History in Flight
Rare warbirds star in a California airshow.
- By Linda Shiner
- AirSpaceMag.com, May 11, 2010
Frank Mormillo/ Planes of Fame Air Museum
With more than 100 historic aircraft, the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California, exhibits one of the most significant collections of airplanes in the country. This weekend the exhibits will come to life as the museum stages its annual airshow. Nearly 30 “planes of fame,” as well as aircraft from neighbors and nearby museums, will fly on May 15 and 16 in what one Air & Space writer once called “the world’s most spectacular aerial display of rare warbirds from all generations.” How rare? The museum owns the only original, airworthy Japanese Zero fighter and one of the few Russian-built MiG-15s flying anywhere. The MiG (above right) will perform with the museum’s North American F-86 Sabre in a tribute to the veterans of the Korean War, the conflict that pitted the two aircraft against each other.
The museum owns a second MiG-15 and two MiG-17s, so that, according to founder Ed Maloney, if another museum needs a pair of MiGs and has aircraft to trade, the Planes of Fame Museum may be interested. “We also have a MiG-21F, but it won’t fly this weekend,” says Maloney. “It’s too fast for our airport.”
Click through the gallery at right to see more aircraft that will be flying this weekend.
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Comments (5)
is that a yak 9 flying with the b-25?
Posted by J. GRENCIK on May 13,2010 | 01:55 PM
Aside from closing my eyes and just dreaming about flying any one of these beauties, the only thought that comes to mind is : Wish I could be there. Anybody who is going,
enjoy it for all of us who can't make it. Someday I AM
gong to Chino. PP
Posted by Paul Peckham on May 14,2010 | 10:59 AM
Hello,
Your show looks amazing and a friend and I would like to drive over from Phoenix next year to see it. Unfortunately we did not discover it until today or we would have come this time around. Would it be possible for you to email me when you know the dates of the 2011 show. EDITORS' REPLY: You need to contact the organizers of the show for that information.
Posted by Laura Taylor on May 15,2010 | 11:58 PM
The Planes of Fame airshow is usually the third weekend of May. This years show was outstanding as usual. The museum is worth visiting any time of the year if you are a fan of WWII era planes. They also have other interesting displays of pre-WWII and post-WWII aircraft, and holds special events the first Saturday of each month.
Posted by Geoff Hetzel on May 21,2010 | 02:00 PM
wow! this is amazing
Posted by nicholas on May 22,2010 | 09:39 AM