TERRE HAUTE —
Aviation enthusiasts can follow the sound of rumbling propellers off into the sky this weekend.
A flock of historic aircraft began flying into the Terre Haute International Airport on Thursday for what organizers plan to be a weekend extravaganza. Hosted by Hoosier Aviation, LLC, the airport open house will feature the B-25 “Show Me” as well as a Red Tails exhibit, and a visit with Indiana State University alumnus Quentin Smith, one of the original Tuskegee Airmen at 5:15 p.m. today.
Also, Jordan and Nicole Brown, owners of Hoosier Aviation, LLC., had their own aircraft out Thursday for show as the open house got underway.
“It should be an eventful weekend,” Nicole said at noon, explaining Jordan was off the premises with the B-25, which belongs to the Missouri Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. That plane, made famous in the Doolittle Raid of World War II, will perform a fly-over at ISU’s Homecoming football game Saturday.
Meanwhile, their C-45H rested next to the CAF’s P-51C Mustang which served as a trainer for the Tuskegee Airmen. Polished to a high sheen, the lettering on its side explained it to be a U.S. Army Air Corps Twin Beech C-45H, originally delivered for service in January of 1942.
“It takes 20 hours to polish it,” she laughed, explaining its maintenance to one of several admirers.
The couple first saw it while visiting a museum on their 10th wedding anniversary, and the decision to buy it was made then and there, she said, adding it’s one of her favorites.
Terry Hollis, spokesman for the CAF, said the group participates in more than 50 shows a year. The group works to keep historic aircraft up in the air and on display for the public as long as they last. The P-51C Mustang on display is a rarity, he said.
“There’s only two of these still flying in the United States and we’re quite fortunate to have one,” he noted, explaining the military left most of the aircraft overseas after the war.
The open house operates through Saturday and food will be available. For a tax-deductible sponsorship of $395, visitors can ride in the B-25 and relive the flight of a World War II bombing run. More information is available by e-mailing Nicole@hoosieraviation.com.
The CAF Red Tail Squadron will also present an educational movie inside its trailer every half hour, explaining the history behind the Tuskegee Airmen and their mission as part of their “Rise Above” exhibit. Saturday will also feature a “Bomb Drop On Cancer,” with proceeds going toward the Union Hospital Hux Cancer Center. Participants will be flown up into the air and allowed to drop a flour sack at a ground target. Prizes for best, second best and worst bombardiers will be awarded.
Aircraft owners throughout the area are expected to fly in for the event, Nicole said.
Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett proclaimed the weekend to be “Hoosier Aviation CAF Rise Above Aviation Days,” and said it’s great to see activity at the airport.
“There’s unlimited potential out here,” he said.
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Related Photos
-
Rising above (with some help from grandpa): Four-year-old Harrison Snoddy of Knightsville is lifted up by his grandfather, Dennis Snoddy of Clinton, to get a better look at the cockpit of the CAF Red Tail Squadron P-51 C Mustang on Thursday at the Terre Haute International Airport-Hulman Field. (Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza)
-
Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Boy vs. propeller: Four-year-old Harrison Snoddy stares down the propeller of the C45 H as he contemplates giving it a tug as he and his dad, Wade Snoddy (left) and grandfather, Dennis Snoddy, of Clinton were checking out the vintage planes Thursday at the Terre Haute International Airport-Hulman Field.
Discussion
Historic WWII warbirds visiting Terre Haute International Airport this weekend
B-25 scheduled to arrive today
- Local & Bistate
-
-
Illinois Senate approves sex education bill
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A proposal that revamps sex education in Illinois public schools to include information about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases has cleared the state Senate.
-
Gregg pondering 2nd run for Indiana governor
INDIANAPOLIS — Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Gregg is pondering another run at the state's top job, but has yet to make a decision.
-
Illinois senator apologizes for Nazi remark
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois Sen. Donne Trotter has apologized for remarks that compared a member of Gov. Pat Quinn’s cabinet to a Nazi.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: May 22, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Tuesday and Wednesday, based on jail records.
-
Rose-Hulman professor researching ways to make homes storm safe
Tornadoes produce greater uplift forces than hurricanes, which can flatten homes such as in Moore Okla., south of Oklahoma City.
-
Group wants to connect downtown Terre Haute with the Wabash River
Fairbanks Park is underutilized.
The Wabash River is peaceful and inviting, but there is some concern about its cleanliness as well as pollution levels. Also, people can’t get on the river unless they have a boat. -
New conservancy district appoints first directors
Members of the first board of directors of a new lake conservancy district were appointed Tuesday by the Vigo County Board of Commissioners.
