Helping generate a new generation of pilots

Pilots and car enthusiasts landed in Plains this past Saturday to share their gleaming vehicles of air and road with over 300 admiring fans of all ages. The event also drew a crowd for a pancake breakfast that was a fundraiser supporting a $500 scholarship given annually to a student wishing to pursue a career in aviation—as a pilot or mechanic. That scholarship, sponsored by the Sanders County Hanger group of the Montana Pilots Association and overseen by Dan Lilja, awarded this year’s scholarship to Cuahtemoc Rivera of Heron, Mont. who wants to pilot long range, hauling airplanes.

Plains Airport Manager Randy Garrison, who has organized the annual event for the past 30 years, again managed the event, while Plains residents, Nita and Dallas Deardorff of the Sanders County Hanger Group handled the on-site details of the pancake breakfast and the show. Brothers Dwayne and Dennis Olson served as chief chefs for the pancake breakfast that served more than 150 breakfasts.

This year’s annual fly-in saw the addition of a car show with 7 vehicles being displayed. Three of those were beautiful Corvettes and the antique Plains-Paradise Fire Truck also was present for close-up inspection. The hope is for the car show portion of the event to continue and to grow.

A highlight of the Plains ‘Fly-in’ was a beautifully restored Model 6000, NC9O38, owned and flown by Hank Galpin of Kalispell. Early in its history, the plane was one of three aircraft purchased by Delta Air Service, now Delta Airlines, which began its commercial air services on June 17, 1929 with service from Dallas to Birmingham, Alabama. With a ticket price of $13.25 (about $200 in today’s dollars) one way, flying aboard the plane was definitely limited to the wealthy.

After being restored from wreckage in 1944, from 1945 to 1964, NC9038 was used for hauling both passengers and freight and, as part of the Johnson Flying Service. It also was used to shuttle smokejumpers to fires. In 1964, the plane crashed into the Payette River near McCall, Idaho, and eight years later, its wreckage was taken to Alaska, where it laid almost forgotten for 20 years. In 1992, Galpin retrieved the once majestic NC9038, brought her to Kalispell and spent the next 10 years lovingly restoring her to the pristine queen of the air she now is. In 2002, after 38 years, the Travel Air flying machine returned to the air.

Galpin now takes the black and orange antique plane to shows around Montana and occasionally to shows beyond the state boundaries. He also gives rides to those lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time to claim one of the five passenger seats. With wicker seats that are about the same size as current ‘coach’ seats and an “aisle” about six inches wide, it is a bit of a tight fit on board so it helps that the windows roll down. Of course, the flowing air also adds to the thrill of the experience.

Galpin aims to share his flying passion with at least 100 passengers during the season, so, with 14 fortunate enthusiasts who found their way on board at the Plains fly-in, he is well on his way to meeting his goal.

Even for those not adventurous enough to take to the skies in a propeller plane, seeing the line of the old machine close up and watching as it gracefully maneuvers through the clouds could give one a case of what the passionate flyers call OAD—Old Airplane Disease, a love for the antique flying machines.