The National Bucker Fly-In would like to invite you to the 25th anniversary edition of the longest running Bucker Fly-In in the country.  Conceived in 1984 as a 50th anniversary tribute to possibly the greatest biplane ever designed, Joe Krybus started this event by calling every Bucker owner he knew to invite them to Santa Paula.  This commemoration has continued yearly and still is the largest gathering of Bucker aircraft in North America.
 
This is the time and place where you can find most any information you ever wanted to know about Bucker airplanes.
 
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The 2002 Fly-in

This year’s fly-in is going to be held on June 26, 27, 28, 2009 at Santa Paula Airport in Southern California. The early birds should start to arrive on June 25. As it was last year, the parking for fly-in aircraft will be on the large ramp in front of Joe Krybus’ hangar at the west end of the airport. If you plan to drive, please call for directions and parking or Map Quest the physical address at 340 Santa Maria Street, Santa Paula. 

Planned activities include an early bird dinner on Thursday at a popular Mexican restaurant, a weenie roast on Friday evening and a home cooked BBQ dinner and hangar party on Saturday evening.  The Saturday fly-out will again be to Agua Dulce airport as they have invited us back this year to this scenic country airport.  It seems they like Buckers also!  The Disney family stretch limo used last year was recently sold. However, John Clifford promises a large motor home to transport ground bound pilots, family or friends to Agua Dulce.
 
The popular motel used by the fly-in pilots in Santa Paula is the Ocean Gateway Inn at 350 South Peck Road. Their phone number is 805-525-1561. If you should like to try a restored historic hotel in Santa Paula, try the Glen Tavern Inn at 134 North Mill Street. Their phone number is 805-933-5550.
 
If you are bringing your spouse, the recommended hotel is the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 15 miles to the west in Ventura and owned by Bucker pilot Steve Craig. It sits on the beach and the room views are spectacular. It is actually possible to see dolphins, whales, seals and sea lions from your room or from the nearby pier.  The C street Café in the hotel serves excellent meals and the breakfasts are reported to be superb. Adjacent to the hotel is the Aloha Grill and their food is really great.  Four blocks away is the building where the Perry Mason series was conceived and written by Earl Stanley Garner.  The characters were Ventura locals.  From this hotel, you are only 30 minutes from Santa Barbara or 20 minutes to the neat little village of Ojai with it’s movie stars and celebrities. Their phone number is 805-933-0068. The address is 450 East Harbor Blvd.
 
For auto rentals in Santa Paula, try Enterprise at 805-933-0068.
 
Santa Paula is located about 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles. If you fly the airlines into LAX or Burbank it is an easy drive.  Try driving north up I-5 to Highway 126 west and travel through the beautiful Santa Clara River Valley.  Delta offers flights into Santa Barbara and the drive down the coast is very nice in spite of the recent fires. Take Hwy 101 south to Ventura, merge to the right and take Hwy 126 east to Santa Paula.
 
This is a very laid back affair and lots of time is spent talking about Buckers and show and tell. The general public is not invited although they are welcome, so this is a special way to see Bucker Jungmanns and Jungmeisters on the ground and in the air.
 
Since this year is the 75th anniversary of the Bucker Jungmann’s first flight, shouldn’t you be planning your tribute trip to Santa Paula?
 
Contacts:    Pat Quinn-Cell: 805-208-4589 Home: 805-642-3315
                  Joe Krybus-Office/Shop: 805-525-8764