HAGERSTOWN FLYING CIRCUS

Hagerstown's Flying Circus

Tuesday, July 21
Will Be Festive, Free and Family Friendly

HAGERSTOWN, IN -- The skies over Hagerstown will again be filled with vintage aircraft as the town's unique airport will host Hagerstown's Flying Circus Tuesday, July 21. "It will be festive, fun, free and family friendly," announces Denny Burns, who chairs the event sponsored by the Hagerstown Optimist Club. Visitors to Hagerstown's airport will be treated to a wide array of vintage aircraft, fun food, and a chance to meet the pilots before the evening entertainment begins. "Bring a lawn chair or a blanket, and have a great time," adds the chairman. Admission and parking are free. Expressing regret that many working people were unable to attend last year's Hagerstown or Bust fly-in that was part of the Centennial Ford Model T-Party, Burns announced that the aerial games and other fun events will be staged from 6 to 8 p.m. this year. But, visitors will be able to see the planes up close. Gates open at 2 p.m. Led by Andrew King, the stunt pilot from the movie "Fly Boys," pilots of pre-1947 aircraft will descend on Hagerstown that Tuesday afternoon in preparation for the event. "The Hagerstown Airport is great," says King, "We loved it last year. It's not often we get to see such a large airport that's also a grassy airport. Old planes like grass because that’s what they were built for." "This is the 80th anniversary of the Pietenpol," says King of the very popular amateur-built plane of the 1930s, "so I’ll be flying a Pietenpol myself. We'll also fly in Travel Airs and Waco bi-planes." The celebration will actually begin Saturday, July 18 with the Indiana premiere of a professional film, "Barnstorming – the Movie. Friends from the Sky." The free showing will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Hagerstown High School Auditorium and will feature King and many other pilots and aircraft that will be flying into Hagerstown the following Tuesday. At 2 p.m. Saturday, July 18, Marvin Stohler, Hagerstown aviation expert, will be available at 2 p.m. for a free "Ask Marvin Anything" question and answer session regarding planes and the pilots who fly them. It will be in the Hagerstown Museum's Arts Place at 98 East Main Street. The Optimists also are sponsoring a special Art, Photography and Model Contest this year for children and adults. The contest is open to three age groups: Children up to age 9; Young people 10 – 16, and an Open Class for those 17 and older. "Artists and aircraft lovers of all ages are welcome to participate at no cost," said Tina Michaels, contest chairman. "Drawings, paintings, models, photographs or other artistic media depicting airplanes, helicopters, hot air balloons, gliders, etc. will be accepted." All entries – both two-dimensional and three dimensional – must be submitted to Hagerstown Arts Place, 98 East Main Street, any Thursday through Sunday from 1 to 7 p.m. through the deadline, Sunday, July 12. The works will be on display at the Hagerstown Museum and Arts Place through July 19 and will be on exhibit at the airport July 21. Prizes will be awarded in each age group. Anyone with questions about the art contest may contact Ms. Michaels at (765) 489-5877 or Arts Place at (765) 489-4005. Pilots and vintage car owners alike expressed admiration for Hagerstown last year, including their discovery of warm hospitality and the longest, smoothest grassy airstrip in America. Hagerstown is the ideal location for Eastern state pilots to land while en route to the largest gathering of historic aircraft every year in Oshkosh, Wis., according to Marvin Stohler of Hagerstown's Airport Board. Pilots are expected to camp under the wings of their planes the night of July 21 and depart about noon the next day. Visitors attending the July 21 event will be able to meet and speak with the pilots beginning early afternoon that date. Anyone with questions about the event may contact Bob Warner, Hagerstown town manager, at (765) 489-6171.

For further information, contact:

Denny Burns, chairman dburns@omnicityusa.com

(765) 489-5829

Bob Warner, Hagerstown town manager bobwarner87@yahoo.com

(765) 489-6171 Mary Anne Butters, public relations committee greensfork@aol.com

(765) 886-5098 (317) 340-8476 (cell)