The Aeronautics Department in Kent State University’s College of Applied Engineering, Sustainability and Technology will host its 20th Aeronautics Fair on Saturday, Sept. 10. The Kent State University Aeronautics Fair takes place 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Andrew W. Paton Field at the Kent State University Airport, located at 4020 Kent Road in Stow.
This family-friendly fair will feature vintage aircraft, military vehicles, speakers and pilots, as well as airplane and hot air balloon rides. COSI, the Center of Science and Industry located in Columbus, Ohio, will be in the hangar this year as well as face painting for children. Free parking will be available at the Stow-Kent Shopping Center, located at 4301 Kent Road, and the Christ Community Church, located at 3900 Kent Road. A donation of $5 per person or $10 per family is suggested. All proceeds will fund aeronautics student scholarships at Kent State.
“Twenty years and still going strong, I think that says a lot about the value of this event,” said Robert Sines Jr., interim dean of Kent State’s College of Applied Engineering, Sustainability and Technology. “Just seeing the faces of the kids when they look at the older aircraft wants us to continue this event for the next 20 years. It is such a great event and allows us to share our passion in aeronautics with the surrounding community. We have so many outstanding partners in making this event so great, including MAPS Air Museum, the city of Stow, Corsair Model Aircraft Club and the Kiwanis of Stow-Munroe Falls. Great partners allow us to put on a great event.”
Aeronautics is one of Kent State’s top academic programs, and the Aeronautics Fair is an opportunity to show the Kent State fleet, share accomplishments of the division and spread enthusiasm for the industry with the community.
This year’s presenters include Susan Johnson, engineer project manager and deputy project manager for the Revolutionary Vertical Lift Technology Project at NASA’s Glenn Research Center; Brian Stofiel of Stofiel Aerospace; Yanhai Du, professor and director of the Clean Energy Lab at Kent State; Cold War and Vietnam War veteran Ken Ramsay; and WWII veteran and Tuskegee Airman Roy S. Richardson. Speakers will give presentations from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“I’m particularly excited about the quality and breadth of our guest speakers and participants this year,” said Maureen McFarland, director of Kent State’s Aeronautics program. “The Aeronautics program recently implemented a four-year professional development program for all of its students, and events such as the Aeronautics Fair help us bridge the gap between those courses and the university’s core values, which include a call for life-changing educational experiences, robust living-learning environments and collaborative communities.”
The event also will feature static aircraft displays for guests to explore. Some aircrafts, like the Yankee Air Museum’s WWII Warbird, the North American B-25 Mitchell “Yankee Warrior,” will offer flights throughout the day. Seats are limited, so reservations are required for flights in the WWII Warbird and a hot air balloon. The Kent State Precision Flight Team will offer airplane rides on a first-come, first-served basis for $30 per person.
Other featured events include Corsair Model Club demonstration flights and Military Aviation Preservation Society (MAPS) displays of a F-86 Sabre jet cockpit.
The Kent State Airport also will collect pet food donations at the fair for local animal shelters. The airport’s Props-4-Paws fall pet food drive will continue until Nov. 17 with the goal of collecting 2,000 pounds of food.
Attendees are encouraged to come early and stay late. The Kiwanis Club of Stow-Munroe Falls will be serving pancakes from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $8 with the proceeds going to the club’s service projects. Beginning at 11 a.m., local food vendors will be serving until the event closes at 5 p.m.
For a more detailed schedule of events, visit www.kent.edu/aerofair.
To schedule a flight in the WWII Warbird, contact Vince Caruso at 330-592-0316 or visit www.YankeeAirMuseum.org to make a reservation.
To schedule a hot air balloon ride, contact Dennis Welser at 330-633-3288.
For more information about Kent State’s Aeronautics program and the College of Applied Engineering, Sustainability and Technology, visit www.kent.edu/caest.
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Media Contacts:
Jessica Tremayne-Farkas, jtremayn@kent.edu, 330-672-1498
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595