Vintage aircraft to fly over Sisters Rodeo
Two vintage airplanes will fly over Sisters Rodeo on Sunday as a special addition to the rodeo’s 75 th anniversary celebration.
The aircraft, a P-51 Mustang and a Skyraider, are from the Erickson Aircraft Collection in Madras. Both are single seat fighters and fighter bombers. The P-51 was flown in World War II, the Korean War and other conflicts. The Skyraider was flown in Korea and Vietnam, and remained in service in many nations until production ended in 1980.
The flyover is being sponsored by The Mountain Group, LLC, Kevin and Laurie Adams, of Camp Sherman. Kevin Adams has an interest in antique airplanes, often visiting air shows in the west. When he was told that a P-51 was one of the planes, he said, “Ah, the last bomber in service at the end of World War II.”
Special events abound this year. The Saturday morning parade, led by Grand Marshal R.L. Garrigus, will honor thirty former Sisters Rodeo queens and princesses, see the return of a Sisters Outlaw Marching Band, have the Oregon Mounted Governor’s Guard and try to contain Ronald McDonald in his big red shoe float. The One Arm Bandit is back, with a parade presence that is beyond compare.
The parade will also include the Oregon State University Beaver and University of Oregon Duck, along with alumni and booster trucks. Dan and Jeri Fouts will ride in the Duck Truck as special guests. Fouts, who is in the NFL Hall of Fame, has missed one rodeo since 1973, and was the parade’s Grand Marshal in 1983. His wife was one of the founders of Sisters Starry Nights and among the first Sisters Citizens of the Year.
Tickets sales are breaking records. The ticket office recommends getting tickets quickly. The ticket office at 220 W. Cascade Ave. in Sisters will be closed after Thursday.
Sisters Rodeo will begin Wednesday with Xtreme Bulls followed by four rodeo performances June Friday through Sunday. For tickets and information, call the ticket hotline at 541-549-0121 or 1-800-827-7522. Tickets may be purchased two hours before each performance at the rodeo, as available. For more information, visit www.sistersrodeo.com.
