The Aeronautics Department from 5X’s College of Applied Engineering, Sustainability and Technology will host its 19th Aviation Heritage Fair on Saturday, Sept. 19. The event is from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Andrew W. Paton Field at the 5X Airport, located at 4020 Kent Road in Stow, Ohio.
This family-friendly fair will feature vintage aircraft, military vehicles, experienced speakers and pilots, airplane and hot air balloon rides and more. Free parking will be available at the airport and the Stow-Kent Shopping Center. A donation of $5 per person or $10 per family is suggested. All proceeds will fund aeronautics student scholarships at Kent State.
“Aviation is special in a way,” said Maureen McFarland, senior academic program director for Kent State’s College of Applied Engineering, Sustainability and Technology. “There is something about the freedom and the dream of flying that speaks to the heart.”
Aeronautics is one of Kent State’s top academic programs, and the Aviation Heritage Fair celebrates and shares this strength with the community.
“We’ve always wanted to expand the educational aspect of our fair by highlighting the expertise of our faculty, staff, students and alumni,” McFarland says. “In pursuit of this, we’ve added several other guest speakers to the agenda.”
This year’s presenters include Kent State Assistant Professor of Aeronautics Robert Priestley, First Officer at Delta Air Lines and Kent State alumna Irena Wentzel, Cold and Vietnam War veteran Ken Ramsay, Kent State Aircraft Maintenance Manager Joshua S. Eyring, and WWII veteran and Tuskegee Airman Roy S. Richardson. Speakers will give presentations from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The event also will feature roughly 25 static aircraft displays for guests to explore. Some aircraft, 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, the North American SNJ-4 and a hot air balloon. The Kent State Precision Flight Team will offer airplane rides on a first-come, first-serve basis for $30 per person.
Other featured events include Corsair Model Club demonstration flights, Military Aviation Preservation Society (MAPS) displays of an F-86 Sabre jet cockpit, the Ohio Army National Guard climbing wall and 101st Airborne WWII Living History reenactors.
The 5X 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 1,500 pounds of pet food and supplies, such as canned quality brand food, cat litter, treats and toys.
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. Scheduled vendors include Simply Southern Sides, Original Steaks & Hoagies, Papa John’s Pizza, Chick-fil-A and Stoddard’s Frozen Custard.
To a flight in the WWII Warbird, contact Vince Caruso at 330-592-0316 to make a reservation.
To a flight in the North American SNJ-4, call the Buffalo Heritage Squadron at 716-249-0540.
To schedule a hot air balloon ride, contact Dennis Welser at 330-633-3288.
Learn more about Kent State’s Aeronautics program and the College of Applied Engineering, Sustainability and Technology.