HAMILTON – TriStaters can learn about aircraft used by the military in World War II when some of the planes come to the Butler County Regional Airport this weekend for the Hogan Field Fly-In.
There visitors can go through planes and schedule a ride in the B-25 Champaign Gal, a medium bomber brought in by the Urbana-based Champaign Aviation Museum.
“Our mission is to educate and share history – touching lives by restoring history,’’ said Jessica Henry, the museum’s development director, and granddaughter of a WWII vet.
The fly-in runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, June 4, and Saturday, June 5, at the airport’s Hogan Field, 2820 Airport Road East, off Bobmeyer Road. There is a $10 fee on Saturday, which includes a tour of the B-25 cockpit.
“This is one of the missions of the museum – to honor those who served in WWII and all veterans,’’ said Terry Senger, a pilot, member of the museum and event coordinator.
A pilot for the past 45 years, Senger credits his love of flying to his father, who was in training to be a B-25 flight engineer when World War II ended.
“I love flying – single-engine to multi-propeller planes,’’ said Senger, a retired Marine. “I trace my love back to my dad. I was always watching planes.
Henry will serve as a crew member for the plane rides. She will assist the two pilots by assisting to load the passengers, answering questions and helping them maneuver through the plane.
“It’s an experience of a life – the sight, the smell, the sounds, it’s (ride) a full sensory experience,” Henry said.
The TriState Warbird Museum will bring in a P-51 Mustang, a fighter aircraft escort to the slower B-17 and B-25 bombers; and a Navy Grumman TBM-3 Avenger, a torpedo bomber, said David O’Maley, president of the museum.
“The mission of the museum is to preserve these and the history they represent. It’s an opportunity for us to tell the story of WWII through warplanes,” O’Maley said.
“We’ll fly in on Saturday morning and fly out Saturday evening. We’re excited to get back out in the public after a quiet year.”
If you go:
What: Hogan Field Fly-In.
Where: Butler County Regional Airport, 2820 Airport Road East, off Bobmeyer Road in Hamilton.
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, June 4; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, June 5.
Admission: Free on Friday; $10 on Saturday.
Flights: 5:30 and 7 p.m., Friday; 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday. Cost is $425; reservations: 937-652-4710 or www.champaignaviationmuseum.org/booking.
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