Hoosier Dawn Patrol 2014

Hoosier Dawn Patrol celebrates eleven years as WWI hits 100 year mark. Model Aviation digital event coverage Photos, video, and event coverage.

This year, the Hoosier Dawn Patrol held its 11th annual event August 7-10 at the AMA’s International Aeromodeling Center, in Muncie, Indiana. Traditionally, the event starts on a Friday, but pilots began arriving as early as Tuesday this year! The weather was perfect on Thursday, August 7—temperatures in the 70s, sun, and little to no breeze—so the event began a day early. Dawn Patrol is a reference to a 1930 World War I movie, The Dawn Patrol. The movie is centered around the pilots and aircraft of the first world war. As this romanticized era of aviation became more popular, coupled with the 100th anniversary of the start of WW I, aeromodeling Dawn Patrol events started popping up across the country. Steve Percifield continued his role as CD for the Hoosier Dawn Patrol, in which 46 pilots participated. As in previous years, many pilots arrived ready to fly, often bringing more than one aircraft. In all, a total of 75 airplanes were at the event. The flightline was full of great-looking WW I warbirds ready for takeoff. Despite the rain Saturday afternoon, the weekend offered excellent weather—allowing for plenty of flight and camaraderie. WW I aircraft dotted the skies as pilots participated in flybys, barnstorming, formation flying, and general open flying. Most aircraft were 1/4 or 1/3 scale, but all WW I-era aircraft were welcome. Lee McDuffee scored a hat trick this year by being the first in the air each day with his 1/4-scale Sopwith Pup. Pilots walked away with a few nice raffle prizes including a painting and discounts donated by Balsa USA.