PORT ANGELES – Amidst gusty winds, the Wings of Freedom planes landed at Fairchild International Airport Wednesday and the show is underway until Friday.
The B-17, B-24 and B-25, along with fighter planes, the P-40 and the P-41 all touched down at around 2:00 pm and folks can come see them until 5:00. Thursday’s hours are 9-5, and Friday’s hours are 9-noon.
Then on Saturday, back after a 16-year hiatus, it’s the Airport Appreciation Day and Fly-in. Airport Manager Dan Gase describes Saturday’s highlights:
“So we’ve got a great lineup of stuff that starts at 8:00 in the morning with the Lions Club pancake breakfast. And with regards to airplanes, there’s a nice assortment. There’s some amphibious seaplanes that are coming in to be on display, some experimental aircraft. We’ve got the Life Flight Network medical evacuation jet along with their helicopter. At 12 o’clock, we’ve got an army Black Hawk helicopter flying overhead at about 900 feet off the ground and they’ll be dropping four Special Forces paratroopers out. And then the Black Rock will be on display for the rest of the day. We’ve got the US Coast Guard bringing the helicopter in about nine o’clock in the morning and Captain Crystal from Sequim is bringing a hot air balloon. So pending the wind conditions, hopefully we’ll be having a tethered balloon rides that are going to be free for veterans.”
Tickets for the Wings of Freedom are $15, and $5 for children 12 and under.
Airport Appreciation Day is free.
Photos: Dan Gase