CHARITY STUNT FLIGHTS ARE GROUNDED BY STORM

Instead of performing such aerobatic stunts as loops, rolls and hammerheads, Travis Aukes spent most of Friday afternoon wiping down the grounded Red Baron Boeing A-75 Stearman aircraft.

"We got rained out," Aukes announced glumly.

He and fellow pilot Patrick Rediker flew into Cape Girardeau's Municipal Airport to give rides to area store managers and media reprsentatives in appreciation for helping to promote a fund raiser for the fight against cystic fibrosis.

The two red and white bi-planes gave two rides Friday before heavy rains began to drench the region, making flying conditions dangerous.

Weather permitting, the pilots will dazzle viewers today by flying in formation and performing aerobatic stunts.

Red Baron Pizza Service is donating 5 cents to the fight against cystic fibrosis for every Red Baron Frozen Pizza sold in Southeast Missouri grocery stores April 28 to May 9, said Bob McFarland, an area sales manager for Red Baron Pizza Service.

The nationally recognized squadron participates in fund-raising activities and special events all across the country to benefit America's youths.

The planes were used in World War II as military trainers for pilots, Aukes said. After the war, Stearman planes were used for crop dusting.

The "real" Red Baron, the flamboyant Baron Mandred von Richthofen, became famous during World War I by personally downing 80 French and English aircraft as leader of the German fighter squadron nicknamed von Richthofen's "Flying Circus."

He was dubbed the Red Baron because of the bright red plane he chose to fly as a challenge to opposing airmen.

The pilots will be at the airport from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. While they cannot offer rides, they said viewers can bring their cameras to take pictures of the planes.