Rantoul Fly-In

        Article and Pictures by Brian Gilomen

           
Our Very-Own WWI Flying Aces!

On August 11, the Chanute AFB in Rantoul, Illinois hosted its First Annual Air Festival.  Not being shy about going to the first-annual anything, me, Vance, Bob Beckstrom, Karl and Bob Debs took up the challenge.  (Although months have now passed, and my feeble brain has memory lapses, I recall that Mick and Jude also took up the challenge, but posted a DNF due to some problem having to do with a supersonic prop).

It was a great flight, and a great destination.  I hadn't been to Chanute since I was in college, and was pleasantly surprised by how excellent the museum was!  Check out some of these pictures:

FVFC Biplanes

A well-preserved example of Brian's First Plane
(I had the "upgrade" to the 1-cylinder, 20 hp Cuyuna 215!)

When I Wish Upon a Star

Neighborhood Nuke

To Russia With Love