EVERETT, Wash. — Historic Flight Foundation will host the 6th annual Vintage Aircraft Weekend, offering food, fun, flying, music, and more Friday, Aug. 30, to Sunday, Sept. 1 at Paine Field.
Together with Paine Field Partners, Castle & Cooke and the Snohomish County Airport, Historic Flight Foundation expects as many as 65 pilots from across the Northwest to fly in, piloting a wide variety of privately owned vintage aircraft.
The arrival of various aircraft throughout the day on Friday, Aug. 30, will signal the beginning of the festival. At 6 p.m. that evening, 250 lucky patrons will attend a “Big Band Dinner Dance” featuring the 15-piece, tuxedo-clad “Kings of Swing.” Professional dancers will entertain and offer friendly tips. Period attire is encouraged.
The main events will begin Saturday morning at 9 am with open displays, a Speakers Bureau featuring presentations by Dan Hagedorn, Senior Curator and Director of Collections for the Museum of Flight, and Rebecca Sprecher, author of “Flying, A Novel” and Pan Am historian. We will also hear from 8-year-old Daniel O’Brien on the subject of fighter planes. You won’t want to miss any of them.
Vintage aircraft demonstration flights will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
“The roaring of the engines, smell of the exhaust and magnificent design of these antique aircraft are sure to keep the audience on their toes,” said John Sessions, founder of the Historic Flight Foundation. “It’s our hope that the whole community is able to come out and enjoy these spectacular pieces of aviation history with the same joy and passion we do.”
The event features live music, vintage automobile displays, a wealth of military vehicles, fine food, vintage bicycles, clothing and uniforms, as well as a host of opportunities for kids and parents to interact with displays and vendors. A beer garden will also be available for adults.
During the festival, $10 raffle tickets will be available for a chance to win a flight in a Douglas DC-3. Twelve lucky patrons will be selected as winners. Proceeds from the raffle will directly support the Historic Flight Foundation education fund. The flight will launch at 5 p.m.
Sunday provides an opportunity for festival attendees to visit with pilots and inquire about their aircraft as they prepare for local flying and flights home. Throughout the day, rides will be offered in open cockpit biplanes, as well as the Douglas DC-3. In addition, the North American Trainer Association, celebrating the T-6 trainer’s 75th anniversary, will conduct a formation flying clinic.
$10 adults in advance, $15 day of the event; $7 kids (up to a maximum of $25 for a family).
For more information: VintageAircraftWeekend.org.