Air Shows are a great place to see WWII airplanes up close and in flight. Most shows have other activities at the events and some include re-enactments like the World War II Weekend in Reading. There are five shows we attend each year and highly recommend.
The Power in the Pines at the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey is new to us. It is a free event and promises a lot of great aircraft to see and learn about. It’s a 2-day event and has been an event for years with a huge following. We will be displaying our Jeeps and a WWII display for them in one of the indoor display areas.
The Mid-Atlantic Air Museum or Reading Air Show in Reading, PA holds their WWII Weekend – Airshow each year during the first weekend in June to commemorate D-Day. This is a massive 3-day event that includes everything WWII. There are thousands of reenactors that set up well organized camps across the fields that include allied and axis participants. The main hanger hosts WWII veterans and showcases some spectacular collections. The Airshow portion of the show includes all types of WWII planes from trainers to fighters to bombers…including the last flying B-29s in the world (Doc & Fifi). There are Tanks, Jeeps, Trucks, vintage cars and even a fabricated WWII village that the Germans occupy until the Allies liberate the town in the afternoon. Check the schedules and plan ahead! The flame thrower demonstration is one-of-a-kind! There is a huge flea market area where you can buy souvenirs as well as actual military items from WWII! If you only go to one show this year…this should be the one!
The New Garden Evening of Aviation & Flight. in Toughkenemon, PA is usually held in June. This is a true, old-school Airshow with vintage planes, warbirds and modern acrobatic & stunt planes. There is a lot to do and see at this show as they have an Antique & Collectible Car show on the show grounds. In the evening there are planes that have special lights that perform and the show finishes with a firework display. There are activities for the kids, things to buy and a bunch of food vendors that cater to all tastes! We participate with the slowly growing contingent of military vehicles and WWII Re-Enactors that set up camp. Part of the Airshow includes a remote control demonstration that is amazing. They usually showcase RC Jet planes that reach speeds well over 100 mph.
The Ocean City, NJ annual Airshow & Car Show is held in September at the Ocean City, NJ Airport. The Car show is held at the airport on Saturday along with a mostly static display of planes. Admission is free, so load up the car with the kids and their friends. There are kid friendly activities as well as onsite food. The car show awards are people’s choice, so if you come out to see us, make sure you throw a few votes our way. The Airshow is held Sunday between 6th and 14th streets over the ocean, so the beach or the boards is the best seat to see the planes fly by and do their tricks. Some years include a parachute jump team, but it’s hit or miss because of the weather and wind.
The Wildwood Airfest at the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum in New Jersey is one of our favorite shows to attend each year. The show takes place over Labor Day weekend and goes from Friday through Sunday. This year it is September 1st-4th. The museum is full of hands on activities for the kids and some years, you can even book a ride in a WWII fighter plane or bomber! You can make a weekend of it and spend a day or two at the beach and still attend Airfest. All proceeds go to keep the museum open and it is definitely worth the admission price to get an up-close look at these planes.