News
Special Events Planned at St. Louis Downtown Airport for Labor Day 2013
Patti Beck
Director of Communications
314-982-1440
WHAT: Big Labor Day Aviation Charity Event at St. Louis Downtown Airport
WHEN: Monday, Sept. 2, 2013
Gates open at 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum (Hangar 2)
Located on the west side of St. Louis Downtown Airport
2300 Vector Drive, Cahokia, Ill. 62206
WHO: World record holder pilot Brian Kissinger and other pilots will provide aerial demonstrations, fly-bys, etc. during the day.
FOOD—FUN—AND FLYING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC. In addition to tours of the Greater Air & Space Museum and aviation demonstrations, bi-plane rides will be available for purchase by flying enthusiasts. It will be a great day to explore aviation history and artifacts at the same hangar at St. Louis Downtown Airport that served Charles Lindbergh on some of his trips to the St. Louis area. The event will also feature a motorcycle and car show.
Pilot Brian Kissinger had planned on flying into St. Louis Downtown Airport (www.stlouisdowntownairport.com) and into the record books again in his experimental aircraft on Labor Day this year. The plan was to fly his aircraft from Nashville, Tennessee to St. Louis Downtown Airport on Labor Day– setting a World Aviation Record for “speed over a recognized course” to benefit several favorite causes. Parts issues are now forcing him to delay his world aviation record attempt until next year. But that will not stop Kissinger who is a two-time brain cancer survivor from honoring his commitment to the charities and will be at the airport Labor Day with a friend’s race plane. He hopes to raise awareness and money for causes including the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (www.pbtfus.org) and Fisher House (www.fisherhouseinstl.org).
Kissinger already holds three World Aviation Records. In 2011, he established two records, and in 2007, he flew the 1942 Army Air Corps L-4 Cub he rebuilt across country raising more than $72,000 for brain tumor and cancer research. And, last year, he completed a world record flight from St. Joseph, Missouri to St. Louis Downtown Airport on July 4th in his Sonerai II aircraft, helping to raise funds and awareness for the Joseph Center, a facility located in East St. Louis, Ill. dedicated to providing assistance and housing to homeless veterans.
**Kissinger is available for interviews at the event and prior to the event.
The Bi-State Development Agency/Metro (BSDA/Metro) is the operator of the Metro public transportation system for the St. Louis region, which includes the 87 vehicle, 46-mile MetroLink light rail system; 378 MetroBus vehicle fleet that operates on 75 MetroBus routes; and Metro Call‑A‑Ride, a paratransit fleet of 121 vans. BSDA/Metro also owns and operates St. Louis Downtown Airport and its surrounding industrial business park, and the Gateway Arch Riverboats, as well as operates the Gateway Arch Revenue Collections Center, the Gateway Arch Transportation System, and the Gateway Arch Parking Facility.