Beach City Baby’s 2023 Air Show Season Shaping Up

As most readers will be well aware, we have followed the progress of Beach City Baby since early 2016. This combat veteran Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (41-20095) made its first post-restoration flight last May, following a seven-year campaign from Jason Capra and his band of volunteers at Vintage Wings Inc. in Franklin, Pennsylvania and Beach City, Ohio. As the saying goes, ‘results speak louder than words’, and the resurrection of Beach City Baby from a near-derelict airframe into a pristine representation of her former self is perhaps the most impressive grass roots acquisition and restoration effort in many decades.

After the aircraft’s inaugural air show season in 2022, which saw Beach City Baby attend twelve events, the magnificently restored C-53 now has a busy schedule in the works for 2023 (see below). We thought many readers would want to learn these details to begin making their plans to see Beach City Baby in her element. Other events are in the works too, of course, awaiting paperwork and finalization, so stay tuned for updates when they arrive.

• May (TBD) EAA/Vintage Wings Pancake Breakfast Fly-In & Young Eagles Day (C-53 will fly, weather permitting.) Franklin Venango Airport, PA
• May 20-21, Elkhart, IN
• June 2-4, WWII Weekend at the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum, Reading, PA
• July 15, Meadville, PA
• August 11-13, Thunder Over Michigan, Willow Run, MI
• August 19-20, Waynesburg, PA
• September 1-4, Cape May, NJ
• Washington, PA (TBD)
• October (TBD) Vintage Wings Inc/ EAA Pancake Breakfast (C-53 will fly) Franklin Venango Airport, PA

For organizers interested in having Beach City Baby attend your event, please visit www.vintagewingsinc.com.

Moreno Aguiari

Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.

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