<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0JgeH1_0vGyq8KH00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0JgeH1_0vGyq8KH00" width="640" height="480" ><figcaption>A P-25 Miss Mitchell bomber from World War II is parked on the Clarinda Municipal Airport runway prior to the 2024 Fly Iowa Airshow Saturday afternoon.&nbsp; Mike Peterson/KMA News</figcaption></figure>(Clarinda) -- Organizers are sky high over the success of a major airshow in Clarinda.After almost two years of preparation, Fly Iowa took flight over the skies of Clarinda Saturday afternoon. Air enthusiasts and aircraft of all sorts descended upon Clarinda Municipal Airport-Schenk Field for the 2024 event, a vast assortment of aerial acrobatics and daring do. Most of the pilots are grizzled airshow veterans. Doug Roth of Lincoln, Nebraska has been a stunt pilot for 30 years. What prompted Roth to take up such a dangerous hobby?"When I got my pilot's license, I got introduced to a spin and a loop right away," said Roth. "Then, along the way, I was able to get to know Harry Barr, who's from here in Clarinda, and through his encouragement over the years in saying, 'you could do more than that. Hey, here's a plane that you can buy. You can do more than that.' I never, ever planned to be doing airshows, but it just worked out, and it's always been a lot of fun. It's just my love of aerobatics and my love of flying."Brian Korrell of Witchita, Kansas also performed in the airshow. Given the risks involved in air stunts, Korrell says a lot of practice and preparation is involved."We call it stunt flying," said Korrell. "A stunt is maybe something you do, and you're not sure of what the outcome is going to be. We practice very hard. All the maneuvers you see here aren't maneuvers that this is our first time trying it. We've done each one of those maneuvers probably a thousand times. We know exactly what speed we need, exactly the outcome of it, and all the outs that we need to there, what altitude we need to have, what air speed we need. So, we practice diligently to make the routines safe, and we can do something that might make it look a little more difficult, and put into that position."But, we want it to be entertaining, and obviously safe for us," he added."Some of the notable aircraft participating in the show included a P-51 Mustang Tuskegee Airmen fighter plane, a P-15 Mustang gunfighter, and a P-25 Miss Mitchell bomber--all of which reenacted a bombing raid from World War II--complete with pyrotechnics. Prior to the airshow, spectators could pay for flights on the P-25. Jim Hansen of Coin took family members for the ride of their lives."First of all, there's no air condition, and we have flight suits on," said Hansen. "The pilots were really nice. We all had head sets on--we could hear what they were talking. When they hit the throttles for takeoff, it's just a rush that shoots right through you. Indescribable."Food trucks, face painting and other activities made for a "state fair in the air" atmosphere at the airport. Members of Clarinda's Fly Iowa Committee worked with the Iowa Aviation Promotion Group to bring Fly Iowa to Clarinda for the first time since 2005. Merlin Barr and Steve Mowery co-chaired the committee. Mowery credited the committee and the army of volunteers with the event's success. And, he believes Clarinda's small town hospitality was a big hit with the pilots."Tell you what, it's a testament to small towns," said Mowery. "Most of them do airshows in cities, and this is a completely different atmosphere for them. They just love a small town like Clarinda."Also airborne during Fly Iowa were skydivers from the Lincoln Sport Parachute Club, and a Friends of Army Aviation UH-1 Huey helicopter.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Fly iowa: A state fair in the air

(Clarinda) -- Organizers are sky high over the success of a major airshow in Clarinda. After almost two years of preparation, Fly Iowa took flight over the skies of Clarinda Saturday afternoon. Air enthusiasts and aircraft of all sorts descended upon Clarinda Municipal Airport-Schenk Field for the 2024 event, a vast assortment of aerial acrobatics and daring do. Most of the pilots are grizzled airshow veterans. Doug Roth of Lincoln, Nebraska has been a stunt pilot for 30 years. What prompted Roth to take up such a dangerous hobby?

Fly iowa: A state fair in the air

Comments / 0