The American Airpower Museum (AAM) will present its acclaimed C-47 D-Day Living History Flight Experience on Saturday, September 6, 2025, in honor of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. This unique program allows participants to step back in time aboard an original WWII Douglas C-47 Skytrain Troop Transport, joined by living historians who recreate the sights, sounds, and emotions of a paratrooper’s journey to Normandy.
The immersive program runs approximately two hours, including a 20–25 minute flight in the museum’s legendary C-47. From the moment participants arrive, living historians guide them through the experience. Guests gear up in authentic reproduction uniforms and equipment, receive a 101st Airborne D-Day briefing, and prepare to board as though it were June 5, 1944. Flying over Long Island’s south shore beaches provides the backdrop for a simulated jump, offering a powerful sense of what the paratroopers of the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions experienced during their historic mission—the nighttime airborne assault behind the Normandy beachheads at Utah, Pointe du Hoc, and Omaha. During the flight, participants don reproduction M-42/M-43 field jackets, steel helmets, and jump harnesses while listening to the roar of the C-47’s twin engines. They’ll follow paratrooper commands, including “stand up” and “hook up,” as if preparing to jump on D-Day. While no actual jumping takes place, the re-enactment vividly captures the intensity and anticipation of that fateful night. After landing, guests return to Hangar 3 for photo opportunities with the living historians, C-47 crew, and aircraft.
Flight Schedule & Ticketing
Four flights are scheduled on Saturday, September 6, at 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. Seats are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Passengers must arrive 60 minutes prior to flight time.
- Flight Cost: $375 per passenger
- Includes two guest passes at $10 each to watch takeoffs/landings and tour exhibits
- General museum admission available for non-passengers: Adults $18 | Seniors/Veterans $15 | Children (3–12) $12
Reservations can be made at www.americanairpowermuseum.org under the “Flight Experience” tab, by calling (516) 531-3950 or (631) 454-2039, or by visiting AAM’s Cockpit USA Gift Shop, open Wednesday–Sunday, 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at Hangar 3, 1230 New Highway, Farmingdale, NY 11735. This living history program not only offers an unforgettable personal experience but also supports AAM’s mission to honor the veterans of the Greatest Generation and preserve America’s military aviation history.
About the American Airpower Museum
The American Airpower Museum, located at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, NY, preserves the rich legacy of American military aviation on the historic former site of Republic Aviation. The museum maintains a diverse collection of aviation artifacts and operational aircraft spanning decades of aviation history. AAM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational foundation chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. For more information, visit www.americanairpowermuseum.com.
