World War I Aircraft Fly Again at Virginia Air Show

biplane

In the infancy of air flight in World War I young pilots dared to go where nobody had ever ventured before. Imagine the thrill and the danger.

Barely a dozen years after that first frail aircraft lifted off in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, these new aviators were fighting from the skies above the trenches of France in primitive airplanes made of wood and fabric.

These biplanes of World War I will soar again during the Military Aviation Museum’s World War One Air Show, scheduled for October 3 and 4 in Pungo, Virginia.

Organizers say the show is all about becoming immersed in the rich history. Visitors wander through reenacted encampments and check out the many exhibits of military and aviation memorabilia before the big show when the beautifully restored airplanes take flight. It’s also a chance to see part of the Mid-Atlantic WWI Dawn Patrol, a display of remote controlled airplanes that features skilled pilots from around the world.

“Whether you’re an aviation buff or just looking for a great day out with the family, this will be a day to remember,” museum director Mike Potter told General Aviation News.

You can schedule a flight through the Military Aviation Museum (availability is limited and must be pre-booked). For civilians, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to soar above those beaches in a vintage open-cockpit plane. These flights will take place in a 1941 Boeing Stearman which accomodates one passenger, and the Waco YMF-5 which fits two and a pilot.