It’s that time of the year again, and we are just under a month away from one of the great air shows of the season. Warbirds Over the Beach, the Military Aviation Museum‘s annual aerial extravaganza in Pungo, Virginia will take place over the weekend of 16th-18th of May. Jerry Yagen’s museum has regained its momentum, and is moving forwards very positively. The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum’s Avro Lancaster B.X FM213 is expected to take part again this year, and Mr. Yagen hopes to partially replicate the amazing formation seen in Hamilton last year featuring the Avro Lancaster in formation with MAM’s deHavilland Mosquito FB.26, Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX, and Hawker Hurricane Mk.XII. The roar of all these Merlin engines in tight formation will be a marvel indeed.
Warbirds Over the Beach is one of the most intimate air shows anywhere in the US, and allows the visitors to get up close to the aircraft, both in the static display areas, and alongside the runway as well. The beautiful grass airstrip, set against the trees provides a perfect photographic opportunity for even the least experienced photographer to capture a fabulous image of aircraft taking off and landing.
The flying schedule is relatively informal and aircraft take off and land regularly, but there are so many other fascinating things to see at the show varying from the myriad re-enactors’ camps, to the original WWII Luftwaffe hangar, filled with German aircraft.
WWII veteran pilots can often be found to chat with at tables set up in the main hangar. There’s also a faithful replica of a WWI-era hangar packed with several dozen replica WWI aircraft as well.
One of the highlights from last year’s show was the firing demonstration of a genuine WWII German Flak 36 88mm cannon. The Curtiss C-46 Commando “Tinkerbelle” also dropped a couple of sticks of paratroopers dressed in WWII-era 82nd Airborne uniforms as well.
Several warbird rides will be available for purchase on the show days as well. Make sure to check in on the official Warbirds Over the Beach website HERE to see the details as they are added. There is also a steak dinner, and big-band dance scheduled for the night of Saturday May, 17th. Be sure to get your ticket’s ahead of time. Click HERE for details on how to do so.
In recent conversations with WarbirdsNews, Jerry Yagen affirmed that the rumors of his selling off the collection are unfounded. It’s currently full-speed ahead with restoration work resuming at numerous sites around the world. He is also working on adding a B-17 back into the collection again after selling his B-17G “Chuckie” last year. Even though last year’s air show was interrupted by rain, it was still his favorite due to the flying presence of his Mosquito. That being said, he loves to attend the Flying Legends air display at Duxford in the UK.
Below is a selection of photographs from last years Warbirds Over the Beach air show, and hopefully this will whet the appetite of our readers. This air show is NOT to be missed!
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Richard Mallory Allnutt's aviation passion ignited at the 1974 Farnborough Airshow. Raised in 1970s Britain, he was immersed in WWII aviation lore. Moving to Washington DC, he frequented the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum, meeting aviation legends.
After grad school, Richard worked for Lockheed-Martin but stayed devoted to aviation, volunteering at museums and honing his photography skills. In 2013, he became the founding editor of Warbirds News, now Vintage Aviation News. With around 800 articles written, he focuses on supporting grassroots aviation groups.
Richard values the connections made in the aviation community and is proud to help grow Vintage Aviation News.
It is with great sadness that I see the reciprocating engine slowly fading. I would want every school child to know the power and beauty of the reciprocating aircraft and the individual sound they owned. Retired Air Force I spent years working on B-29 on up. Please visit the schools with your message. As young years are formative.
Paul, The torch is passed and the flame is still bright at the Bomber Command Museum of Canada in Nanton, Alberta just south of Calgary. We just ran, today, 4 Merlins attached to our Lancaster heavy bomber that took our Merlin team 8 years to rebuild. Then, as icing on the cake, we ran our first Bristol Hercules radial engine (sleeve valve design)on an engine stand. (about 2400 cu.inches -14 cylinders) This is our first radial engine for our Halifax bomber project. We have 6 more of the Bristol Hercules radial engines in storage and will be cobbling them together to make the other 3 engines we need for our Halifax project. Big smoke – big noise – sound of Freedom. As soon as we get our new highway engine trailer we will be running the Bristol Hercules at airshows and airshows. Cheers, Karl Kjarsgaard BCMC
We can’t wait to hear more about this Karl! Please keep us at Warbirds News in the loop!
Fully agree with the need to bring it to schools! It is paramount to let them know the effort made during WWII to keep freedom and democracy alive!
I visited the museum and was amazed by this first opportunity to be next to planes that I built 40 years ago as plastic models!
I was thrilled by being aside of planes used in Battle of Britain or in the Doolittle’s Raid. And they made the difference by changing the course of war flown by brave Pilots
I am a NATO naval officer serving in the USA , and I pay my respect to those who served by attending the air show. Thank you and please continue your work.