`FLY-IN': EXPERIMENTAL PLANE CLUB HOLDS PAINTON GATHERING

PAINTON - The sky above Painton was busier than usual Sunday afternoon as some rather unusual-looking aircraft flew back and forth over the small community about eight miles south of Delta.

The airplanes were piloted by members of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), an organization of pilots who build and fly experimental aircraft and the traditional FAA-certificated manufactured airplanes.

Over 100 people and 15 aircraft, including experimental and FAA-type-certified private airplanes, were present at the third annual "Fly-In" get-to-gather and barbecue at the Painton "International" airport at the edge of the tiny northeastern Stoddard County community.

The airport consists of a 3,000-foot-long sod runway that can handle larger twin-engine aircraft as well as the smaller experimental aircraft.

The event was sponsored by Chapter 453 of the EAA at the Painton airport.

Pilots and their families flew or drove from as far away as Springfield, and from Ste. Genevieve, Jackson, Marble Hill, Sikeston, and Cape Girardeau to attend the fly-in that included a noon barbecue and an afternoon of flying for fun.

"It's like a big family reunion," said John Ferguson of Cape Girardeau, private pilot, owner of an experimental aircraft, and a member of the chapter's board of directors. "Because the smaller experimental aircraft only carry the pilot, most of the families came by car," said Ferguson. "But we had some larger aircraft that flew in with more than one person on board," he said.

Ferguson said experimental aircraft are built by the pilot, either from scratch or more often from a kit that can be purchased just the same as model airplane kits.

The assembled aircraft are regarded as experimental by the Federal Aviation Administration because they are not manufactured at a plant. But that doesn't make them less safe than manufactured, private airplanes, Ferguson said.

"Actually, experimental aircraft are a lot more fun to fly because they fly slower and lower than the larger private aircraft," he said.

A highlight of the afternoon was orientation flights for "Young Eagles." Ferguson said this is a nationwide program of the association.

"We take youngsters and teenagers, 4-17 years old, up for their first flight in an airplane, at no charge, to let them experience for the first time in their life the thrill of flight. After they land, each one receives a signed certificate inducting them in the association as Young Eagles," he said.

"The purpose of the Young Eagles program is to expose young people to the world of civil aviation. These young folks are the ones who must follow in our footsteps if private civil aviation is going to survive," Ferguson said. "We want to give them the opportunity to feel for themselves the thrill and experience of flight. Perhaps it will motivate some of them to become private pilots and become a part of private aviation."

Ferguson said the chapter meets at the Painton airport on the third Sunday of each month at 1:30 p.m. If weather permits they fly their aircraft. "We welcome anyone who is interested in flying or experimental aircraft to come down on a Sunday afternoon and visit with us and watch us fly," he said.

To reach Painton from Cape Girardeau, take Highway 25 west of Delta and turn left on Route P. Go south on Route P through Randles and Perkins.