Grumpy has a heroic history.
Bad Kitty was rescued from a graveyard.
Impatient Virgin was harvested by archaeologists.
These planes — a B-25D Mitchell, F7F Tigercat and P-51B Mustang that earned nicknames at the Historic Flight Foundation — are just some of the historic bombers, fighters and carriers you’ll meet at the foundation’s Vintage Aircraft Weekend at Paine Field.
It’s three days of food, fun and flight, featuring vintage aircraft from Charles Lindbergh’s solo crossing of the Atlantic in 1927 and commercialized Boeing jet service of the same route in 1957, according to the event’s website.
The weekend leaves the runway with a period dinner and dance on Friday night for those who purchased special event tickets. There will be group swing dance lessons, vintage uniforms and a big band.
Check for ticket availability for the dinner dance by calling 425-348-3200 or online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/414161.
Saturday is the focus of the annual aircraft event. Catch special historical presentations, such as Museum of Flight senior curator Dan Hagedorn’s “The T-6 Turns 75” and author and former stewardess Rebecca Sprecher’s “The Remarkable History of Pan American World Airways.”
Then, for the highlight of the event, watch 65 pilots and planes take to the skies for vintage aircraft demonstrations. There will also be live music, interactive and educational displays, food and bouncy houses for kids.
Douglas DC-3 Dakota, perhaps the most iconic airliner of all time, will be available to the public for rides on Sunday, as will open-cockpit biplanes.
Other planes at the weekend include the Spitfire Mk. IX, which achieved immortality for helping win the Battle of Britain in 1940; the F8F Bearcat, among the last piston-engine flyers built specifically for World War II combat; the A-1 Skyraider, a single-seat, prop-driven attack aircraft that found its niche carrying 14,500 pounds on take-off and delivering its payload with precision; and a P-51D Mustang, which had the range, speed and high altitude capabilities to enable Allied forces to escort bombers far deeper into enemy territory than any other fighter aircraft.
Pilots will stick around Sunday to chat about their aircrafts and answer questions. There will be a barbecue at noon.
The official event begins at 9 a.m. Saturday at 10719 Bernie Webber Drive, Mukilteo. Tickets are $7 to $10. For more information, go to www.vintageaircraftweekend.com.
Vintage Aircraft Weekend
Friday
- 6 p.m.: Big Band Dinner Dance
Saturday
- 9 a.m.: Doors and displays open
- Noon: Dan Hagedorn’s “The T-6 Turns 75”; Rebecca Sprecher’s “The Remarkable History of Pan American World Airways”
- 2 p.m.: Vintage Aircraft Demonstrations
- 5 p.m.: Departures
Sunday
- 9 a.m.: Doors open
- 10 a.m.: Formation clinics and rides begin
- Noon: Barbecue
- 1 p.m.: Formation demonstration flights
- 5 p.m.: Event ends
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