Midwest Aviation Community Provides Aerial Salute Over Memorial Day Ceremony in Hecker, IL

By Carmelo Turdo

The Midwest Aviation community again participated in an aerial salute to fallen veterans during the annual Memorial Day ceremony held in Hecker, IL Monday.  Over 15 aircraft from St. Louis and Metro-East Illinois gathered after short flights from nearby airfields to Sparta Community Airport (Hunter Field) for the 9am briefing.  This year, The Aero Experience and Fly Now! The Movie teamed up to participate and report on the aviation portion of the ceremony, with movie crew members Bill and Amber Aanstad in a Piper Cub, Brian Kissinger in "Piety" the Pietenpol, and Jeff Wilson and Carmelo Turdo in Jeff's 1941 Aeronca Chief. 

The Aero Experience coverage began with a flight from Flying Dutchman Airport in Belleville, IL to Sparta in Jeff Wilson's beautiful Aeronca Chief.  

The 9:00 A.M. briefing at Sparta Community Airport stressed safety for the mission. 

 

Some views of the aircraft involved with the Memorial Day Hecker, IL fly-over.

 

Warbirds - Nanchang CJ-6As and Beechcraft T-34 Mentor - from St. Louis Downtown Airport in Cahokia, IL - took off first for their appearance over the Cemetery.  One lucky child sat in the cockpit of Joe Wapelhorst's T-34 before the Warbird Flight took off. 



  

The other aircraft, including the Fly Now! The Movie crew and The Aero Experience aircraft, took off to lead the way over the Hecker, IL Cemetery.