7th of March, 2026
Planes of Fame Air Museum is proud to present the Flight of the Boeing P-26A “Peashooter” at our Monthly Event this Saturday, March 7, 2026. The world’s only flying P-26A, this international treasure will be making her final scheduled flight over the skies of Chino. In the coming months, she’ll be moved to her new home at the Museum’s Santa Maria location.
Doors to the Museum open at 9:00am and Members are always admitted FREE!
“Hangar Talk” will kick-off at 10:30am with some outstanding presentations and at 12:15pm, directly in front of the crowd, the Peashooter will fire up her mighty-little 600-horsepower Pratt & Whitney Wasp radial engine. This is a chance to see history take to the skies on Saturday, March 7, 2026 so we hope to see you all at the Museum.
Here’s what’s in store:
The Museum’s Michael Quinney continues his multi-part series on the amazing features of today’s supercarriers in the United States Navy. In this episode, he shifts the focus from the steel and features of the carrier to the men and women who keep her sailing and keep her aircraft flying. Michael will take us through the Ship’s Company and the Air Wing onboard these powerful warships and show the duties and courage these men and women exemplify to keep America’s interests always at the ready.
We may pass a park or building or street named after someone we never heard of. We are surrounded by history that our collective memories no longer know. This is one such tale of a hero who hailed from nearby Riverside. The Museum’s Jim Llano will tell us this incredible tale of bravery and sacrifice under fire when he introduces us to Staff Sergeant Ysmael Villegas. Eighty-one years ago this month, Sgt. Villegas was with his unit in the mountains on Luzon in the Philippines. They suddenly came under the relentless fire of a large force of entrenched Japanese troops. To protect his men, Sgt Villegas singlehandedly attacked the Japanese, inflicting heavy casualties against the enemy. These actions would cost him his life and lead to the posthumous presentation of the Medal of Honor. Jim will show us that in Riverside, they remember their heroes, even if each of us don’t know the full story of their heroic actions.
The Museum’s Ted Mount returns to the “Hangar Talk” stage to tell us a remarkable story of ingenuity and courage. The allies needed a more effective way of attacking and stopping the Japanese supply ships from getting through to support their troops on the many islands throughout the South Pacific. Nothing seemed to be working. But then a small cadre of airmen, under the command of Major General George Kenney remembered an old idea that had long been discarded. It was skip-bombing. Pilots such as Paul “Pappy” Gunn and Ed Larner flew these low-altitude, dangerous missions that stunned the Japanese with their boldness and success. It was a fighting strategy that revolutionized warfare and brought victory in the Battle of the Bismark Sea.
We’re going to take a deep-dive into the amazing little Boeing P-26A “Peashooter.” This remarkable aircraft, featured in today’s “Flying Demo,” represents not just a feat of longevity (she’s 93 years old this year) but a turning point in aviation history. She marked the end of the days of fabric and wooden biplane fighters by heralding a new generation of all-metal, monoplane fighters. Yet she still retained much of the old in her design and ultimately, this would hold her back from military success. But she soldiered on during World War II and even into the 1950s. The Museum’s Brian Finnegan will tell us all about the design, development, and history of the Peashooters of the U.S. Army Air Corps. It’s a great way to prepare for her final Chino flight which follows “Hangar Talk.”
At 12:15pm on our Hot Ramp, we present the final Chino flight of the Boeing P-26A “Peashooter.” This aircraft, the only remaining flying Boeing P-26 in the world and the oldest flying aircraft in the Museum’s collection, is truly an international treasure. She has called Chino home for the past 53 years and very soon will be relocating to our new flagship facility in Santa Maria, California.
The Museum’s Scott Cassells will briefly talk about the Museum’s Peashooter’s history and point out some of her unique features. Then, under the skillful hands of pilot Johnny Maloney, we’ll fire up her 600-horsepower radial engine directly in front of the crowd. Johnny will taxi away and then put on a fantastic aerial display of the “Peashooter” overhead – showing how nimble, agile, and fun this old girl still is. Upon the aircraft’s return, Scott and Johnny can answer questions from our guests.
Planes of Fame features some of the most famous and rarest aircraft in the world. As you walk our seven hangars, you can see these aircraft on display, watch as our teams perform routine maintenance, learn how to rivet, and get a history lesson from our Museum Guides.
We’ve got our Food Trucks on site featuring outstanding Mexican fare, coffee drinks, smoothies and a variety of frozen treats!
BECOME A MEMBER
