Wings Over Watsonville

Watsonville Fly-In Air Show: Saturday, September 5 • 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. • Free Admission!

After last year’s 50th anniversary, the board of the annual event chose to hand its future over to the City of Watsonville and its airport manager Rayvon Williams. The Sept. 5 family friendly fly-in will also be commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. Wings Over Watsonville will not only a community celebration, but also a public showcase of Watsonville Municipal Airport with its general aviation fly-in.

Williams said that they intended to cover the airfield with various makes, models, and years including vintage war birds such as the North American P-51 Mustang and the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk. Also invited are that era’s training aircraft recognizing Watsonville Airport’s role as a naval auxiliary air station during World War II including the Vultee BT-13 Valiant and the North American T-6 Texan, which were both used to train P-51 pilots at Watsonville.

The new Watsonville Airport restaurant, Ella’s at the Airport, is providing WWII veterans a place of honor on its patio to sit in comfort to view aircraft and the day’s events.

Other highlights will be a Navy PV-2D Harpoon Patrol Bomber and a Douglas C-47 Skytrain, famous for carrying paratroopers into the D-Day invasion. A B-25 Mitchell, the medium bomber noted for the Doolittle raid on Japan from the Aircraft Carrier Hornet will be there to provide rides to the public.

Also a first the airport will showcase the working aircraft of Watsonville by opening the doors of its 12 corporate hangars to show the public the aircraft of Companies like Granite Construction, Driscoll’s, Sweet Darling, Well-Pict Berries, and Cal Giant.

“Wings Over Watsonville” will be providing free flights for children ages 8 to 17 on a first-come, first-served basis requiring a signed parent waiver from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., by the Young Eagles program.

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Gates open at 8 a.m. Sept. 5. Watsonville Municipal Airport, 100 Aviation Way, Watsonville. Cost: Free. Parking $5. Information: www.watsonvilleflyin.org.