HomeOur Board of Directors

Welcome to the Sentimental Journey Fly-In

Sentimental Journey Flyin began in 1986 with a group of dedicated volunteers working to provide a sentimental return to Lock Haven, the home of Piper Aircraft and the early days of general aviation. We aim to be the best small-town, family-friendly fly-in in America. 2026 marked our 40th year, we are hoping to draw all makes and models of airplanes. This year's event will be bigger and better than ever! All pilots will find a welcoming home on our two runways - one grass and one paved.

Sentimental Journey, Inc. is a Pennsylvania non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. Become a member of Sentimental Journey today!

Our 2026-2027 Board of Directors

Sentimental Journey is well-served by a very capable and engaged Board of Directors. The current directors were elected by a vote of the membership over the past few years. They each serve for three year terms, but the terms are staggered so there are always a few experienced people on the team. The current team includes:

Ronald W. Dremel, Director

Ronald W. Dremel is a private pilot and co-owner of a 1959 Piper Comanche 250. Ron retired from Halliburton in 2019 as a field trainer. Prior to his 10 year stent in the gas industry he owned and published a local weekly newspaper for over 25 years. Ron joined the Board of Directors of the Piper Aviation Museum in 2020 and has served as president of the museum since 2021, overseeing its growth and expansion.

Term Expires: June 2029

John Machamer, Director, Secretary

John had his first airplane ride in 1969 and quickly was hooked on the science and skills of aviation. In college he worked as a flight instructor at Hampton Airfield in New Hampshire, as well as, towing banners, gliders, and flying freight. Anything to build hours! After graduation he went to work as an Engineer for Boeing on the B-747 program. Not wanting to spend his career in an office he returned east and began a fish-spotting business, flying 200 miles east of Nantucket in a Piper Supercub in support of the commercial swordfish harpoon fishery. He earned his first “true” airline flying job with Provincetown Boston Airlines (PBA) in 1982, flying DC-3s, and soon moved to American Airlines. He spent 37 years with AA, flying many different types of Boeings and finishing his career as one of the airline’s elite "B787 Check Airman/APD.” In retirement he restores antique airplanes and received a Bronze Lindy award at Oshkosh in 2016 for his 1930 Davis restoration. He recently finished the restoration of a 1930 Pitcairn PA-7S Super Mailwing biplane and received reserve grand champion at Oshkosh EAA Air Venture 2026

Term Expires: June 2029

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Ben Coleman, Director, Vice President

Ben is a former NTSB investigator with 49 years of experience. He has an Airframe & Powerplant ticket with Inspection Authorization. He is a recognized aviation safety expert with a strong background in management, airport and aircraft operations, maintenance, training, and safety. Early in his career, he was the International Product Support Manager at Piper Aircraft. Later he was the director of aircraft maintenance for a Delta Airlines affiliated flight school, responsible for the maintenance of 50 aircraft and supervised 26 employees. He has 2,600+ hours in his logbook; he has commercial, instrument, and ASMEL ratings; and has been flying seaplanes for 35 years.

Term expires: June 2028

John Buchan, Director

John and Betsy Buchan have a long history in Lock Haven; he was the postmaster here for decades. He became involved with Sentimental Journey because of his job and his passion for stamp collecting. Back in 1986, the stamp collecting club in Lock Haven lobbied for a post office at the Fly-In, and any commemorative letters sent from the Fly-in were hand- cancelled with the insignia, “Mailed from Cub Haven, PA.” They both have been volunteering since then, a legacy of 37 years. He also volunteers with the Piper Museum, and has been doing so since before the museum even had a building. Since 2002, John has been the flying director at Sentimental Journey.

Term Expires: June 2027

Shaw Siglin, Director

Shaw Siglin began his aviation career in the USAF as an maintenance tech on F-111 jets. While in the Air Force, Shaw obtained his private pilot license and his A&P certificate. Following his service, Shaw attended Embry-Riddle, graduating with a BSAE. Shaw worked at Boeing’s Rotorcraft Division in Philadelphia for 27 years ending as an Air Safety Investigator and Aviation Safety Official. After retiring, Shaw joined the Grand Canyon (PA) Airport Authority and served as Airport Manager there. Shaw now is in the final stages of restoring a 1956 American Champion 7EC.

Term Expires: June 2028

Cal Arter, Director

Avuncular 87-year old Cal Arter has lived in Lock Haven most of his life. Cal was a classic “airport brat” who would ride his bike to the airport just to watch the planes. As a teenager, he washed planes in exchange for flight instruction. Once he completed his cross-country solo flight, Piper loaned him a plane to subcontractors to pick up the airplane parts they needed, building flight time even before he formally had his license. He went to college in Miami, FL and commuted in a slow but reliable Piper TriPacer. After graduation he got a job flying passengers and cargo to the Bahamas in the 1950s. He returned to Piper to enjoy a stellar career: first, as a test pilot in 1960, then the Northeast regional sales manager, then the entire Southern region, and eventually all of South America. He’s just stepped down as president of Sentimental Journey after 38 years, but he hopes it retains the philosophy of being family-oriented and affordable.

