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A sign of a good time: Deaf Pilots Association Fly-In coming to Manitowoc | htrnews.com | Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter
This weekend's "Thunder on the Lakeshore" air show isn't the only noteworthy aviation event coming to town.
Carl and Lisa Callsen of Manitowoc co-organized and will be hosting the 16th annual Deaf Pilots Association Fly-In 2009 at the Manitowoc County Airport, 1815 Freedom Way, from July 30 through Aug. 6.
It's the fly-in's first appearance in Wisconsin since West Bend held the event in 1997. Last year's fly-in participants gathered in Corona, Calif.
"I'm really looking forward to bringing DPA pilots here to Manitowoc to show them our city and show them the pride we have in aviation," Carl, who was born completely deaf, said using American Sign Language. "I'm excited about it."
Added his wife, Lisa, who has full hearing: "Pilots, in general, are their own breed, and it's the same with deaf pilots. This is a great opportunity and a great place for deaf pilots to get together."
With the event eight weeks away, the Callsens already received commitments from deaf pilots from Kentucky, Michigan, Illinois, Nebraska and California.
Among the attendees will be Leslie Stayer Sr. of Louisville, Ky., who plans to fly his C-172 Cessna to Manitowoc. Stayer is the president of the Deaf Pilots Association.
"In spite of the poor economy, I hope we will have a good, sufficient size of crowd coming to our (fly-in) from all over the U.S. and some other countries," Stayer, a deaf pilot for more than 26 years, said via e-mail.
"My experiences from when we've gathered," said Carl, a Burger Boat Co. employee who attended the last three fly-ins, "is we're talking about airplanes, technology, the different kinds of weather we've flown in, and the great memories."
The Callsens secured the fly-in following Carl's PowerPoint presentation at the 2007 fly-in at St. Charles, Mo., near St. Louis. Among Carl's enduring aviation memories is flying near the Gateway Arch that year.
Unlike "Thunder on the Lakeshore," which will be held Saturday and Sunday, the Deaf Pilots Association Fly-In isn't something in which crowds gaze up at aerial stunts and see jets zipping past at supersonic speeds.
Rather, it's a chance for pilots to gather, discuss various topics, share laughs and participate in roundtrip day-flights to Washington Island (Aug. 1), Shell Lake (Aug. 3) and Poplar Grove, Ill. (Aug. 4).
Carl, who will receive his pilot's license once he takes and passes the written exam, is particularly looking forward to a youth outreach program from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 2, when various deaf pilots will talk about challenges and obstacles they've overcome. The public is encouraged to attend.
Also, on July 31, fly-in attendees will travel via bus to EAA AirVenture 2009 in Oshkosh. The Deaf Pilots Association Fly-In, usually held earlier in the summer, was pushed back to overlap with AirVenture. Members of the public are invited to participate in the AirVenture trip; cost is $15, plus event admission.
A banquet and closing ceremonies for the Deaf Pilots Association Fly-In 2009 will be held Aug. 5 at Holiday Inn Manitowoc.
The Manitowoc Jaycees have teamed up with the Callsens to "amp up participation" in the event locally, Lisa said.
This weekend's "Thunder on the Lakeshore" air show isn't the only noteworthy aviation event coming to town.
Carl and Lisa Callsen of Manitowoc co-organized and will be hosting the 16th annual Deaf Pilots Association Fly-In 2009 at the Manitowoc County Airport, 1815 Freedom Way, from July 30 through Aug. 6.
It's the fly-in's first appearance in Wisconsin since West Bend held the event in 1997. Last year's fly-in participants gathered in Corona, Calif.
"I'm really looking forward to bringing DPA pilots here to Manitowoc to show them our city and show them the pride we have in aviation," Carl, who was born completely deaf, said using American Sign Language. "I'm excited about it."
Added his wife, Lisa, who has full hearing: "Pilots, in general, are their own breed, and it's the same with deaf pilots. This is a great opportunity and a great place for deaf pilots to get together."
With the event eight weeks away, the Callsens already received commitments from deaf pilots from Kentucky, Michigan, Illinois, Nebraska and California.
Among the attendees will be Leslie Stayer Sr. of Louisville, Ky., who plans to fly his C-172 Cessna to Manitowoc. Stayer is the president of the Deaf Pilots Association.
"In spite of the poor economy, I hope we will have a good, sufficient size of crowd coming to our (fly-in) from all over the U.S. and some other countries," Stayer, a deaf pilot for more than 26 years, said via e-mail.
"My experiences from when we've gathered," said Carl, a Burger Boat Co. employee who attended the last three fly-ins, "is we're talking about airplanes, technology, the different kinds of weather we've flown in, and the great memories."
The Callsens secured the fly-in following Carl's PowerPoint presentation at the 2007 fly-in at St. Charles, Mo., near St. Louis. Among Carl's enduring aviation memories is flying near the Gateway Arch that year.
Unlike "Thunder on the Lakeshore," which will be held Saturday and Sunday, the Deaf Pilots Association Fly-In isn't something in which crowds gaze up at aerial stunts and see jets zipping past at supersonic speeds.
Rather, it's a chance for pilots to gather, discuss various topics, share laughs and participate in roundtrip day-flights to Washington Island (Aug. 1), Shell Lake (Aug. 3) and Poplar Grove, Ill. (Aug. 4).
Carl, who will receive his pilot's license once he takes and passes the written exam, is particularly looking forward to a youth outreach program from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 2, when various deaf pilots will talk about challenges and obstacles they've overcome. The public is encouraged to attend.
Also, on July 31, fly-in attendees will travel via bus to EAA AirVenture 2009 in Oshkosh. The Deaf Pilots Association Fly-In, usually held earlier in the summer, was pushed back to overlap with AirVenture. Members of the public are invited to participate in the AirVenture trip; cost is $15, plus event admission.
A banquet and closing ceremonies for the Deaf Pilots Association Fly-In 2009 will be held Aug. 5 at Holiday Inn Manitowoc.
The Manitowoc Jaycees have teamed up with the Callsens to "amp up participation" in the event locally, Lisa said.