2026 Sentimental Journey
JUNE 9 - 14, 2026
NEW FOR 2026: Saturday night pig roast. A whopping good dinner with all the fixings, free to all ticket holders and volunteers, Saturday night, 6pm. Followed by live music and adult beverages. Don't go home early — stay for the grand finale!
Airplane Judging is Wednesday though Friday with winners announced at the Awards Banquet Friday night. Other awards are planned for special categories, such as the plane which came the farthest, and the oldest plane at the Fly-in. If you want your airplane judged be sure to tell the folks at the Registration Booth and fill out their form.
The SJ Awards Banquet Friday evening is a capstone event celebrating the week, our volunteers, the airplane judging, the weather gods, and all things general aviation. Keynote speaker will be Mr. Ron Gunnarson, VP of Sales and Marketing, Piper Aircraft. Admission is by ticket only, which will be sold all week in the Cub House adjacent to the Main Gate. SEATING IS LIMITED. Location: The Aztec Room, 3rd floor of the Piper Museum. Social Hour starts at 5:30
The Duckie Dive 50:50 fund raiser is pure fun. Rubber duckies will be for sale all week in the yellow Cub House, $5 for TWO duckies, which means two chances to win. 50/50 cash prize for the bird closest to the kiddie pool target on Saturday.
New!! All Forums will be held in the Univair Forum Tent, adjacent to the campgrounds, unless otherwise noted. The Univair Forum Tent is on the south east side of the field near the Food Trucks. Check the signs and daily handout for schedules and topics.
Reminder — Our Exhibitors Are There for You in the Blue Building. The Blue Building is the centerpiece of the Fly-in for our sponsors and exhibitors where they showcase their wares. There are many fine companies proudly featuring their merchandise and looking for customers. It’s well worth your time to visit them and see their innovations.
The SJ2026 “FlyMart.” The Blue Building also is home to a unique S-J event, our very own "FlyMart." The FlyMart is where private individuals bring stuff they want to sell, usually related to airplanes and aviation. You might find a treasure or an exotic part you might be needing. A big shout-out to Jae Gettig, Dan Walker, and Edmond Shields for their dedication and hard work setting up the FlyMart. Don't miss it!
Sponsor Auction on Friday! Every year on Friday at 11am in the Blue Building we have an auction of aviation-related gifts from many of our sponsors. It truly is a “win-win-win” for everybody and it works a treat: the sponsors give us great products, SJ2026 auctions them off and makes some money, and most of the time the buyers get great stuff at a price far below retail. You definitely will want to be there for savings.
Poker Run is an all-week flying event. Please stop by Camp Bohica along fence east of shower house for rules, schedules, and to register.
Aviation photographer Tom Pawlesh will be on the field doing dramatic night aircraft portraits on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. If you want to get your bird in the air, he's also available for air-2-air photography.To get on Tom's dance card, just call/text him at 412-973-7369. Tom doesn't charge a fee for his amazing services.
The Wings of Williamsport RC Club will be here flying and demonstrating their remote controlled aircraft Friday and Saturday – Watch for them!
The Nittany Model Rocket Club from Penn State will be here on Friday and Saturday. Up to 60 kids can build their own rocket and then launch it into the sky.
Bigger and better than ever this year!! Kids Zone. Check out the bounce houses, face painting, and crafts for a hopping good time! Friday 10-4pm and Saturday 9-12 noon.
And also new this year: Members should check out the “Cool Links” & "Member Resources" pages of this website for all sorts of activities and area attractions!
Detailed Schedule of Events
(Subject to Change!)
TUESDAY, June 9, 2026
09:00 Sentimental Fly-in Gates OPEN!
Pre-registration begins for tours and activities
Piper Museum Opens!
12:00 Noon --
14:00 Kids Crafts, held in the pavilion
17:00 Registration and Commercial buildings CLOSE
Pavilion — Fred Jackson Corn Boil
Pavilion — Gary's Cub Pub (Pavilion) Opens
19:00 Pavilion — Live Music — Frank Wicher Band - Sponsored by Juniata Valley RV
WEDNESDAY, June 10, 2026
09:00 Sentimental Fly-in Gates OPEN!
Piper Museum Opens!
10:00 The Museum Shop — Clyde Smith - the Cub Doctor — "Keeping Your Antique Flying. General Restoration Q&A"
11:00 Univair Forum Tent — Rick Harowitz - FAA -
12:00 Noon --
14:00 Piper Museum Aztec Room — Piper History - Presented by the Piper Museum
Pavilion — Kidz Arts and Crafts
Univair Forum Tent — Jim Dyer, "Finding Those Hard-to-Find Airplane Parts"
SPECIAL NOTICE: Three Key Deadlines —
Deadline for the "Ghosts of Lock Haven History Tour." Sign-up at the Cub House.
Presented by experts from Lock Haven's Victorian-era Heisey House Museum.
