BRODHEAD - Ahead of the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture convention in Oshkosh this week, pilots from around the country stopped off at the Brodhead Airport over the weekend to camp and chat with like-minded pilots at the annual Pietenpol/Hatz Fly-in.
The Brodhead fly-in, held Thursday through Sunday, attracts mostly Pietenpol planes, although the event draws a fair share of Hatz, Cessnas and other aircraft. About 40 planes were parked at the airport by Friday morning, with more stopping in over the weekend. Some attendees flew and others drove, but all represented their favorite aircraft with shirts, hats and many pins.
Mike Merkan from St. Louis flew in on Thursday in a sleek Pietenpol Air Camper and was one of the first to touch down.
"Mine's obviously the fastest since I got here first," Merkan joked.
This was Merkan's first time stopping off in Brodhead before heading to Oshkosh, but he said he has been flying to the annual convention from St. Louis since 1985.
Many of the pilots build their Pietenpols or Hatz planes themselves, even going so far as manufacturing parts of the planes. Pietenpols were designed by Bernard H. Pietenpol in 1928 with homebuilders of airplanes in mind. John Hatz likewise designed for amateur construction; his aircraft came in a supplied kit during the 1960s. Up close, the planes have distinguishable creases where tape and bolts were put in by hand.
John Schmitz said he made the trip from Texas in about 19 hours. He has been making the trip since 1995. He came up in a Cessna but owns a Pietenpol as well. He said they are relatively cheap planes to make, costing between $10,000 and $12,000 in parts.
"It costs less than a car," Schmitz said. "But just like any hobby, it's just a big hole you keep throwing money into."
Rick Hansen, Kenosha, flew in on a Hatz and said he loves stopping off in Brodhead.
"Look at all this smooth grass; it just attracts so much fun," Hansen said.
He and his wife Shahniz Hansen landed Thursday. Hansen built his Hatz plane from scratch, and said he worked from a blueprint.
Shahniz Hansen said her husband is a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to building.
"Otherwise I wouldn't get in that thing," she joked.
The Brodhead fly-in, held Thursday through Sunday, attracts mostly Pietenpol planes, although the event draws a fair share of Hatz, Cessnas and other aircraft. About 40 planes were parked at the airport by Friday morning, with more stopping in over the weekend. Some attendees flew and others drove, but all represented their favorite aircraft with shirts, hats and many pins.
Mike Merkan from St. Louis flew in on Thursday in a sleek Pietenpol Air Camper and was one of the first to touch down.
"Mine's obviously the fastest since I got here first," Merkan joked.
This was Merkan's first time stopping off in Brodhead before heading to Oshkosh, but he said he has been flying to the annual convention from St. Louis since 1985.
Many of the pilots build their Pietenpols or Hatz planes themselves, even going so far as manufacturing parts of the planes. Pietenpols were designed by Bernard H. Pietenpol in 1928 with homebuilders of airplanes in mind. John Hatz likewise designed for amateur construction; his aircraft came in a supplied kit during the 1960s. Up close, the planes have distinguishable creases where tape and bolts were put in by hand.
John Schmitz said he made the trip from Texas in about 19 hours. He has been making the trip since 1995. He came up in a Cessna but owns a Pietenpol as well. He said they are relatively cheap planes to make, costing between $10,000 and $12,000 in parts.
"It costs less than a car," Schmitz said. "But just like any hobby, it's just a big hole you keep throwing money into."
Rick Hansen, Kenosha, flew in on a Hatz and said he loves stopping off in Brodhead.
"Look at all this smooth grass; it just attracts so much fun," Hansen said.
He and his wife Shahniz Hansen landed Thursday. Hansen built his Hatz plane from scratch, and said he worked from a blueprint.
Shahniz Hansen said her husband is a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to building.
"Otherwise I wouldn't get in that thing," she joked.