-
Vigo law enforcement signs Triad charter to protect seniors
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller joined Vigo County law enforcement and community activists Tuesday to sign the county’s first Triad charter, becoming the 22nd Triad in Indiana.
-
Wabash Valley Red Cross wraps up Save the Day Campaign
The American Red Cross Wabash Valley Chapter’s 2013 annual meeting concluded the 17th annual Save the Day Campaign, and the results lifted the spirits of all who were involved.
-
Some Vigo roads washed out
Spring storms resulted in $250,000 in damages to roads in southern Vigo County, with costs including sand and labor to save homes near river bottoms, said county highway Assistant Superintendent Dan Bennett.
-
County Council votes $78K toward rail spur
County officials voted Tuesday night to make good on a 2011 promise to help improve a railroad spur just north of Terre Haute for Menard Inc.
-
Spring flooding damages future CSO holding lagoon
Flood waters from the Wabash River have done costly damage to one of the city-owned “lagoons” on former International Paper property.
-
Vigo tops state average for IREAD-3 scores
The Vigo County School Corp. exceeded the state average in the percentage of students passing the state’s mandatory Grade 3 reading test, IREAD-3.
-
Storms cause minor damage in Valley
Tuesday morning storms in the Wabash Valley caused thousands of Duke Energy customers to lose power.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: May 21, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Monday and Tuesday, based on jail records.
-
UPDATE: Damage surveys show 2 weak tornadoes hit near Indy
INDIANAPOLIS — The National Weather Service says storm surveys show two weak tornadoes struck central Indiana.
-
Storm causes scattered Indiana power outages
INDIANAPOLIS — A line of thunderstorms that moved across Indiana caused scattered building damage and power outages for several thousand homes and businesses.
-
Kindergartner diagnosed with MD treated to a day with the fire department
“He’ll just never forget this day,” Stacey Manley said, a little bit tearfully, as she watched her smiling 6-year-old son Carter sitting happily in the captain’s seat of Fire Engine 2.
-
Casey, Illinois aims for another world record
The town of Casey, Ill., may soon weave its way into the record books as the small town with the most world records. After setting records for the world’s largest wind chimes and the world’s largest golf tee, Casey is now looking to become home to the world’s largest knitting needles and crochet hook.
-
Rose-Hulman projects will promote growth, learning for people with physical challenges
Life changed dramatically for college engineering student Drew Christy on Feb. 22, 2008 when he was involved in an auto accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury.
-
‘500’ gas stations being sold to Speedway LLC
After several decades in business, the area’s familiar “500” gasoline stations and convenience stores will soon be missing from the roadsides of Vigo and Sullivan counties.
-
Terre Haute woman faces 14 charges
A Terre Haute woman faces 14 criminal counts after her arrest Friday on drug-related charges.
-
Two adults injured in ATV accident
Two adults were injured Sunday evening while riding an all-terrain vehicle near Lexington Farms Subdivision off Moyer Drive in southern Vigo County.
-
Vigo schools’ medical claims down 4 percent
The Vigo County School Corp.’s medical claims were about $13 million over the last 12 months, down 4 percent from the prior year, said Diane Titchenell, an Anthem account manager that works with the school district.
-
2013 Government Directory now available
The 2013 Government Directory is now available.
-
UPDATE: 5 killed, 6 injured in I-70 van crash in Illinois
ST. LOUIS — A van carrying church members returning from a California gathering careened off of a southern Illinois freeway and overturned several times today, killing five people and sending six others to hospitals, authorities said.
-
2 children reported dead from Indianapolis fire
INDIANAPOLIS — Authorities say some autistic children lived in the Indianapolis condominium unit where a fire has killed two children.
-
Tighter Indiana drunken driving law seems unlikely
INDIANAPOLIS — Some key Indiana legislators say it’s unlikely that the state will any time soon go along with a federal safety board’s recommendation that the threshold for drunken driving be cut nearly in half.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: May 20, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, based on jail records.
-
Life-Size Ping Pong: Valley pickleball tourney draws large crowd to Brittlebank Park
It’s been described as “ping pong on steroids.”
Some people call it “life-size ping pong where you stand on the table.” - More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
Illinois Senate approves sex education bill
Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
Today in History May 22
Former Rep. Weiner Running for New York Mayor
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
Raw: Costa Rica Volcano Roars to Life
Raw: Aerial View of Moore Tornado Damage
Raw: Students Clash With Police in Chile
Protests Outside Cincinnati IRS Office
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
