If you’ve ever wanted to see the City of Four Seasons from the clouds, a perfect opportunity to do so awaits you this month.
The Western North Carolina Air Museum will host its annual Air Fair and open house the weekend of June 4 and 5 from 10am-5pm both days. Many of the things to see and do at the fair won’t cost you a dime, but for a small fee, you can strap yourself into a small aircraft and get a bird’s eye view of Hendersonville.
The money raised through the airplane rides and concession sales goes to support the museum, which is dedicated to preserving “the aviation heritage of North Carolina in general and Western North Carolina in particular.”
Museum President Steve Lyons says, “The Air Museum is free and a volunteer-run nonprofit organization. We don’t charge admission, so we have this event every year to help pay for expenses. We have $30 airplane rides, and we have a big open cockpit biplane that also gives rides. The intent is to have an opportunity for people to come out to the airport, enjoy the big grass field and look at airplanes, and maybe go for an airplane ride.”
Visitors to the Air Fair can view the museum’s collection of vintage aircraft, many of which date back to the 1930s and 1940s. In addition, pilots from all over are invited to fly in and park their aircraft for people to walk around. For those who prefer four wheels over two wings, there will be plenty of antique autos on display.
The Air Fair has proven to be a popular springtime event, Lyons says. “We usually get a couple thousand people over the two days,” Lyons says. “We’re not doing this to make a lot of money. We really just like to give people a chance to come out and enjoy the airport and get an airplane ride. It’s a nice experience for folks who have never flown in a small airplane.”
The WNC Air Museum is located at the Hendersonville Airport near Blue Ridge Community College and is open on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays throughout the year.
For more information, call 828-698-2482 or visit www.wncairmuseum.com.
