More than 20 iconic Flxible buses will parade down Main Street in Loudonville and be on display for the public on Saturday, Aug. 24 from 10 a.m. to noon. The 20 Flxible and 10 Converted Buses, some dating back to 1930, will travel from as far as California and Canada to celebrate the 100-year anniversary since the Flxible Company began building buses. The Flxible Owners International (FOI) organization and its presenting sponsor, Sugar Creek are proud to bring this historic event to the local community where Flxibles were originally built.
One of the unique Flxible buses on display will be a 1947 Clipper which was originally used to transport the Goodyear blimp. In 1946 and 1947, Goodyear placed an order for three Flxible clippers to serve their airship fleet. The buses were equipped with outriggers and a tower to serve as mobile mooring masts when the airships travelled to locations without mooring facilities. The buses could also be used to tow the blimp short distances.
The buses were standard 30’ Clippers that were modified for their unusual mission at both Flxible and Goodyear. The roof of the bus was reinforced with textured metal plating to provide a skid resistant walkway. Folding steps were fitted just forward of the driver’s side window. A tower that could be readily assembled was created and stored in a pod on the roof of the bus. Outrigger wheels were mounted to a set of tubes that passed through the width of the bus.
The bus interiors had several rows of seats, a radio set, a writing desk, and some simple crew accommodations. The 1947 bus served most of its time in South Florida before being retired in 1966.
The 1947 bus was sold to a private owner that converted the bus into a well-equipped motor home. The bus changed hands several times over the years, and time took its toll on the bus. In 2014, the bus was listed for sale, with scrapping as a likely outcome if a buyer could not be found. FOI member John Lingafelter somewhat reluctantly purchased the bus to save this piece of history. Fast forwarding to the 2015 Piston Power Show in Cleveland, OH where John was displaying his 1957 Starliner. Liberty Aviation Museum CEO Ed Patrick learned of the bus while admiring John’s Starliner. Ed committed to buying the bus if John would complete the restoration. John fabricated panels from five sheets of 4’ x 10’ steel, installed over 2000 rivets, and used some 40 pounds of welding wire in the project. John and his daughter completed the restoration, and delivered the bus to the Liberty Museum in late 2018.
Next steps for the bus include recreating the interior as it would have appeared during her Goodyear days. The 1947 Flxible Clipper is regularly on display at the Liberty Aviation Museum in Port Clinton, OH but will make a special trip to Loudonville for the event on Aug. 24.
The Parade of Buses, sponsored by the Congress of Country Music, will include parking the attendees’ buses on Main Street in downtown Loudonville to allow the public a peek inside the buses as well as vote for People’s Choice Best Bus.
Chair of the 2024 Planning Committee and President of Flxible Owners International, Brian Santin said, “We think it only appropriate to showcase to the public and Loudonville community these amazing marvels of engineering.”
Food trucks and local shops are also supporting the event including a DJ and announcer who will entertain the crowd and provide individual histories of each bus in the parade.
For information for the 2024 Flxible & Converted Bus Centennial Summit please visit flxibleowners.org.
To contact Brian Santin, 2024 Flxible & Converted Bus Centennial Summit Planning Committee Chair: briansantin@gmail.com.
