EDITOR’S NOTE: The Valiant Air Command Air Fair, originally scheduled for March 21 and 22, has been canceled
They may be old, but they’re still sexy, those cool warbirds at Valiant Air Command’s Warbird Museum in Titusville. Oh, and the stories they could tell!
They can’t talk, of course, but the knowledgeable docents who populate the museum speak for them, telling countless tales of heroism under fire.
Those vintage birds of fight will be spiffy and ready to welcome visitors to the upcoming air fair, which promises up close and personal encounters of the warbird kind.
Some of the aircraft will again take to the skies for flybys, to the delight of guests at the fair, which happens from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, March 21 and 22, at Valiant Air Command’s Warbird Museum in Titusville.
Taking to the air will be metal heroes such as the venerable Tico Belle, a C-47 Skytrain that was part of the D-Day invasion in Normandy. She is not fast on takeoff, but the old lady never fails to turn heads when she takes her time to rumble up into the clouds. Seeing her determinedly flying high helps us remember the abundant “right stuff” her crew had that pivotal June 6 of 1944.
In addition to the aircraft, attendees to the fair can enjoy meeting the pilots who keep them aloft. Open cockpit opportunities help to channel inner flyboy/girl and propel pretending command of these amazing aircraft.
Carnival games, a bouncy castle and face painting, plus a dozen food trucks offer excellent distractions, as does a special appearance by Highland cows – or Highland “coos,” as Scots know their beloved shaggy cattle.
However, this day is truly about the aircraft and what they represent. In an age of virtual reality, meeting the people and planes who helped establish America’s supremacy of the skies is indeed a rare treat.
A VIP experience is available to place guests front and center of the action. Lunch and free beer tasting is included, as is primo seating to see the planes at their best. Not in a VIP mood? No problem, since a beer garden will be open for purchases.
The Warbird Museum is, of course, more than about planes. It tells the story of the men and women who put their lives on the line when duty called. It is a history lesson, and one that never fails to resonate.
“We have so much history here,” Mathis said. “This is an opportunity for adults to revisit history and for children to learn of the sacrifices our servicemen have made.”
The Warbird Museum is staffed primarily by volunteers, many of them heroes who walked the walk the walk when asked to serve their country.
Gather the family and head to the museum for a day that will thrill and inspire.
Valiant Air Command Air Fair
Where: Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum, 6600 Tico Road, Titusville
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 21 and 22
Admission: $25 for adults, $10 for students ages 13 to 18, and $5 for ages five to 12; VIP seats are $50
Call: 321-268-1941
Website: valiantaircommand.com
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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Event canceled: Vintage warbirds soar at Titusville air fair
Reporting by Maria Sonnenberg, for Florida Today / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