Term Expires: June 2029

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John Spencer, Director, President

John comes from an aviation family; his father flew Boeings for USAir and his stepfather was a test pilot for Piper. John was raised in Pittsburgh but strong family ties moved him back to Lock Haven as a young man. He earned an associate’s degree in aircraft maintenance from Pennsylvania Tech in Williamsport. John has a day job with Frito Lay but in addition to his addiction to aviation also he is a superb amateur musician. John modestly reports he plays a “half decent” guitar. He’s continuously studying music theory and is an aficionado of the acoustic guitar legends of the 1960, ‘70s, and ‘80s as well as classical music. In terms of aviation, his favorite general aviation ride would be the Cessna 310 light twins, and among the Piper family the Comanche 250 and the Aztec are his favorites. Today he lives minutes away from the Lock Haven airport, right under the base leg to Runway 27.

Term Expires: June 2029

Brandon Payne, Director

Brandon is 28 years old and has been on the board for three years. He lives in Lamar, just 20 minutes from the airport with his wife of four years and a three-year old daughter. He’s a stone mason and works for local company called Bairs Masonry. He’s been involved with Sentimental Journey since 2019: he started at the all-you-can-eat breakfasts and then worked his way up to bartender. Right now his big project is getting his private pilot’s license with Nick Fascia out of the Tech Aviation Flight School at State College Airport. Other than flying, he and his wife love to fish, hunt, and hike. He said, “We are outdoors people, so if there's a season, we hunt it.” But Sentimental Journey is pretty much the biggest community thing he volunteers with.

Term Expires: June 2027

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Randy Scanlan, Director

Randy was born and raised in Lock Haven, just four blocks from the end of the runway. He watched airplanes fly over his home every day until the 1964 flood, after which his family moved to higher ground. He graduated from Lock Haven, worked at Woolrich Textiles, and then drove an eighteen-wheeler until retirement. He’s been married for 44 years, has three kids and seven grandchildren, one of whom got a Young Eagles ride this year. Randy got the flying bug early. He attended the first Sentimental Journey in 1986. Randy’s focus with the Fly-in will be Fly-in operational issues. He’s already been recruiting more volunteers, and he’ll be a hands-on Board member because he lives only nine miles from the airport.

Term Expires: June 2028

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Neil Baughman, Director

Neil is from the Hershey area, about an hour southeast of Lock Haven if he flies in his 1943 Taylorcraft. He’s accumulated 4,000 hours of flying in more than 90 different airplanes, most of them antiques. He is a Master Sargeant in the Air National Guard and supervises an air-to-ground practice bombing range. He’s been coming to Sentimental Journey since he was ten years old. Neil started flying lessons at age 14 and soloed on his 16th birthday. He’s a volunteer at the Golden Age Air Museum and on the board of directors for Wings of War air museum. His favorite airplane is the famous de Havilland DH.82 “Tiger Moth” which is a British biplane from the 1930s. His ambition for Sentimental Journey is to keep it going and growing. “It’s just a fun flying event for any age. I bring my son, he’s ten. It's always a great flying event, a vacation for my whole family.”

Term Expires: June 2029

Tim Farris

Tim lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, with his wife, Liz, and their two children, Caroline and Ben. A lifelong aviation enthusiast, Tim has spent years restoring, flying, and preserving vintage Piper aircraft while sharing that passion with family and friends.

As the owner and caretaker of a meticulously restored 1940 Piper J-3 Cub, Tim is dedicated to preserving the airplanes, stories, and craftsmanship that helped shape American aviation. His restoration work has earned multiple awards at the Sentimental Journey Fly-In in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, along with national recognition through a prestigious Gold Lindy Award at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, one of aviation's highest honors for restoration excellence.

Lock Haven holds a special place in Tim's heart as the birthplace of Piper Aircraft and the home of an event that brings together generations of pilots, restorers, and aviation enthusiasts. He values the friendships, mentorship, and shared commitment to preserving aviation history that make Sentimental Journey such a unique organization.

By day, Tim serves as Chief Information Officer for Clancy & Theys Construction Company, where he leads technology and innovation initiatives. Outside of work, he enjoys model aviation, woodworking, restoring classic Land Rovers, home improvement projects, and spending time with his family.

As a board member of the Sentimental Journey Fly-In, Tim is honored to help preserve Piper's rich heritage and ensure that the stories, aircraft, and spirit of grassroots aviation continue to inspire future generations.

Term Expires: June 2029

Frank Swinehart

Frank is a second-generation aviator with roots in Lock Haven. He is employed by Lycoming Engines, overseeing factory new and rebuilt engines returning to Williamsport for repair and warranty investigation.

Frank has been a longtime volunteer for Sentimental Journey. For many years, being part of multiple teams that set up the flight line and aircraft parking areas, overseeing the fly market in past years, and aircraft judging. He is a past board member having served on the board in 2022.

Frank recognizes the need for new ideas, and agrees change is a necessary thing, believing it should be approached with a balanced devotion to Sentimental Journey’s core mission, its membership, and attendees.

Term Expires: June 2029

Since 1986, America's Family-Friendly Fly-In!

Welcome to the Sentimental Journey Fly-In

Our 2026-2027 Board of Directors

Since 1986, America's
Family-Friendly Fly-In!