The 2010 American Barnstormers Tour schedule has been released. The tour, which started in 2006, offers people in small towns across America a chance to see aircraft that relive the heyday of aerial barnstorming entertainment of the 1920s and 1930s. Though the 2010 tour may not come to your town in 2010, this is an opportunity for you to travel to a small town to enjoy the aircraft, their flights (you can ride in them) and the chance to take some wonderful photos of old fabric covered or newly built or restored aircraft of Aviation's Golden Age. More than 20 vintage aircraft are expected to fly together on the seven city tour.
June 17-19, Mason City, Iowa-Mason City Municipal Airport MCW
June 20-22, Tea, South Dakota, Marv Skie-Lincoln County Airport Y14
June 23, Watertown, South Dakota, Watertown Regional Airport ATY
June 24-26, Aberdeen, South Dakota, Aberdeen Regional Airport ABR
June 27-29, Bismarck, North Dakota, Bismarck Municipal Airport BIS
June 30-July 2, Jamestown, North Dakota, Jamestown Regional Airport JMS
July 3-5, Alexandria, Minnesota, Chandler Field Airport AXN
Some of these towns and airports hold personal memories. I was born in South Dakota and raised in Minnesota, traveling extensively in these states. On my long solo cross-country while learning to fly in the 1960s, I landed and took off from MCW, which then had an Air Traffic Control Tower. When I landed there again to refuel on the way to EAA AirVenture 2008 (first time back to MCW), the tower was apparently long gone. The FBO's young fueler said, "Yes, something was on top of the building but it was removed".
I hope some of you will attend the 2010 tour moving into the northern Great Plains states and upload some aircraft and airport photos commemorating your experience.
Further details: www.AmericanBarnstormersTour.com