Tue, Jun 08, 2010
All Reunion Events To Be Held In Rock Falls, IL
After the dustup with the EAA over the massive gathering of DC-3
and C-47 aircraft this summer, The Last Time is finalizing plans to
honor many heroes as it marks the 75th anniversary of the first
flight of the iconic Douglas DC-3, and what is likely to be last
time for a large reunion of aluminum and engines with the people
that saw it all.
In order to preserve the intimate nature of the festivities
planned, and to ensure that all of the honored guests can attend in
comfort, The Last Time plans to hold all of its reunion events at
Whiteside County Airport, in Rock Falls, Illinois, on July 23-26.
The four-day reunion activities are open to the public, and general
aviation aircraft parking and camping are available as well. All
DC-3 aircraft will be parked together, and events include aircraft
tours, public rides, free media rides, demonstrations,
entertainment and music, extensive hangar flying and storytelling
by all those invited to share the DC-3 experience—and a mass
formation fly-by sure to be a record-setting event. The mass
formation flight will launch from Whiteside County Airport on the
afternoon of Monday, July 26.
The Douglas DC-2 will be on hand to represent one of the last
two flying examples of the airplane, one that flew The Lindbergh
Line for Trans World Airlines (TWA) with the encouragement of no
less than Charles A. Lindbergh. “It is a great honor for me
to participate in the events and the DC-3 gathering planned for the
Sterling-Rock Falls airport. Such a gathering in this day and age
is extremely difficult to orchestrate and has all the markings of
being one of the most unique and historical aviation events
ever,” says Erik Lindbergh, grandson of Charles
Lindbergh.
Among the numerous honored guests who plan to attend The Last
Time activities is Bernice “Bee” Haydu, a member of the
Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) who flew the C-47 during World
War II. Haydu was one of many WASP who were charged with ferrying
aircraft or serving as transport pilots to support the war effort.
Another hero planning to attend will be Paul Poberezny, founder of
the Experimental Aircraft Association in 1953 and lifelong promoter
of homebuilt aircraft. Poberezny has more than 6,700 hours in the
C-47 and retired from the Air Force with the rank of Lieutenant
Colonel.
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