The weather gods did not smile upon the World War I Dawn Patrol vintage areoplanes fly-in the weekend of Sept. 25th. The Thursday media event was held in the restoration hangers (actually kind of neat to see some of the goodies held therein!) where we were able to see planes being put together and displayed. The weather precluded any flying. Friday's show did go off and planes did get into the air. Alas, the sky remained gray for the entire day, with on and off rain showers, so pictures have a dull background. Your writer did not attend Saturday's or Sunday's shows, but understands that the weather did not improve until the last few hours of the show on Sunday.  The field remained amazingly solid with the torrential downpours incurred by the greater Dayton area. The planes use the grass as runway, as many do not have rear wheels, rather use skids like most planes of that era did.

  The replica WWI planes are mostly 3/4 and 7/8 scale models built by aficionados. There are a few full size models, and the show had four, including three that actually flew in from the Denver area. These all belong to the Vintage Aero Flying Museum headed up by Andy Park, son of the last Lafayette Escadrille pilot to pass on. Their site is www.lafayettefoundation.org  They brought their three Fokkers. The other was a Nieuport 27- the Nieuport is the most common plane at the show in its many versions; primarily the 11. The triplanes are the most popular with the spectators.

  This event occurs every other year, and also features reenactors, vintage cars, RC planes, vendors, and special exhibits, movies and lectures at the Museum of the United States Air Force, on whose back lot this event is held. One hopes indeed for blue skies in 2011!