Biplane Expo Finale Was Spectacular
June 6, 2009. Under three days of perfect blue skies and full moon cloudless evenings, “The Final Curtain” of The Biplane Expo’s extraordinarily successful run of 23 years of “Biplanes at Bartlesville” come to a standing ovation close on Saturday evening June 6, 2009.
The Grand Finale was easily one of the most outstanding of all the previous 22 Biplane Expos as the sport aviation community flew 115 biplanes, 241 other aircraft grassroots aircraft, and 10 high-profile flight demonstration Warbirds to Bartlesville to celebrate the historical significant and legacy of biplanes. Over 2000 people were in attendance on Friday, June 5 and over 4500 people were in attendance on Saturday 6. (Read More)
The Biplane Expo has long recognized a very select number of America’s finest aviators and 2009 was no exception as Lt. Colonel Dick Rutan, 325 combat mission F-100 pilot in S.E. Asia, around the world non-stop, non-refueled absolute distance record holder Voyager pilot and Collier Trophy recipient, was the Expo’s Honored Guest at the event.
The 23rd Annual Biplane Expo’s Early Bird Day of June 4 featured “An Evening with Dick Rutan” at Bartlesville’s Hillcrest Country Club at which over three hundred biplane fans attended; the on the field Friday evening Honors Tribute to Col Rutan was likewise attended by more than 300 people.
The overwhelming turnout of biplanes and crews was generally attributable to the exceptionally fine weather, the presence of the remarkably highly-achieving Guest of Honor Dick Rutan and the desire of so many National Biplane Association members and fans to attend the final Biplane Expo of the last nearly quarter century. The exceptionally large turnout of biplanes again created one of the most unique sights in all of aviation as the colorful sea of upper wings created a panorama of aviation.
During the Awards Dinner on Saturday evening, June 6 which was attended by 297 people, the business and civic leaders of Bartlesville presented the National Biplane Association grateful remembrances for the 2500 biplanes, the 7500 non-biplane aircraft and the over 80,000 people who have come to Bartlesville to attend this long-running and highly-successful unique aviation event! It has been 23 years in a flash and it ended on a perfect high note!
-Charles W. Harris, Chairman
National Biplane Association
Awards -Biplane Expo 2009
Open Cockpit Biplane – Grand Champion
1940 UPF-7, N620AM
Ray and Mary Keasler
Jefferson, TX
Open Cockpit Biplane – Reserve Grand Champion
1932 Waco UBA, NC13041
Phil and Ruthie Coulson
Lawton, MI
Cabin Biplane – Grand Champion
1943 Beech D-17S Staggerwing, NC333E
Jack Miller
Fort Collins, CO
Cabin Biplane – Reserve Grand Champion
1941 Waco SRE, N58785
Al Womack
Jackson, LA
Experimental Biplane – Grand Champion
1931 Moss Lakes, N22ML
Jim Moss
Buckley, WA
Experimental Biplane – Reserve Grand Champion
1973 Starduster II, N2369
Don Bates
Sunrise Beach, MO
Replica Biplane – Grand Champion
1992 Fokker D-VII (1917-1918), N6880
Barney Peterson
Collinsville, OK
Replica Biplane – Reserve Grand Champion
2004 Waco UMF-5, N14377
John Hudec
Collinsville, OK
Longest Distance in an Open Cockpit Biplane
1931 Moss Lakes, N22ML
Flown from Buckley, WA approximately 2000 statute miles
Owned by Jim Moss and flown to the Expo by Jim Wiebe
Chairman’s Award (For a very deserving biplane which has not been properly recognized – or a very deserving individual who should be particularly recognized)
1942 Boeing E75 450 Stearman, N5000V
Randy Miller
Grand Junction, CO