The front page of the Lykens Standard of August 29, 1930, heralded the Air Circus that was about to take place in Lykens, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, on August 30 and August 31.
LYKENS AIR CIRCUS OPENS SATURDAY AFTERNOON
Many Thrilling, Breath Taking Events To Feature Lindmor Air Circus, August 30-31
The events of the first day included the following:
- An airplane parade through the valley
- A stunt exhibition involving all planes
- Stunts by pilot John Eppler, flying a Curtiss Challenger bi-plane
- Stunts by pilot John Abusic, former U. S. Navy pilot, flying a Siemens Hallaske Commander monoplane
- Field medley broadcast, Lykens Medley Girls
- “Flying Fool,” Jim Christman in spectacular aircraft maneuvers – “American Eagle” bi-plane
- Dare-Devil Martin defying laws of gravity. Walking wings of plane hundreds of feet above the earth. Acrobatics.
- Field Amplified Sparton Radio
The second and final day included the following:
- Field Amplified Sparton Radio
- Address by Walter E. Snyder, Chief Burgess of Lykens
- Lykens Municipal Boys’ Band
- Airplane parade through the valley. Music by Band
- Air race for OX5 motors only
- Exhibition by Romeo Hornung, the “Crippled Pilot,” flying an American Eagle bi-plane
- 1000 foot delayed parachute fall by Harold Reitenbaugh
- Dare-Devil Martin wing walking, strut acrobatics, hanging to wheels while plane does steep nose dive
- Field Radio Broadcast. (a) Quartette; (b) Tenor Solo; (c) Lykens Medley Girls; (d) Tenor solo, Edward Dormer, Lykens; (e) Musical selection, Boys’ Band
- Stunt Flying by John Abusic
- Stunt Flying by Hops Gilbert of Millersburg, Hops flies a “Whirlwind Challenger”
- Balloon Bursting Contest – all planes
- Jim Christman and John Eppler in spectacular stunts
- Miss Violet Kilpatrick in spectacular 2000 foot parachute jump
The program was interspersed with selections from the Lykens Municipal Boys’ Band under the direction of R. W. Brown. The radio broadcasts were provided by Harrisburg station WCOD and made available on the field by C. C. Matter, a local Sparton radio dealer.
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