<< Previous   of   Next >> Courtesy of Arlington Fly-In  (click to enlarge) The popular Red Eagle Air Sports’ biplane aerobatics show, “Magic in the Air,” returns for a second year at the Arlington Fly-In., part of the event’s daily air shows.

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CONTACT SCBJ John Wolcott, Editor jwolcott@scbj.com Dave Clark, Assistant Editor dclark@scbj.com

Arlington Fly-In marks 40th anniversary this year

By John Wolcott
SCBJ Editor

This year’s Arlington Fly-In marks the 40th year of the growing event at Arlington Airport from July 9 through 13 with air shows, exhibits of World War II warbirds, general-aviation and sport aircraft, vendor booths, food and events.

Over the last four decades the aviation gathering has become the largest general-aviation event in the Western states and the third largest nationally. This year, the event is again expected to attract more than 50,000 visitors from the Western states and British Columbia.

The 2008 air-show roster features the Cascade Warbirds, Red Eagle Air Sports’ twin biplanes, aerobatic performer Julie Clark, Northwest flying duo Bud and Ross Granley, the Cascade Warbirds, the Black Jack Squadron and others.

The Puget Sound Military Vehicles Collectors Club again brings the largest Northwest display of American and Canadian armored vehicles and weapons to Arlington. The military encampment includes the Cascade Warbirds’ vintage military aircraft. A video of the Cascade Warbirds’ flying at the 2007 event is available on the Arlington Fly-In’s Web site.

A new participant this year is Nostalgic Warbird and Biplane Rides, an Oregon enterprise operated by former fighter pilot and airline pilot Mike Carpentiero. He offers a choice of flying in a 1930 New Standard D-25 biplane or a 1941 PT-17 Stearman, a World War II open-cockpit trainer. In the Stearman, passengers have an option to fly or perform aerobatics in the plane themselves.

Also new is the Pacific Prowler, one of only a few B-25s still flying. A star of more than 80 Hollywood films, it will be open for tours daily, sponsored by Arlington’s Angel of the Winds Casino.

This year, the Arlington Fly-In drops Northwest Experimental Aircraft Association from its name for the first time in 20 years. The change is part of a new EAA agreement clarifying the national group’s role, said the event’s executive director, Barbara Tolbert.

“The agreement offers the Arlington Fly-In a new, higher level of support from EAA,” she said. “We’ll be getting extensive promotion and coverage of the event from the EAA, which will be a major sponsor of educational forums and workshops.”

Adam Smith, EAA’s vice president of membership, said the association will increase its promotion of the event; EAA judging standards will be used for Arlington aircraft awards programs; and the EAA will have a major presence at the air show. Also, the EAA will host two SportAir workshops at the airport at other times of the year.

Hundreds of aircraft fly in for the annual event, from experimental home-builts to some of the latest general-aviation aircraft, privately owned historic military planes and new “sport flying” aircraft.

For more information, go online to www.arlingtonflyin.org.