A large crowd of aviation enthusiasts crowded into the annual spring MAPS open house this past weekend. In addition to an "all-you-could-eat pancake" breakfast the museum also sponsored author Kimberly Kenney and exhibited a scratch-built Sopwith Triplane.

Kenney, a New York native, moved to Ohio to become the curator of the William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum. She has also published several books on local history, including her newest one dealing with early aviation in the Canton area. She had copies of the book,  "Canton's Pioneers in Flight", available for purchase and signing before and after the talk.

The Sopwith Triplane was built by William "Bill" Woodall of Bath from original plans obtained from Hawker Siddeley in England. The plane took 18 years to build and was completely operational. Woodall donated the plane to the museum for display earlier this year and was on hand to talk about the plane. He indicated he would not fly it again because he felt it was a little too much for him to handle now that he had turned 82.

The next event at MAPS will be on May 10th when they sponsor the "Cold War Warriors" dance.This will highlighting the 1950's and 1960's in aviation history and will feature two blimp rides in a silent auction.

The BIG event of the summer will be the second Collings Foundation Weekend fly-in by a B-17, B-24, and B-25 on August 15th thru August 18th. Rides will be available and the planes will be on display when they are not flying.

For information on MAPS call  330-896-6332 or go online at www.mapsairmuseum.org. The museum is located at 2260 International Parkway, just off Massillon Rd.