39th Annual Sentimental Journey Fly-In Set to Soar in Lock Haven

By Emily Wright
LOCK HAVEN — The skies above the William T. Piper Memorial Airport will once again be alive with activity as the 39th Annual Sentimental Journey Fly-In takes off from Tuesday, June 17, through Saturday, June 21, 2025, bringing aviation enthusiasts, families, pilots, and community members together for one of the most anticipated events of the year. Held rain or shine at 353 Proctor Street in Lock Haven, the Fly-In expects to welcome between 2,000 and 4,000 visitors as it has done every year since its inception in 1986, with hundreds of aircraft flying in from across the nation.

This year’s Fly-In promises to be bigger and better than ever, with expanded programming and new attractions in addition to all the traditional festivities, including educational forums, free Young Eagles airplane rides for kids, the Kids Zone with bounce houses, as well as vendors and food trucks. The Record spoke with Dr. Michael Jones, Secretary of the Board of Directors, and Alan Uhler Jr., President of the Sentimental Journey Fly-In, to get an inside look at what’s planned for this year’s event.

Admission to the Sentimental Journey Fly-In remains family-friendly, with ticket prices set at $12 for adults and $5 for children ages 11 to 17, while all children under 11 are admitted free. Dr. Michael Jones, the newly elected secretary of the Sentimental Journey Fly-In, emphasized, “One of our goals is to keep this an affordable event,” noting the increasing costs of similar events. “We want families to be able to enjoy the Fly-In without breaking the bank.”

For the kids: Revamped Kids Zone, bounce houses, hands-on fun under the pavilion, and Young Eagles plane rides

This year’s Kids Zone is set to be even more exciting and engaging than in previous years. Organizers have worked to create a space that is both fun and comfortable for children, offering a variety of activities. The Kids Zone will feature three large bounce houses, open on Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until noon.

In addition to the bounce houses, children can participate in arts and crafts, paper airplane making, face painting, and much more each day from Tuesday, June 17, through Friday, June 20, starting at 2:00 p.m. under the pavilion at the airport. These activities are made possible thanks to the dedicated volunteers who return each year to create a memorable experience for kids.

“We have a couple of wonderful volunteers who have been doing this for years, and every year they show up with a grab bag of goodies for the kids,” Jones said. “The kids sit at tables in the pavilion so they’re out of the sun, and they get to enjoy all sorts of engaging activities. It’s really quite charming,” he added.

A highlight for younger attendees will be the return of the Young Eagles program, which provides free airplane rides to children ages 8 to 17. “Kids just get so into it,” said Jones, who will serve as one of the pilots this year and has already flown over 900 Young Eagles during previous Fly-Ins. Jones affectionately describes the Young Eagles flight experience as “The most fun you can have in an airplane.”

Flights will be available on Friday during “Youth Aviation Career Day” and on Saturday’s “Community Day,” running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days, weather permitting. Kids interested in enjoying a free plane ride should head to the blue tent set up outside the Piper Aviation Museum on either day.

New for 2025: STOL Competition, Car Show, and the Short Wing Piper Cub Convention during “Community Day”
Another exciting addition to this year’s Sentimental Journey Fly-In is Community Day— a day to celebrate Lock Haven’s aviation history and enjoy free admission to the Fly-In all day on Saturday, June 21.

“Small planes and enthusiastic pilots have been a vibrant and vital part of the Lock Haven story for seventy years. We’re opening our gates, our arms, and our hearts to everybody in the area to come and see both the science and the art of aviation,” said Sentimental Journey Fly-In President Alan Uhler Jr. “Because the event will be free to both flyers and non-flyers, and will offer unique events like the car show, this is a way for us flyers to say thank you to the community which has supported aviation for so many decades.”

Community Day will feature new attractions, including a car show presented by the Central Pennsylvania Street Machines, as well as the introduction of a Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) competition.

This year’s Fly-In will mark the debut of the STOL competition, scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. In a STOL contest, pilots compete to see who can take off and land in the shortest distance. As Uhler explained, “The competition is to see who can get the airplane off the ground in the shortest distance,” with scoring determined by combining the takeoff and landing distances—the winner is the one with the lowest total.

