2025 FLY-IN AWARD WINNERS
Here are the award winners from the 54th National Stearman Fly-In held Sept. 1-6, 2025 at the Galesburg Municipal Airport:
Early Bird:
(first pilot-in-command to arrive at Galesburg Municipal Airport for the 2021 Fly-In who remained for the duration): N46Y, QUINTON MARTY Arrived Wednesday, AUGUST 27, 2025 @ 4:45 PM from Heightstown, NJ, .
Longest Cross-Country:
(awarded to the pilot whose direct route from his or her home airport to Galesburg was the longest in a Stearman): N63991, FLEW 1,172 MILES FROM FT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, KEN AND SONIA McKENZIE.
Youngest Pilot:
(awarded to the youngest pilot who, acting as pilot-in-command, landed a Stearman upon its arrival for the 2021 Fly-In): N56772, BORN JULY 1, 2005, 20 YEARS OLD, , FROM CANTON OHIO, THOMAS PRESTON
Most Vintage Pilot:
(awarded to the oldest person who, acting as pilot-in-command, landed a Stearman upon its arrival for the 2019 Fly-In): N1714M at 86 years old born November 14, 1939, Harry Ballance.
Fly-In Contest Awards:
Short-Field Takeoff (Stock Engines):
(shortest distance from start of take-off roll until airborne): First: N54653 Bob Pingston 425ft.; Second: N2779G, Matthew Wolford, 450ft.; Third: TIED Bryan Miller N68994/Cal Tax N60657, 475ft.
Short-Field Takeoff (275- to 300-horsepower engines):
(shortest distance from start of take-off roll until airborne): First: N51203M Rob Tekempe 425’; Second: N/A Third: N/A
Short-Field Takeoff (450-horsepower engines):
(shortest distance from start of take-off roll until airborne): First: 3-WAY TIE, N555BR Matt Sawhill / N806BR Brian Aukes / N802RB Ric Woldow, 375ft. Second: N347KF Phillip Wolford, 425Ft.
Rescue Drop:
(for the flour bomb dropped closest to the center of the target): First: N806BR Brian Aukes, 7'4"; Second: N42DB Daniel Wolford 14’0"; Third: N54653 Bob Pingston, 27'3"
Accuracy Landing Contest: (for landing closest to a designated line): First: N68994 Bryan Miller ,20’; Second: N2779G Matthew Wolford, 60' Third: N42DB Daniel Wolford, 100'.
Aerobatic Competition:
First: N806RB BRIAN AUKES Second: N42DB DAN WOLFORD Third: N555BR MATT SAWHILL
Formation Competition – 4 Ship:
First: TIED Team Name: HORNET FLIGHT
a. N60657 AKSHAY PENDHARKAR, TEAM LEAD
b. N57762 TJ FULLER
c. N4969N BLAKE ANDERSON
d. N59457 VIC SYRACUSE
AND
Team Name: LLOYD’S GANGSTERS
a. N62917 AARON MARSHALL, TEAM LEAD
b. N4997V JOHN NOWICKI
c. N61525 ANDREW NALL
d. N59472 LOGAN FIFER
Second Place: Team Name: GUMBO FLIGHT
a. N3993Y BRIEN SAGER, TEAM LEAD
b. N2779G SHANNON ELLIOT
c. N42DB PHILLIP GRICE
d. N347KE BOBBY GRICE
Don Grundstrom Made it Happen Award (Most Fuel Burned): Stock: N62465, STEPHANIE SISSON 172gal
300+ Horsepower: N555BR MATTHEW SAWHILL 102.9gal
Total Fuel at the Fly-In: 4766.60gal
Newest Restoration: (presented to the owner of the Stearman whose restoration was completed closest to the date of the presentation of this award):
N46592, David Brown. Buzz no. 03, c/n 75-2759, first flight post-restoration on June 16, 2025.
Hard Luck Award:
Shannon Elliott, N2779G
Stearman Most In Need of Restoration:
N9914H “404” Michael Rutledge
Poker Run:
1st Place: 3 ACES QUEEN HIGH, N42S, PETE SPEAR
2nd Place: 3 KINGS ACE HIGH, N62465, STEPHANIE SISSON
3rdPlace: 3 DEUCES KING HIGH, N57950, MARIE SPEAR
Kaydet Award:
(for excellence in restoration of Army Stearmans): N46592 David Brown (Buzz no. 03), Silver PT-17
Yellow Peril Award:
(for excellence in restoration of Navy Stearmans): N52129 Will Boswell, Mt. Vernon MO, Yellow N2S-5
Best Civilian:
(for excellence in restoration of civilian Stearmans): NC785H Stearman Not Awarded
Best Custom:
(in recognition of creativity and workmanship on custom Stearmans): N9985H, Howard Thomas, Madison, MO.
Best Military Custom:
(in recognition of creativity and workmanship on military custom Stearmans): N735YP, Trip Kelleher, Carmel IN
Lloyd Stearman Award:
(presented to a Stearman documented to be of significant importance in the Stearman Aircraft Company’s history, or one that has been restored to replicate or preserve the historic accuracy of a civilian or military Stearman): N49739, FROM ST. PETERSBURG, FL, John Mohr
Bill Adams Memorial Foundation Award:
(in recognition of sustained effort that contributed measurably to the continued success of the National Stearman Fly-In and greater Stearman community): Presented to Brian Rosenstein.
