GA Day Ahead

The Flying Heritage Collection's Curtiss P-40 Warhawk and other warbirds are set to fly during GA Day this Saturday, May 21st.

This Saturday, May 21, Paine Field is the place to be as people and planes flock for fun in the sun at the 16th Annual General Aviation Day put on by Paine Field and the Washington Pilots Association (WPA).

The festivities start at 8 a.m. with the 3rd Annual Fly Day 5k at the Paine Field Airport Fire Station put on by the IAFF Local 2597 Paine Field Fire Fighters who donate all proceeds to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Registration for the event can be found at Paine Field's website and costs are $25 for adults and $20 for children between ages 7-13, ages 6 and under are free.

Prizes include a Dreamliner cap, one ticket to the Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour, and one ticket to the Flying Heritage Collection to be awarded to the top three male and female runners over the age of 30. All runners are treated to a free t-shirt and pancake breakfast after the run.

From 12-1 p.m. the Flying Heritage Collection will host a fly day at their museum where their collection's Curtiss P-40 Warhawk and Hawker Hurricane will fly alongside the Historic Flight Foundation's Grumman F7F Tigercat and F8F Bearcat; all are warbirds from the Second World War. Admission is half the regular price.



Across the field from 1-5 p.m. the Historic Flight Foundation will host their Flight Festival where a large number of their collection will take to the skies individually. There will be vintage military vehicles, street food vendors, an Airstream trailer with gourmet skillet, and special presentations celebrating the Centennial of Naval Aviation and the 75th anniversary of the Supermarine Spitfire. Admission is $6.

Throughout the day, the WPA will be offering free "Young Eagles" flights to children and teens between the ages of 8-17. The Historic Flight Foundation will also be offering rides in their vintage North American B-25D Mitchell bomber named "Grumpy."

A static display of aircraft from the Museum of Flight Restoration Center's collection and the Cascade Warbirds and the Heritage Flight Museum from Bellingham, WA will be available to tour up-close to many vintage warbirds starting at 9 a.m. A few of the warbirds will also participate in the flight activities during the day.

Attending some or all of these events is made easier thanks to the recent introduction of the Paine Field Passport by the Paine Field Partners. The decorative passports give the holder 20% admission discounts to the four museums around the field; the Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour, Historic Flight Foundation, Flying Heritage Collection, and the Museum of Flight Restoration Center from September-May. 20% discounts to all museum stores and cafés are year-round. "Visa stamps" are given at each aviation attraction to enable the discounts. Passports cost $10 and last for one year and are available at any of the four attractions.



The Flying Heritage Collection's Hawker Hurricane takes to the skies to prepare for GA Day.

The Flying Heritage Collection will conduct a live-fire demonstration of either one of their tanks, like this Soviet T-34, or artillery pieces.

The Historic Flight Foundation will host a series of programs in commemoration of the Supermarine Spitfire's 75th anniversary.