Huey helicopter rides part of Madison Air Show Saturday

Huey helicopter rides part of Madison Air Show Saturday

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Huey helicopter rides will be among the activities this weekend at Madison Aviation’s Open House and Aviation Show that will feature vintage aircraft, arts and crafts, antiques, food and other activities for the entire family.

Based at the Madison airport, the mission of the Mississippi Wing of the Commemorative Air Force which is organizing the event is to educate, honor and inspire. 

Wing members hope to inspire young people to a love and career of aviation and honor those who served and plan to do that this weekend. 

Children and parents alike can partake various activities at the event at the Madison airport, known as Bruce Campbell Field, 7450 Old Canton Road.

“People can expect to see 12 airplanes which date all the way back to 1929,” said Jack Welch, Wing Leader of the Mississippi Wing of the Commemorative Air Force.

“Some of the planes include our PT-19, which was used to train pilots during World War II, our T-6 trainer planes, Korean War era T-34 planes, and a P-51 Mustang.”

The Aviation Show begins on Saturday, May 21, at 9 a.m. and lasts until 4 p.m. The show is free to attend along with free parking at Ridgecrest Baptist Church across the street. 

Arts and crafts, clothing, jewelry, antiques, and more will be available.

Welch added that along with vendors, airplane rides will be offered on L-5 air ambulance planes for $150 each throughout the day.

“On Friday afternoon from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. we’re also offering helicopter rides in a Huey helicopter for $75 each,” Welch said. 

“Anyone interested in a ride can contact me. We’ll have a Kid’s Zone, and Home Depot is bringing materials for that to assemble planes, jeeps, and helicopters, which they can take home afterwards.”

Five presentations will also take place throughout the day:

• WWII Marine Corp veteran Billie Byrd will host “Coffee with Billie,” and sell signed books at 9 a.m.

• Dr. Daniel Haulman will be giving a presentation called “Tuskegee Airmen: Questions and Answers” at 10 a.m.

• Marshall Ramsey will talk about his interest in flying and drawing airplanes at 11 a.m.

• Various pilots present will do a pilot briefing and talk about how they got interested in flying and how they came to acquire their planes at noon.

• Dr. Daniel Haulman will speak about the killing of Yamamoto the admiral in charge during the attack on Pearl Harbor. 

Haulman will talk about the hunt for him at 1 p.m.  

“Our mission is to honor, inspire and educate people” Welch said. “We want participants to come away with the idea that it was neat to see what these guys did and that the people flying these planes were only 18-20 years old and came from rural areas. Hence why they’re known as the ‘greatest generation.’”

The event will also feature a flying museum with historic items from the World War II area, and a scavenger hunt for the kids where they can check off tasks on their “hero cards” by talking to the pilots and seeing the planes.

For more information and any further questions, contact Jack Welch at 601-209-0025.

Visit https://ms-wing-caf.square.site.  All donations are tax deductible.






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