This Saturday – September 2,, 2023 – is something you won’t want to miss!  We’re combining another edition of “Hangar Talk” with a “Flying Demo” of one of the world’s rarest aircraft. 

Doors to the Museum will open at 9:00am.  Regular admission prices are in effect and Museum Members always get in free!

Due to road construction around the museum, please check routing map to museum before coming.

Here’s What’s Happening During Hangar Talk

“Highways in the Sky: How the Federal Government Saved Aviation”

The invention of the airplane was only the essential “first step” in aviation’s development as an industry.  The essential “second step” was to make the airplane useful.  The Museum’s Brian Finnegan will show us how this could never have happened without the United States government taking a lead to ensure that aviation became a safe, reliable, and efficient means of moving people and goods.  We’ll take a look back to the first practical uses of aircraft and how the decisions made and actions taken in the 1920s and 1930s, helped usher in the world of commercial air transportation that we enjoy today.

TED Talk: “Octave Chanute: Conduit of Encouragement”

Take a look behind almost every success story and you will find individuals who helped pave the way for others to succeed.  The Museum’s Ted Mount labels these folks, “Conduits of Encouragement.”  Ted will introduce us to the primary conduit for the Wright Brothers, Samuel Langley, and a host of their European counterparts who developed the first practical airplanes.  All of their efforts can be traced to the energies and enthusiasm of one man – Octave Chanute.  Along the way of telling Chanute’s story, Ted will show us how we can serve as “conduits of encouragement” to others.

Flying Demo of the North American P-51A “Mustang”

At 12:15pm, Jim Llano of the Museum will present the “Flying Demo of the North American P-51A “Mustang.”  Jim will briefly explain how the fascinating story of how this aircraft came to be and what role it played in the early days of World War II.  

The Museum’s P-51A, the only P-51A “Mustang” currently flying in the world, will then start up its Alison V-12 inline engine directly in front of the crowd.  Pilot John Hinton will taxi the aircraft away, and we’ll hold our Member’s Only Raffle Drawing.  Then John will delight us with an aerial demonstration of the “Mustang” with a flight over the Museum for twenty minutes.  Upon return, guests may meet and ask questions of John about what it is like to fly this historic aircraft.

In addition to all of the above, we’ll have food trucks on hand, our Museum Guides will tell you the stories of the Museum and its world-renowned collection, they’ll be fun for the kids, and our B-17 will be open for visitors to tour the inside.  A great way to spend the day at Planes of Fame!