The STOL contest is sponsored by Carbon Cub, a company that produces high-performance contemporary versions of the classic Piper Cub. Thanks to the efforts of Board member Mark Stewart, Carbon Cub will bring 10-12 pilots to present a special demonstration on Saturday, June 21, at 11:00 a.m.

The STOL competition shares similarities with the Fly-In’s annual spot landing contest—also returning Wednesday through Friday at 3:30 p.m.—as both require precision airplane control, but they test different skills. “These are pilots that are tremendously skilled,” Uhler emphasized. Jones added, “It’s going to be the kind of flying that most people have never seen, and never even knew existed.”

Additionally, this year’s Fly-In will coincide with the Short Wing Piper Cub Annual Convention, bringing 30 to 40

classic, compact “short wing” Piper aircraft for visitors to admire.
The Short Wing Piper Cub Annual Convention is a gathering for enthusiasts who own, fly, or simply appreciate Short Wing Piper planes, which are characterized by their smaller, more compact design and shorter wingspan compared to other Piper models. Each year, enthusiasts come together at the convention to showcase their planes, share tips and stories, connect with fellow enthusiasts, and attend workshops and presentations on flying and repairing these planes.

Another new addition to this year’s Sentimental Journey Fly-In is a car show organized by the Central Pennsylvania Street Machines, set for Saturday, June 21, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Weather permitting, attendees can look forward to seeing at least two dozen exotic vehicles on display, ranging from dune buggies and antique models to sports cars and more. The Pennsylvania Street Machines Club includes members who restore, drive, showcase, and compete with a diverse array of automobiles. Jones and Uhler explained that the club has become known for its strong support of the Lock Haven community, regularly taking part in local parades and generously donating both time and funds to worthy causes.

For a complete list of both new and returning events—such as the poker run, golf ball drop, and much more—visit the brand new Sentimental Journey Fly-In website at www.sjflyin.com and click on the “Events” tab. There, you’ll find a “Schedule of Activities” tab at the top of the page for this year’s Fly-In, with detailed dates and times for all activities and events.

Aviation, education, and connecting with the next generation
Friday’s “Youth Aviation Career Day,” held from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., is designed to introduce young people to the wide range of possibilities in the aviation field through interactive experiences, connections with pilots, recruiters from the U.S. Air Force and the Pennsylvania National Guard, and more. Youth Aviation Career Day will also offer the opportunity for youth to explore exotic planes and even take a free plane ride over the City of Lock Haven. Plane rides are weather permitting and are available for children aged 8-17, with permission from a parent or guardian required.

Uhler emphasized, “We want kids to be exposed to aviation and see it for what it is, have the opportunity to get in a small airplane and go for a ride, and realize what they can do with it as a career.”

The primary focus of Career Day is not only to inspire the next generation of aviation professionals but also to help address the nation’s current shortage of pilots and other aviation personnel.

Uhler, who introduced the idea of hosting Youth Aviation Career Day, emphasized the significant changes in the aviation industry and the urgent need for more young people to consider aviation careers. He noted that in 1990, there were about 300,000 general aviation pilots in the U.S., but today that number has decreased to approximately 160,000. Uhler added that by 2030, it is estimated there could be a shortage of 30,000 commercial pilots. This shortage also extends to air traffic control staff, maintenance personnel, and ground handling workers.

Dr. Jones further highlighted the urgent need for both pilots and aircraft mechanics. “The shortage of aircraft mechanics is becoming a real crisis, and you do not want to fly on a broken airplane,” he said. He pointed out that many community colleges offer apprenticeships to train aircraft mechanics, with most programs taking only two years to complete. “You could go through two years of that, and then go work for Delta Airlines and get paid $80,000 every year!” he added.

