vendors, and attractions like this monster cannon.

Just standing next to this beast was impressive, if not a bit on the daunting side. From its appearance, I'd say it could not down a building without an issue.

While it might be a bit late to schedule a trip to the Stearman Fly-In, if you're in the area around Labor Day next year, consider a visit to the Galesburg Illinois Airport around Labor Day. It's one of the many events the city has been quite proud of and one that always leaves me intrigued amongst the oohs and ahs of flight.