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Clear afternoon skies help crowd of 20,000 enjoy Kent State event
By Bill Lilley
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Sunday, Sep 07, 2008
STOW: A rainy Saturday morning created wet runways for the 2008 Aviation Heritage Fair at Kent State University Airport, preventing the landing of several World War II vintage aircraft and scuttling a morning flyover by F-16s.
But with clearer skies by afternoon, Andrew Paton Field became a haven of historical military aircraft as five World War II-era fighter planes — two Mustang P-51 Ponys and two Steerman biplanes used by the Army Air Corps and a T-6 Texan used by the Navy — became the focal point for an enthusiastic crowd. There also was an afternoon flyover by F-16s out of the 180th Fighter Wing in Swanton, Ohio.
Event coordinator Isaac Richmond Nettey said that despite the morning weather problems, the Aviation Heritage Fair still drew a crowd of about 20,000.
''That was excellent attendance, considering how bad the weather was for half of the event,'' said Nettey, associate dean of Kent State's College of Technology and senior academic program director for aeronautics. ''Everybody really enjoyed the fighter planes.''
Nettey believes that even an all-day rain wouldn't have been able to dampen the spirit of the event.
''The Aviation Fair is still a huge success because of all the families, especially the children, who were here today in the rain in morning and in the sunshine in the afternoon,'' Nettey said.
''Kids are here and that's what it's really all about. We get to share our love of aviation education with the local community.''
Former Marine helicopter mechanic Paul Hickman didn't
mind the morning rain one bit.
Hickman, who first came to the fair two years ago as an aviation buff and amateur photographer, probably got more people to visit his first-time Guitars for Grunts booth inside the hanger as people avoided the morning rain.
Hickman, however, isn't like most vendors. He doesn't count success in terms of money made or lost. But he'll gladly pop for the $30 vendor's fee to get much-needed exposure for his campaign to send used guitars to soldiers in Iraq. Hickman started 15 months ago with a goal of sending one donated guitar per month overseas.
Hickman, a Barberton native who graduated from Central-Hower High School in 1984 and promptly enlisted in the Marines, has far exceeded his initial expectations. He is ready to send out guitar No. 31 on Monday to the U.S Marines Fourth Reconnaissance Battalion in Iraq.
''I wanted to make a difference and when they wouldn't let me re-enlist after 9-11 because I was too old and too round, I was frustrated,'' said Hickman, 42.
''Finally, I figured the best way I could make a difference was by providing guitars to the guys over there. I had a guitar with me when I was in the Marines and I know how much it meant to me. It won't make you forget where you're at, but it takes you away from the misery for a while.
''That makes my mission here very worthwhile.''
Hickman, who lives in Stow with his wife, said most of the guitars he gets are in very good condition. One donor was Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde. Wylde's father fought in Normandy during World War II.
Rocker Ted Nugent autographed one of the guitars.
''I think it's perfect to be at the Aviation Heritage Fair,'' Hickman said. ''I think there is a definite connection between the military and aviation, and I've had a lot of interest generated here about Guitars for Grunts.''
Bill Lilley can be reached at 330-996-3811 or blilley@thebeaconjournal.com.
STOW: A rainy Saturday morning created wet runways for the 2008 Aviation Heritage Fair at Kent State University Airport, preventing the landing of several World War II vintage aircraft and scuttling a morning flyover by F-16s.
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