RIDE A C-45 AT THE SYRACUSE FLY-IN SATURDAY

by Michele Boy | October 5, 2023

Every year the annual Fly-In brings young and old to the local airport to look at vintage planes, eat delicious chili, and this year, the opportunity to fly in a C-45.
 The 28th annual Classic and Antique Fly-In will be held at the Hamilton County Airport and hosted by the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 277, Saturday, October 7. Mother Nature is predicting a beautiful day in the 70s, light wind for the planes to begin flying in around 9:00 AM.  
Twenty-eight years ago, the Syracuse Hamilton County Chamber of Commerce was asked to serve the pilots breakfast, and lunch. Evolving over the years they have invited the public, expanding the menu to include hamburgers, hot dogs and welcoming the arrival of autumn with a chili cook off.  
Saturday will be a perfect day for homemade chili and Hamilton County has some of the best. If you think you make some of the best, consider entering!  There is $250 in prize money!  The top five will receive $50 and you will help feed over 200 people. Entry forms are available at Frazee Abstract or the City of Syracuse. You can receive one via e-mail by contacting Krista Norton at 620-384-6150.  
The Chamber will serve hamburgers, polish sausage and hot dogs in addition to the annual chili cook off beginning at 11:00 AM in the hanger at the south side of the airport.  
This year will be one of the many unique years with the appearance of a commemorative Air Force Beechcraft MOD-18 C- 45 Expeditor N40074 which was meticulously restored as the one Major General Ira Eaker used as commander of the Army’s 8th Air Force in Europe during WWII.   
The Cimarron Strip Wing supports and maintains the C-45 by exhibiting it at air shows, which allows the aircraft to be an excellent platform enabling the Wing to educate the public regarding the rich history of American Military Aviation.  
The Cimarron Strip Squadron was established on December 17, 1988, as a squadron of the Oklahoma Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) becoming the Cimarron Strip Wing. December 16, 1990, the Cimarron Strip Squadron grew to become the 50th Wing of the CAF, headquartered at the Guymon, Okla. Airport. 
Versions of the C-45 Expeditor include the AT-7, AT-10, AT-11 and F-2. The C-45 Expeditor is painstakingly maintained for flight in support of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) mission, which is to acquire and maintain a collection of vintage aircraft from WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam Conflict, and selected aircraft from other nations for the education and enjoyments of present and future generations of Americans. 
The purpose of the CAF is to first acquire, restore, and preserve in flying condition a complete collection of combat aircraft, which were flown by all military services of the United States and selected aircraft of other nations for the education and enjoyment of present and future generations of America.  
If you are five years or older and would like the opportunity to ride in the C-45, the cost is $200.00 if you’re in the co-pilot seat and $100 per person in the cabin. Contact Steve Phillips at xwind@pld.com for more information.