Deadline to sign up for the Lycoming Engine Tour. The tour will be Thursday afternoon. Sign up at the Cub House.
The tour lasts about 90 minutes and requires a lot of walking... we're just sayin'!
Special Note: The Lycoming factory tour is a walk through their real and very busy actual factory with heavy machinery. As such,
there are a few rules. To sign up, their security protocol requires you to provide your name, address, and drivers license details.
Additionally, safety requires the following: No shorts (long pants required). No open-toed shoes. No sleeveless tops. No cell
phones. No cameras. No EXCEPTIONS.
Deadline to sign-up for the Penns Cave Fly-Out. The Fly-out is scheduled for Thursday morning. Sign up at the Clyde's Cub Restoration
Services booth in the Blue Vendor Building. Availability limited; first come, first served. NO PETS under any circumstances. Planes
should depart from Lock Havenat 10am, tour starts at 11am. RAIN DATE: Friday!
15:00 Flightline — Spot Landing Pilot Briefing at the tower
15:30 Flightline — Spot Landing Contest #1
17:00 Registration and Commercial buildings CLOSE
17:00 Pavilion — Gary's Cub Pub Opens
Pavilion — Fred Jackson Corn Boil
19:00 Pavilion — Live Music with Hickory Bottom Bluegrass - Sponsored by Gullwing Aviation
THURSDAY, June 11, 2026
09:00 Sentimental Journey Fly-in Gates OPEN!
Piper Museum OPEN!
10:00 South Hangars — Forum: Mitch Haubert A/P, IA - "Fabric Covering Hands on Workshop Part 1"
Univair Forum Tent — Rick Harowitz, FAA — Topic TBD. Earn Wings credits!
Flight Line — Depart by Personal Planes to Penns Cave Airport and Float Down the Underground River. You MUST have signed up
for this event as of Tuesday. Availability limited; first come, first served. NO PETS under any
circumstances. Tour starts at 11am.
The Museum Shop: Clyde Smith - the Cub Doctor — Keeping Your Antique Flying. General Restoration Q&A
11:00 Univair Forum Tent: Mike Damiani A/P, IA: The Mysteries of Lycoming Lubrication Systems
12:00 Noon --
13:00 Travel to Lycoming Engine Tour – meet at Transportation
14:00 Univair Forum Tent — Blackstone Labs — Ryan Stark, understand your engine better through oil analysis
Pavilion — Kidz Crafts— arts, crafts, and fun. All kids welcome
17:00 Registration and Commercial buildings CLOSE
17:00 Pavilion — Gary's Pub Opens
Pavilion — Fred Jackson Corn Boil
18:00 Quiet Birdmen Meeting/ Dinner at 3rd Floor of Museum - QB Members and guests
19:00 Pavilion — Live Music: Lindy Sisters — Sponsored by David Benson
SUNSET Aviation photographer Tom Pawlesh will be on the field taking dramatic sunset
portraits of planes. Call/text him at 412-973-736 to arrange photos of your own plane.
FRIDAY, June 12, 2026
Friday is Youth Aviation Career Day -- Introducing Young People to the Science
and the Art of Aviation. Sponsored by Packer & Associates Aviation Insurance.
Free Admission for Teens and One Accompanying Adult!
Friday also is "BILL PIPER DAY"—Free UNLIMITED COFFEE at participating vendors, compliments of Phil & Sharon Hoy. Get your free tickets at the Pavilion!
SUNRISE Flightline — Powered parachute demo by the flyers from Jersey Shore, PA
09:00 Sentimental Journey Fly-in Gates OPEN!
Piper Museum OPEN!
09:30 Univair Forum Tent: Youth Aviation Career Presentations. Hear from a dozen experts in
aviation about their careers; see if their options fit your preferences.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10:00 South Hangars: Comanche Gear Up Seminar (All day demo and hands-on)
The Museum Shop: Clyde Smith - the Cub Doctor — Keeping Your Antique Flying. General Restoration Q&A
Outside Piper Museum — Young Eagles rides. Free airplane rides for all kids from ages 8-17 inclusive.
Parental permission required. Limited availability. Last registration at 3pm, last flight about 4pm.
South Field: Penn State Rocket Lab — Build and Launch Your Own Rocket
Limited availability. Sign-up at the Cub House. Limit: One Rocket Per Family.
10:30 Flight Line, Fenced-in Area — Static Display of Three Helicopters (State Police; Geisinger Life
Flight Medical Helicopter, and PA National Guard Blackhawk)
10:30 Pavilion — Meet Recruiters from Schools, Airlines, Companies, and the Military, Learn About Career Options
Univair Forum Tent — Rick Harowitz, FAA. Topic TBD. Earn Wings credits!
11:30 Flour Drop Pilots Briefing — At the Tower
12:00 Noon Flightline — Flour Drop on the Grass Runway. Watch Volunteer Pilots Test Their Skills
Dropping Bags of Flour on Tiny Targets. Pilots — Buy Your "Flour Bombs" at the Cub House
13:00 South Field — Wings of Williamsport Radio Controlled Model Airplane Club
Watch these experts race their amazing planes and do astounding stunts!
