The 16th Aviation Heritage Fair will be held Saturday, Sept. 15, from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the Kent State University Airport, located at 4020 Kent Road in Stow, Ohio. The fair, a celebration of aviation education past, present and future, is presented by Kent State University’s Aeronautics Program with support from the Stow-Munroe Falls Kiwanis Club.
A favorite Northeast Ohio summer event, the Aviation Heritage Fair features activities for the flight enthusiast and casual fan, as well as attractions for the entire family. Highlights include airplane rides, airport flyovers and aircraft displays featuring civilian and military planes and helicopters. The Kiwanis Club will host a children’s tent with arts and crafts activities for young families.
“The goal of the Aviation Heritage Fair has been to not only share with others our love of aviation and our appreciation for alumni, the aviation industry and the local community, but also to raise funds which directly support scholarship efforts of the Aeronautics Program and the Kiwanis Club,” said Maureen McFarland, academic program director of aeronautics and assistant professor at Kent State. “This year, we are excited and proud to announce that, in fall 2013, the Aeronautics Program will be able to offer the first Aviation Heritage scholarship. This endowed scholarship is made possible through the donations of all our past and current sponsors. We appreciate the support they have continually provided to us over the years.”
This year’s displays include several World War II aircraft, including a B-25 “Georgie's Gal” and the Heritage Air Museum’s C-123 Provider. There will be two airport flyovers. One will take place between 11 a.m. and 11:30 am and feature a KC-135 aircraft from the 121st Air Refueling Wing in Columbus, Ohio. The second will take place between 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and will feature an F-16 jet fighter.
The fair officially begins at 7 a.m. with a pancake breakfast hosted by the Stow-Munroe Kiwanis Club. Tickets for the breakfast are $6. Airplane rides will begin at 7:30 a.m., while other aircraft will be flying in and out during the day.
The Stow-Munroe Kiwanis Club will award its annual aviation scholarship at noon, which will be immediately followed by remarks by guest speaker Jason Dowd, JetBlue first officer and Kent State alumnus. This past March, Dowd was hailed as a hero for taking control of a JetBlue flight when the pilot began acting erratically. Dowd, a co-pilot on the New York to Las Vegas flight, made a successful emergency landing in Amarillo, Texas.
The Aviation Heritage Fair, which was conceived by a Kent State student aviation club, has been through several iterations over the years. The event is now run by the faculty, staff and students of the university’s Aeronautics Program, with help from the Stow-Munroe Falls Kiwanis Club.
Event admission and parking are free. Airplane rides are $30 per person or $75 for three people. Those interested in airplane rides must register at the sign-up tent upon arrival. Food and beverages will be available for sale throughout the day.
The fair will take place rain or shine, although some events are subject to change due to inclement weather.
This year, the Kent State Aeronautics Program is presenting a speaker in conjunction with the Aviation Heritage Fair. On Friday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m., Brian Udell will talk about his harrowing experience being ejected from an airplane.
Udell holds the record for surviving the highest speed ejection from a U.S. Fighter Aircraft at nearly 800 mph. He survived four grueling hours 65 miles off the Atlantic Coast in 60-degree water, 5-foot seas, and 15 mph winds at night. His story of survival and recovery will serve as an inspiration to everyone. Udell’s talk will take place in the Kent Student Center Kiva. It is presented by the Kent State Student Council and is free and open to the public.
For more information on the Aviation Heritage Fair, visit www.kentstateaviationheritagefair.org.
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Photo Caption:
Aviation fans get a rare, up-close look at the Yankee Warrior, a World War II B-25 airplane, during a previous Kent State Aviation Heritage Fair. The event takes place on Sept. 15 from
7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Kent State University Airport and is free and open to the public.
Media Contacts:
Maureen McFarland, mmcfarl2@kent.edu, 330-672-9867
Bob Burford, rburford@kent.edu, 330-672-8516