The Cedar Rapids Skyhawk’s annual warbird fly-in, now called Warbirds over Iowa, was a great success. Despite the constant wind that was gusting at speeds over 20 mph there was plenty of good flying and a wide selection of warbird models present. A total of 18 pilots and 39 aircraft were registered. The day started with a few pilots jumping in to get some flying in before the wind picked up. Some large multi-motor electric aircraft were on hand representing those who prefer the quiet sound of battery power. The wind quickly arrived, and the skies were dominated by the heavy iron. A strong quartering wind allowed the pilots to show their skill with the rudder as they took off down the 500 foot petro-mat strip. Even with the rough air, there were very many flights and few incidents.

     Jim Oosterhuis brought a number of planes from Hospers, Iowa that represented some beautiful aircraft offered by his company, Giant Scale twins. Flying his giant 130” span F-82 twin Mustang Jim won Best Flight with scale passes down the runway and the awesome sound of twin gassers. Notice the photo of Jim’s F-82 on takeoff as he builds up speed down the runway with the rudders hard over and the wing being picked up by the side wind and you’ll understand how he won the award. Jim also put in some nice flights with his 94” span P-51H Mustang on multiple occasions throughout the day.

     There were many fine looking scale aircraft on display in the pits and in the air, but Jerry Wolf’s B-25 took the Best Static award. His B-25 was impressive from accurate cockpit detail to the many rivets on the surface. To be eligible for the best static, the plane had to fly. Jerry’s B-25 saw multiple flights and impressed all who saw it with the high speed passes and smooth take-offs. Jim’s B-25 also impressed spectators with the quality of the brakes. There were a couple landings where the big plane came in a bit high to clear the corn and still managed to come to a smooth stop at the end of the runway.

     One familiar face at Warbirds over Iowa is Dwayne Fosseen. He has been at the last five events and always brings his B-29 ready to fly. This year was no exception as he flew multiple times and dropped his bomb load on cue and on target. Dwayne won the Best of Show award with his excellent scale flights and his beautiful B-29 that shows good both on the ground and in the air. It’s tough to beat the sound of four four-stroke engines humming over the field.

     While the flying was going on there were quite a few spectators who came and went throughout the day. Pilots and spectators alike got to share in some good food provided by the Skyhawk’s concession stand. As with any gathering of this type, much of the fun is due to the opportunity to share knowledge and join with others who have a love for warbirds of all types.

     The photos attached with this report show some of the excellent aircraft that showed up and braved the windy conditions. Special thanks to photographer, Rich Dean, who took many of the stunning shots of aircraft in flight and on the ground. I brought seven aircraft, so I had my hands full flying and did not take as many pictures as I would have liked. The contest director, Wendall Maakestad, mentioned to me how pleased he was with the turn-out and the overall quality of aircraft that were present. Every year the event seems to get bigger and better, so next year should be something to look forward to.