Blue Tent Outside Piper Museum — Young Eagle Rides for Kids Ages 8-17. Parental Permission Required.
Limited availability. First come, first served. last registration is at 3pm, last flight is at 4pm.
Univair Forum Tent — Forum: Mike O'Neal - WW1 Aviation History
14:00 Univair Forum Tent — Rick Harowitz, FAA — Topic TBD. Earn Wings credits!
Pavilion — Kidz Zone with Arts and Crafts
16:00 Pavilion — Sponsor Auction of Aircraft Parts, Supplies, and Materials
Many sponsors have donated products to SJ2026 to be auctioned to our pilots and visitors.
Come to the Pavilion and Get Some Great Products at Unbelievable Prices! Cash or
credit accepted.
17:00 Registration and Commercial buildings CLOSE
Pavilion — Gary's Cub Pub Opens
Pavilion — Fred Jackson Corn Boil
17:30 Piper Museum, Third Floor, Aztec Room — Annual Awards Banquet. The SJ Awards Banquet Friday evening is a capstone event, celebrating the
week we have shared together, our volunteers, the airplane judging, the weather gods, and all things general aviation. Keynote speaker will be
Mr. Ron Gunnarson, VP of Sales and Marketing, Piper Aircraft. Admission is by ticket only, which will be sold all week in the Cub House adjacent
to the Main Gate. SEATING IS LIMITED. Social Hour starts at 5:30. Music provided by: Phil Reeder
19:00 Pavilion — Live Music: Entertainment by Keystone Cats
21:00 Aviation photographer Tom Pawlesh will be on the field taking dramatic sunset
portraits of planes. call/text him at 412-973-736 to arrange photos of your own plane.
>>>>>>>>>> Best Views from the Pavilion — Lock Haven's First Sunset Drone Show. Amazing Display of Technology <<<<<<<<<<
SATURDAY, June 13, 2026
Community Day -- Celebrating Lock Haven's Aviation History
SUNRISE Flightline, Fenced-In Area — Powered parachute demo by the flyers from Jersey Shore, PA
09:00 Gates open
Flight Line, Fenced-in Area — Motorcycle Show
Flightline — STOL exhibition "practice" with planes jumping off the runway in amazingly short take-off runs
10:00 TODAY IS INTERNATIONAL YOUNG EAGLES DAY! Each year the Aviation World sets aside one day to encourage
all EAA members and chapters to participate in the Young Eagles program. This enables us to share our passion for aviation
with the next generation. Free plane rides for all kids 8-17 inclusive. Parental permission required. Sign-up at
the blue tent outside the Piper Museum. Last registration is at 3pm, last flight is about 4pm.
South Field — The Wings of Williamsport RC Club demonstrate and fly their model radio-controlled airplanes
Univair Forum Tent — David Tulis - AOPA Senior Photographer "Tips & Techniques for Your Aviation Photography"
Flightline — Short Take-off and Landing (STOL) Demonstrations on Turf Runway.
This is a unique opportunity to see small airplanes flying right at the edge of what's aerodynamically possible.
11:00 Univair Forum Tent: Matt Ryan — AV WEB — The Transition to Unleaded Fuel by 2030 (?)
Basket Raffle winners drawn-Blue vendor building.
12:00 Noon Flightline — Missing Man Formation Fly-over.
13:00 South Field — Penn State Rocket Lab - Build and launch your own rocket. Must have signed up at the Cub House.
Limited availability, first come — first served.
14:00 Last chance to turn in Poker hands. Play your Poker hand at the Pavilion
14:30 Univar Forum Tent — Kevin Bachand, Safety Pilot, General Dynamics. "What G.A. Pilots Can Learn from a Corporate Safety Program"
Flightline — Spot Landing Contest #2 — Pilot Briefing
15:00 Flightline — Spot Landing Contest #2
17:30 Flightline — Parade of Historic Aircraft
Flightline — 50:50 Duckie Dive. Buy Your Rubber Duckie Outside the Cub House. They will all get dropped from a plane.
Duckie which lands closest to the target shares 50:50 the total prize
Registration and Commercial buildings CLOSE
18:00 Pavilion — FREE PIG ROAST!!! All volunteers and attendees with wrist bands are invited.
19:00 Pavilion — Musical entertainment: Western Range — Sponsored by Miller's Gun Shop
SUNSET Aviation photographer Tom Pawlesh will be on the field taking dramatic sunset
portraits of planes. Call/text him at 412-973-7369 to get dramatic photos of your own plane!
SUNDAY, June 14, 2026
Good morning, everyone! It’s time to visit our breakfast vendors and get your tanks full for the journey home!
Thank you all for coming. Stay safe, we’ll see you in 2027!