The Heritage In Flight Museum features documentation of aviation history and includes divisions for all past wars and conflicts. Indoor displays are housed in a World War II prisoners-of-war barracks and in the Quonset hangar next to it. Surrounding the buildings you will find a wide variety of vintage aircraft and vehicles dating from World War II forward, including jet aircraft used in the past century.

For further information on museum hours or to schedule rental of the searchlight, you can call Heritage In Flight, 217-732-3333. Leave a message and your call will be returned.

Pictures by Jan Youngquist

This World War II Sperry searchlight was dedicated Saturday.

(World War II Sperry searchlight)

Arthur Avery, a WWII reenactor removes tarnish on French swords to get a better look at the inscription date. It was a pleasant surprise to Shirley Bartelmay when she found the swords on display at the museum. Years ago she had donated the assumed spoils of war to HIF after she found them in the attic of a house she had moved into.

Remote-control aircraft participants relax and swap information after a day of flying.

Another home-built was this 2007 Xenon gyroplane. John Salz polishes up this unique aircraft that is housed at the Logan County Airport. The light aircraft with a modern design features the high maneuverability of a helicopter but offers greater safety with nonstop auto-rotation blades.

(Xenon Gyroplanes)

Visitors also had the opportunity to see a couple of experimental aircraft. This beautiful Kitfox was flown in from Havana by Mike and Mary Perkins. Perkins built the aircraft himself.

(Kitfox Aircraft LLC, experimental aircraft)

Another great day of flying done, and pilots do what they like doing second-best: swap stories.

Pilot Curt Fox joins passengers Patty Emert and Joel Smiley for a commemorative photo of Patty's first flight in a small airplane. 

It was rumored that she may have been one of several bitten by the flying bug on Saturday. The major symptoms seen following this exposure are heightened excitement, inability to focus on anything else and a strong urge to fly again. Nearby pilots confirmed the likely contagion based on their past experiences. Not one of them had ever recovered fully after they were bitten.

Visitors were able to go for plane rides during the day. This plane was taking off with first-time fliers aboard.

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