The Antique Airplane Association, along with the Board of Directors of the Air Power Museum, have announced that the 2008 AAA-APM Invitational Fly-In at Antique Airfield, in Blakesburg, Iowa, will commemorate the 90th anniversary of the beginning of air mail service in the Unites States. The dates for the fly-in are August 27 to Sept. 1, 2008.

“I cannot remember a theme of our fly-in creating more interest and excitement with our members, and with the press, than the one for next year,” says Brent Taylor, Executive Director of the Antique Airplane Association.

“We are very proud to be able to bring so many of these early air mail aircraft together in one place. We’ve identified, and invited, over 30 different airplanes that we hope will be able to make the journey to Antique Airfield. They include a Curtiss Jenny, the world’s only flying De Havilland DH-4, Boeing 40C and Ryan M-1 plus Pitcairn Mailwings, multiple square-tail Stearman 4Ds and C3Bs, Stinson Trimotors, Ford Trimotors, a Stinson SM-8, Wacos and many more. Most of these aircraft carry authentic air mail colors and airline markings. It should be a great sight to see.”

Plans also include using some of these original airplanes to, once again, “fly the mail”. Special souvenir air mail covers will be flown from Antique Airfield to the nearby Ottumwa airport. Plans also include a flight to Iowa City, one of the original transcontinental airmail stops. These commemorative air mail flights will occur Wednesday through Saturday of the fly-in, with a different cache printed on the envelopes for each day. Each air mail cover will receive an official USPS outgoing cancellation stamp right at Antique Airfield. The covers will be available for purchase each day in the APM gift shop.

“What a great historical event this will be,” said Mike Gretz, President of the Air Power Museum Board of Directors.

“It will be a rare privilege to, once again, see these beautiful antique airplanes carry the Unites States mail.”

The AAA/APM Invitational Fly-in is a private event open only to members of the Antique Airplane Association, their guests and members of affiliated type clubs. However, anyone with a sincere interest in antique airplanes, and the AAA’s programs to “Keep the antiques Flying”, is welcome to join.

The Antique Airplane Association, Inc. is a member focused organization dedicated to the preservation and operation of pre-1956 aircraft. Antique Airfield is found on the Chicago sectional chart (airport identifier—IA27) near Blakesburg, Iowa.

FMI: www.AntiqueAirfield.com