Live music, food, camping, and more
Evenings at the 39th annual Fly-In will feature live music under the pavilion at the Castanea Fire Company Picnic Grounds, with a diverse roster of bands scheduled to play, including the return of the Lindy Sisters, who travel from California to perform at the Fly-In. This year the lineup of bands scheduled to play is as follows:

•Tuesday, June 17 – Western Range (from State College)
•Wednesday, June 18 – Kidz @ Heart
•Thursday, June 19 – The Lindy Sisters
•Friday, June 20 – Kevin Briggs Blues Experience (An American Blues & Country band)

Fly-In attendees can also look forward to food and craft vendors, many of which are locally owned businesses, at this year’s event.

Uhler confirmed that there is still plenty of space for anyone interested in camping at the Fly-In. He explained that many pilots choose to camp under the wings of their airplanes, while those bringing campers will find plenty of room available on the Castanea Fire grounds. Although hookups are not available, there is sufficient space to accommodate multiple campers. Uhler also noted that many pilots use transportation that’s coordinated for them and stay at local hotels, but he pointed out that the Sentimental Journey Fly-In typically fills every hotel room in the Lock Haven area leading up to the event.
Aviation art and history

In addition to the new and returning attractions, Sentimental Journey Inc. is excited to announce that acclaimed airplane photographer Capt. Tom Pawlesh will be displaying his work and offering free sunset photo sessions for pilots on Wednesday, June 18, and Thursday, June 19. This gives pilots a unique opportunity to have their aircraft photographed against the scenic western sky. Pilots interested in scheduling a session can contact Pawlesh at (412) 973-7369 or tpawlesh@comcast.net.

Pawlesh is renowned for his striking nighttime images of airplanes, which he illuminates with specialized lighting and often enhances with creative props such as antique cars. As both a professional pilot and a widely published aviation and wildlife photographer, Pawlesh provides a unique artistic viewpoint to his work. During the fly-in, he will also be exhibiting framed posters and some of his favorite photographs in the blue building at the airport to help pilots understand the visual impact of nighttime airplane photography.
Honoring tradition

On Friday evening, the Sentimental Journey Awards Banquet will be held at the Piper Aviation Museum on the third floor, with doors opening at 5:00 p.m. and a social hour beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The guest speaker at the Awards Banquet will be renowned author, pilot, and Piper Company historian Roger Peperell. Additionally, area musician Phil Reeder will provide live music at the banquet.

Although seating is limited, tickets for the banquet can be purchased online or at the Yellow Cub House throughout the week.

Volunteers still needed
Volunteers play a crucial role in the continued success of the Sentimental Journey Fly-In, and additional help is still needed for this year’s event. “We can always use volunteers, and it’s a wonderful organization to volunteer for. There’s a lot of people to meet and it can be a lot of fun,” Uhler said. Volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks, including working the gate, selling tickets, and assisting with event setup and teardown.

Uhler emphasized that even volunteers who are unfamiliar with aviation would enjoy the experience, adding that pilots at the event are always eager to share their passion with someone who’s willing to volunteer at the Fly-In: “Usually, when a volunteer isn’t exposed to airplanes and doesn’t know anything about airports if they wander around at the event, all they’d have to do is say the word, and I guarantee someone’s going to jump at the opportunity to take them for a plane ride,” he said.

Jones and Uhler encouraged anyone interested in volunteering to contact the Fly-In office and ask to speak with Volunteer Coordinator Betsy Buchan to find the best volunteer role that suits their interests and abilities. To get involved, call the Sentimental Journey Fly-In office at (570) 893-4200.
For more information

A brand-new website has recently been launched for the Sentimental Journey Fly-In, offering a complete schedule of events, details about the event’s history, and photos from past Fly-Ins. To learn more about what’s in store for the Fly-In this year and much more, visit www.SJFlyin.com.

To view the full list of events, including their dates, times, and details, click the “Events” tab at the top of the page. Then proceed to the Annual SJ Fly-In page and click on the “Schedule of Activities” tab at the top.

With its blend of aviation excitement, family activities, educational opportunities, community spirit, and enhancements in its 39th year, the Sentimental Journey Fly-In soars on as one of Pennsylvania’s signature summer festivals that you won’t want to miss.