All engines go for Wings and Wheels festival set Sept. 30, Oct. 1
The Ninth Annual Wings and Wheels Fall Festival is set to take off at the Delaware Coastal Airport in Georgetown Friday, Sept. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 1. The two-day event is highlighted by an aviation education day, a big band dinner and show, a fly-in of vintage World War II aircraft, a huge car show, WWII living history sessions, encampments, pilot competitions, helicopter rides and all-day entertainment.
The aviation education day Friday will feature aviation-related vendors and special guest speakers, including retired Cmdr. Joe Edwards - a former NASA astronaut and decorated Navy airman. Edwards will join other leaders in the aviation industry to talk about how their careers in aviation helped shaped their lives. "The basic goal of the aviation education expo is to put high school students who may be interested in aviation in front of those companies and organizations that specialize in the field," said Linda Price, Wings and Wheels chair. "Students have the unique opportunity to learn the educational and employment opportunities that are out there for them."
The Wings and Wheels dinner and show kicks off at 6 p.m. Friday at the airport, and is reminiscent of the camp shows made popular during WWII. Local favorite Smooth Sound will headline the evening's entertainment with its 16-piece, 1940s-era jazz and swing band, and The Ultimate Abbot and Costello Tribute Show will also perform. A full-course dinner will be served, and 16 Mile Brewery will have its handcrafted beers on tap. Guests may bring their own wine. Tickets are $45. To purchase tickets, go to www.wings-wheels.com or call 302-856-544.
This year's dinner and show will be made even more special with a celebration of the 101st birthday of esteemed guest and historic figure Lt. Col. Dick Cole, who is the last remaining Doolittle Raider. Returning for his third tour of duty at the Wings and Wheels Festival, Cole, Jimmy Doolittle's co-pilot in the 1942 raid on Japan, will also appear at Saturday's main Wings and Wheels Festival, which opens its gates at 10 a.m. Cole will administer the oath of service during the opening ceremonies for a mass enlistment ceremony being coordinated by Dover Air Force Base. A living history program Saturday will feature Cole and other veteran heroes, with a full complement of military vehicles, weapons, command posts, the Allied Airmen's Preservation Society and re-enactors from the Harbor Defenses of the Delaware Living History Association on hand.
"Ultimately, it's the wings and the wheels that bring out the thousands of enthusiastic festival goers every year," says Chamber Executive Director Karen Duffield. "If the weather holds out, we could see nearly 50 vintage aircraft fly in and some 400 cars compete for awards and prizes." New this year will be helicopter rides for $25 per person. "This is certainly an exciting addition to the wings portion of this event," Duffield said. As always, lots of craft and food vendors will be set up, and the Glass Onion Band will provide live entertainment throughout the day. And back by popular demand will be flour bombing pilot competitions.
Admission to the festival on Saturday is free, with $5 general parking at Sussex Academy and Sterling Square on Airport Road. Limited handicapped parking (with proper tags) for $5 will be available on the airport grounds. For more information, call the Georgetown chamber at 302-856-1544 or go to www.wings-wheels.com.
