The Grand Finale

Under three days of perfect blue skies and full moon cloudless evenings, "The Final Curtain" of the Biplane Expo's extraordinarily successful run of 23 years of "Biplanes at Bartlesville" came to a standing ovation close on Saturday evening, June 6, 2009.

The Grand Finale was easily one of the most outstanding of all the previous 22 Biplane Expos as the sport aviation community flew 115 biplanes, 241 other grassroots aircraft, and 12 high-profile flight demonstration Warbirds to Bartlesville to celebrate the historical significance and legacy of biplanes. Over 2,000 people were in attendance on Friday, June 5, and over 4,500 attended on Saturday, June 6.

The Biplane Expo has long recognized a very select number of America's finest aviators and 2009 was no exception as Lt. Colonel Dick Rutan, 325 combat mission F-100 pilot in S.E. Asia, around the world non-stop, non-refueled distance record holder Voyager pilot and Collier Trophy recipient, was the Expo's Honored Guest at the event.

The 23rd Annual Biplane Expo's Early Bird Day of June 4 featured "An Evening with Dick Rutan" at Bartlesville's Hillcrest Country Club at which over three hundred biplane fans attended; the on the field Friday evening Honors Tribute to Colonel Rutan was likewise attended by more than 300 people.

The overwhelming turnout of biplanes and crews was generally attributable to the exceptionally fine weather, the presence of the remarkably highly-achieving Guest of Honor Dick Rutan and the desire of so many National Biplane Association members and fans to attend the final Biplane Expo of  the last nearly quarter century. The exceptionally large turnout of biplanes again created one of the most beautiful sights in all of aviation as the colorful sea of upper wings create a panorama of aviation. Any number of even the most seasoned professional biplane pilots remarked the 115 biplanes on the field were the largest number of civilian biplanes they had ever seen in one place.

During the Awards Dinner on Saturday evening, June 6, which was attended by 297 people, the business and civic leaders of Bartlesville presented the National Biplane Association grateful remembrances for the 2,500 biplanes, 7,500 non-biplane aircraft and over 80,000 people who have come to Bartlesville to attend this long-running and highly-successful unique aviation event!

It has been 23 years in a flash and it ended on a perfect high note!

Charles W. Harris                                                                             Chairman                                                                                           National Biplane Association