Prairie Flyers of Central Illinois:

A Century of Aviation in America’s Heartland.

When Mother Nature made American prairies, she created one vast airfield. It’s not mere chance that so many aviation pioneers are from the Midwest―farm kids, small-town kids―who grew up accustomed to vast expanses of earth and sky. Barnstormers, flight attendants, NASA engineers, crop dusters, World War II bombers and Vietnam helicopter pilots were dispatched from areas of the heartland, places like Central Illinois. Their stories, big and small, bear testimony to America’s enduring fascination with flying machines, a fascination that has taken prairie flyers to every corner of the world. Edith Brady-Lunny, Denis Hambucken and John Warner offer a ground-level view of aviation history in the nation’s heartland, including personal stories of the flyers and the global legacy of the Flying Farmer organization.

Promotional flyer for three free public events at Vespasian Warner Library in Clinton, Illinois, titled Prairie Flyers of Central Illinois. Event 1 (top): Book Premiere – Tuesday, July 15 at 5:30 p.m. Includes a book presentation by the authors, meet and greet with local flyers featured in the book, and a book signing and Q&A. Image shows the book cover. Event 2 (middle): Ernest Thorp B-17 Pilot – Tuesday, July 22 at 5:30 p.m. Nelson Thorp shares the World War II stories of his father, Ernest Thorp. Image of a vintage B-17 bomber in flight. Event 3 (bottom): Vietnam Vets Remember – Tuesday, July 29 at 5:30 p.m. A panel of veterans, including helicopter pilots, share their stories. Image shows soldiers disembarking from a helicopter during the Vietnam War. Header: “Free Events Open to Everyone.” Footer: “Vespasian Warner Library, Clinton, IL.”

Book signing for Prairie Flyers of Central Illinois: a century of aviation in America’s Heartland 

What: Meet the authors and greet many of the special people featured in the book 

When: July 15  at 5:30p.m. 

Where: Revere Room, Vespasian Warner Public Library, Clinton 

Books will be available for purchase or bring your book for signing. 

The authors of Prairie Flyers of Central Illinois: a century of aviation in America’s Heartland invite you to join us: 

What: The Ernest Thorp Story: B-17 Pilot and POW, presented by Nelson Thorp 

When: July 22 at 5:30 p.m. 

Where: Revere Room, Vespasian Warner Public Library, Clinton 

Admission is free. Please register here.

The authors of Prairie Flyers of Central Illinois: a century of aviation in America’s Heartland invite you to join us: 

When July 29  at 5:30 p.m.  Revere Room, Vespasian Warner Public Library 

What: Vietnam Vets Remember, presented by a panel of veterans, including helicopter pilots 

Where: Revere Room, Vespasian Warner Public Library, Clinton 

Admission is free. Please register here.

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Reviews

Great stories of flying in the Heartland, from the very first days of aviation into the modern age. Tremendously interesting how many of us from the central plains have been captured by the dream of flight. It was very heartening to read all the stories of so many folks who came from circumstances like mine to do incredible things in the air. I was born in Lincoln, IL and feel a special connection to these stories. — Scott Altman, NASA Astronaut and veteran of four Space Shuttle missions.