Mid-America Antique Airplane Group

A delegation of 18 government and university personnel from China have been visiting around the U.S. for the past few weeks to understand what General Aviation (GA) is all about in the U.S.  They have visited GAMA, the FAA, various manufacturers, FBO's, and other places.  Today, Beechcraft hosted the delegation.  In addition to the typical presentation on the various models and a tour of the production lines, a trip to Stearman Field for lunch was included. 

The Mid-America Antique Airplane Group (MAAG) showed up in fly-in style with a variety of airplanes.  MAAG demonstrated first hand an aspect of GA the delegation probably would not have seen.  The most popular airplanes were an AirBike, Fly Baby, and a Fokker Tri-Plane replica.  The delegation sat in airplanes, took lots of pictures, and asked the pilots many questions.

After a great lunch at the Stearman Cafe, the group traveled to one of the home/hangars on the field for desert and to see an in-progress restoration of a 1947 Stinson Voyager.  Afterwards, the group enjoyed watching the airplanes takeoff and make some low passes.

One commented he was going back home and establishing an airport like this!  Many commented this was the best day yet on this visit!  Thanks to the MAAG pilots for so graciously donating your time and airplanes to spur aviation passion in another corner of the world.