Early Flight in Kansas: Learn about early flight in Kansas, including the story of one bold young pilot named Albin Longren. Longren’s pioneering innovations made significant contributions to the aircraft industry, while his poor business ventures kept him in the shadows of more well-known Kansas pilots. Beaumont Hotel: Visit a hotel in the Flint Hills where planes are nearly as common as cars in the parking lot. The Beaumont Hotel attracts pilots with its fine food and accommodations as well as the convenient near-by airstrip. Plains People - John Conard: Lift off with a man on his first hot air balloon ride. A World War II pilot, John Conard had always dreamed of flying in a balloon until he finally gets his chance in the blue summer skies above Topeka.