Staff writer
Some people like to keep their feet square on the ground.
Others want to climb aboard an airplane and sail through the sky.
And then there are those like Tonya (Johnson) Hodson who want more of a challenge and fly a vintage 1944 Army Air Corps P-13D Stearman.
The 1986 Marion High School graduate with her three teammates, recently won the coveted first-place trophy at the 37th annual National Stearman Fly-In at Galesburg, Ill.
The foursome was the four-ship formation champion by making various maneuvers in unison while in flight.
So, what’s so great about that?
The Stearman Kaydet, as it was officially named, was labeled the “pilot maker.”
“It was used as a trainer before World War II,” Tonya said. “It was chosen because of its challenging characteristics.”
A high center of gravity and a narrow wheelbase make it a challenge to fly, particularly to land.
“If young cadets didn’t master the airplane, they didn’t go on to the next level of training,” Tonya said.
Tonya’s particular open cockpit plane was built July 25, 1944, in Wichita.
Dwight and Ruth Hill of McPherson, friends of Tonya, purchased the then-inoperable plane in Texas. They found it, nose in the ground, brought it home, and restored it.
The plane made its second maiden voyage in 1981.
Tonya and another Marion resident, Ty Zeiner, purchased it in 1999, and Tonya became the sole owner of the historic plane in 2006.
“I consider myself the current caregiver of the airplane. Others have cared for it before. Now I’ve assumed the awesome responsibility and someday will pass it on to the next owner,” Tonya said.
About the squadron
Team members of Tonya’s Square One Formation Squadron are David Burroughs of Normal, Ill., Bill Austin of San Francisco, Calif., and Carey Hardin of Starkville, Miss.
So, how do these four people practice, living so far apart?
“We get together five times per year. We begin at 8 a.m. with a briefing and basically fly until dark,” Tonya said. The team will spend four or five days together each time to hone their aerial skills.
“It’s a matter of trust and I’m honored that they trust me to fly with them,” Tonya said.
The airplanes fly in close proximity of each other as they perform various aerial maneuvers. One wrong turn or misstep could result in disaster.
The team’s final practice for the year will be Oct. 2 at St. Louis, Mo.
The only competition they will participate in is the recent one in Galesburg, Ill., but they do perform as a team several times a year at various air shows.
Experienced pilot
Tonya has been flying for nearly 20 years, beginning in November 1990.
“I had always been interested in flying and when the opportunity presented itself to learn to be a pilot, I took it,” she said.
Tonya has done some piloting for hire but mostly it has been for pleasure. Unfortunately, professional piloting opportunities are not abundant in the Marion area, so she is continuing to study for the Airline Transport Pilot knowledge exam and will begin ATP flight training this winter, after she takes the exam.
She has been a trailblazer in the world of aviation — being the first woman to ever compete on a team at the National Stearman Fly-In formation contest.
Tonya was a recipient of the Red Baron Memorial Scholarship in 2007, presented by the International Council of Air Shows Foundation, exclusively for aerobatic flight training.
In 2008, she was a recipient of a Jet University certificate to participate in a jet transition course at Fort Lauderdale, Fla. That recognition was presented at the international conference of Women in Aviation.
She currently has an aviation rating for a single and multi airplane engine land instrument commercial, flying between 30 and 80 hours per year.
About the airplane
Nicknamed the “Yellow Peril,” the Stearman is one of the most easily recognized aircraft. Its simple construction, rugged dependability, and nimble handling made the Stearman much loved by those who flew and trained on it.
According to the Cavanaugh Flight Museum, the Stearman Kaydet was the only American aircraft used during WWII that was completely standardized for both Army and Navy use. Sold by the thousands after WWII, the Stearman has had a long and full career as a trainer, crop duster, and air show performer.
The name “Stearman” is so widely known that it has become the generic name for almost all currently flown biplanes.
Tonya’s particular airplane has been stored in a hangar all of its restored life. With proper maintenance and care, the plane has lasted nearly 10 years without any further restoration.
In the next year or two, the engine will need to be overhauled but the air frame, everything but the engine, won’t need any attention for another 10 years.
After Tonya’s youngest son, Patrick, graduates from Marion High School in the next few years, Tonya plans to make the most of her piloting skills and become a corporate pilot.
For now, she will continue to hone her skills and enjoy her time in the sky.
“Off she goes, into the wild blue yonder …”