July 18-21, 2023
Clinton, Iowa (KCWI)
What's Happening
Each year the Cessna 150-152 Fly-In has a number of events of interest to everybody. There are things to do and see that will make you wish you got there earlier and that the Fly-In would last just a little longer.
Although the Fly-In doesn't officially start until noon on Wednesday, each year more and more pilots show up earlier and earlier, some the weekend before. They do this to help set up, relax in the warm Iowa sun, pick out their parking spots, and generally get a head start on the Fly-In experience. Days are spent meeting and greeting the arrivals of other attendees, impromptu flying, and getting caught up with friends
Tuesday Night the Fly-In un-officially kicks off with the annual Early Bird dinner. Come as you are, no dress-up necessary. Dinner can be anything from Chinese to Mexican, to a German Wurstfest, but always with a heavy dose of conversation and laughs.
If you've got a curious bone in you to perhaps find out a bit more about fixin or flyin our little airplane, sit in on one of our seminars. All you have to do is show up, grab a seat and listen. Past topics have included landing gear maintenance, the lost art of hand propping, testing for alcohol in gasoline, spin recovery, insurance, formation flying, air traffic control, and much more. A number of experts in their respective fields ranging from the art of creating breathtaking aerial photos and video to aircraft engineering are ready to share their knowledge and expertise. Sometimes the unforeseen mechanical glitches - a broken alternator... a stuck valve... a stuck flap switch - have provided impromptu real-life hands-on demonstrations of not only how to repair these bumps in the airways, but also how to avoid them.
There are plenty of flying and non-flying events to fill the three days of the Cessna 150-152 Fly-In. Our flying contests designed to test your aviating skill. In the Nerf Drop contest you drop a nerf from 200 feet and try to hit the bucket. Our Landing Contest is judged on style and grace, but you have to land inside the 80 foot landing zone or it won't count. Think you have the eye of eagle? Try our aerial Scavenger Hunt? Feeling lucky? You could win some gas money in our Poker Run.
Don't forget the daily "Dusk Patrol", where pilots strap on their planes and go out for a relaxing and enjoyable flight to end the day. Or join the gang as they relax in the hangar, or on the ramp, under the Iowa stars. You'll probably want to investigate where the music is coming from as a number of attendees are quite accomplished musicians. Bring your instrument and join in.
Friday night is the traditional capstone of the event, the Clyde Awards Banquet where we get together for dinner, conversation, laughs, door prizes, and we hand out the contest awards, including the coveted Top Gun trophy.
If this isn't enough for you, there are a number of things to do away from the airport. Clinton is home to a casino, offering exciting Vegas games and world-class dining and entertainment, and the Clinton Historic District has many points of interest. Try a little wine tasting at the Wide River Winery. You can also check out the antiques, vintage collectibles and toys, and vintage motorcycles collected by the American Pickers at Antique Archaeology in LeClaire, Iowa.
The Fly-In has been described as using airplanes as an excuse to get friends together. If you're new to the Fly-In, your stranger status ends the moment you step out of the airplane. For Fly-In Veterans, it's another eagerly anticipated family reunion.
