3rd of October, 2026
This Saturday, join us at Planes of Fame Air Museum for a powerful look back at the Vietnam War—an immersive, educational, and unforgettable day for visitors of all ages.
Doors open at 9:00am, with regular admission in effect and Museum Members always enjoying free entry.
Beginning at 10:30am, our monthly Hangar Talk program offers a special series of Vietnam War–focused presentations, running through noon and featuring engaging stories, insights, and compelling history brought to life.
Then at 12:15pm, prepare for a highlight you won’t find anywhere else: a flight demonstration featuring two North American Rockwell OV‑10 Broncos, the iconic twin‑boom aircraft that served with distinction in Vietnam. Watch them start, taxi, and take to the sky over the Museum in a dramatic display of power, agility, and living history.
Throughout the day, visitors can enjoy food trucks, hands‑on displays, and interactive activities designed to engage families, aviation enthusiasts, and history lovers alike. It’s a full day of learning, inspiration, and the rare chance to experience Vietnam War aviation up close.
From feudal conflicts to revolts against colonialism to internal civil strife, Vietnam’s history is one of bloody warfare. Then, beginning slowly in the mid-1950s and escalating in the 1960s and early 70s, Vietnam became a quagmire for the United States and its allies. In this encore presentation, the Museum’s Brian Finnegan will survey the events that led up to the war, the yearly struggles and fighting that proved so costly in lives of young Americans, tore at the very fabric of the nation at home, which ultimately culminated in the fall of South Vietnam in 1975 and many asking “why?”
Since the early twentieth century, aviation has been an instrumental part of war. From the start, it was recognized that combat aircraft and crews would be vulnerable and susceptible to damage – either from ground fire or aerial combat. This month, we’re pleased to have David Palmer, a recently retired aerospace engineer with Boeing and an expert in aircraft survivability, present this multi-part series. In Part Two, David will explore the design of the Aircraft that fought in Vietnam, and the challenges they faced in fighting a war they were not originally designed to fight.
The war rages. The casualties mount. The helicopters come in and our story begins. The Museum’s Lorie Ann Rodrigues will take us back to Cu Chi, Vietnam in 1968 to give us a blow-by-blow tour of what happened as the casualties arrived for treatment at this important field hospital. She’ll profile the young Army nurses who were ultimately responsible for terribly wounded men. From triage to emergency treatment, intensive care and working the wards, these women had to deal with trauma that very few were truly prepared to face. But they did, and in this presentation, Lorie will give us an account of the daily struggles of military nurses serving in Vietnam.
We’ll close by taking a look at the lasting legacy of the Vietnam War with emphasis on how most American’s today understand Vietnam – from the films that use the war as their main storyline. From trying to explain the war to the soldier’s eye view of the conflict, to how society first demonized and then tried to deny and forgot the war’s veterans, film has told the painful stories through documentary and re-enactment.
We’re honored to have two OV-10 “Broncos” visit us at the Museum and perform our Flying Demo. Thanks to Matt Nightingale of Cal AeroFab for bringing these beautifully restored aircraft to the Museum and flying our monthly flight.
At 12:15, Scott Cassells of the Museum will present background information about these amazing aircraft that performed missions as Forward Air Control and gunships to protect grunts on the ground by directing close-air support.
Scott will tell us all about the OV-10, from its unique design to its range of missions. And he’ll tell us briefly about this beautifully restored example.
Then, our pilots will fire up the twin turboprop engines of each aircraft directly in front of the crowd. The two aircraft will then taxi away.
Scott will then hold our “Member’s Only” raffle contest for a memorable flight in one of our WWII training aircraft.
After take-off, the Broncos will perform a thrilling demonstration over the Museum for twenty minutes. Upon their return, guests will be able to talk with the pilots and ask questions of what it’s like to restore and fly theses treasure from the past.
Your admission gets you access to all seven of our hangars and the over 100 aircraft and historical memorabilia on display. The B-17 will be open to visitors, and our food trucks will be on-site with lots of delicious options. Museum Guides are on hand to tell you the stories of the Museum and our collection and the Gift Shop is stocked with some cool items for purchase.
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