A highlight of Beech Party 2025 was the opening of the American Aviation History exhibit at the Beechcraft Heritage Museum.
Airshows & Fly-Ins
Warbirds West
The Planes of Fame Central Coast Airfest is an innovative effort by the oldest warbird museum collection to leverage its crowd-pleasing warbirds at a venue that will host the museum’s new facility at Santa Maria Airport (KSMX) in California.
Picture of the Day: Vintage flying
John Swander submitted this photo and note: “A 1932 Waco UEC bought new by the Viking Flying Boat Company in New Haven, Connecticut.”
Tales from the 2025 Swift National Fly-In
Gorgeous blue skies, puffy white clouds, and comfortable temperatures were the backdrop for the Swift National Fly-In, held Oct. 1-5, 2025, at McMinn County Airport (KMMI) in Athens, Tennessee. There was a good turnout, with at least 24 Swifts flying in.
Picture of the Day: Gracing us with her presence
Tim Larsen submitted this photo and note: “This 1940 Harlow PJC-2 graced us with a visit at the 2025 Sugarbush Fall Fly-In at Warren-Sugarbush Airport (0B7) in Warren, Vermont. It’s equipped with an original Air-Matic prop.”
From Music City to the STOL national finals
After 10 nationwide meets in 2025, beginning in April with the Swamp STOL in Jennings, Louisiana, the National STOL (Short Take Off and Landing) series wraps up with the Lonestar STOL and National Finals in Sulphur Springs Texas.
Video: Not your regular air show
“If the snarl of two dozen roaring warbirds wasn’t enough in the skies over Santa Maria, California, on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, at mid-day a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from nearby Vandenberg (Space Force Base) lit up the sky as air show visitors and participants watched in awe,” Fred said.
Video: Planes of Fame air show highlights
Fred Johnsen, the force behind the Airailimages YouTube channel and General Aviation News Of Wings & Things columnist, recently posted a video to YouTube of some of the action at the 2025 Planes of Fame Santa Maria Central Coast Airfest.
Picture of the Day: Dream big, girl!
Jim Roberts submitted this photo and note: “A Waco UPF-7 and young admirer at the Midwest Antique Airplane Club’s 2025 Grassroots Fly-In in Brodhead, Wisconsin.”