Wings & Wheels wows at Delaware Coastal Airport

“It was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.” That was the reaction from 8-year-old Oliver Teed of Milton after he climbed out of the cockpit of a Delaware Air National Guard C-130.

That’s just the reaction the military crew and organizers of the Wings & Wheels event were hoping for.

The 15th annual drive-in and fly-in was held Oct. 7 at Delaware Coastal Airport in Georgetown.

The big, gray C-130 was a centerpiece of the static display.

Major Walter Wilson, who is originally from Milton and lives just down the road, learned to fly at Delaware Coastal. He joined the Air National Guard and has been flying C-130s from New Castle County Airport for 10 years. He is now a full-time instructor pilot.

“My flight instructor and I, when I was learning to fly in a [Cessna] 172, flew my first cross-country flight to New Castle and he said, ‘They have a Guard unit here.’ That’s how I found out about it,” Wilson said. “Our primary mission is tactical airdrop and air land, so we specialize in landing on dirt strips, assault zones, troops, cargo and passengers.”

But, at an air show, Wilson’s other mission is recruiting. 

“A lot of people don’t know about the Air National Guard and the opportunities. It’s a great way to pay for school. You get to live local. I grew up here and wanted to stay in Delaware,” he said. 

Chorman Spraying, a fixture over the farms of coastal Delaware, brought five aircraft for people to admire, including Jeff Chorman’s yellow Air Tractor with an American flag on the tail.

Panchito, the World War II B-25 bomber that’s based at the Delaware Aviation Museum, roared to life to give rides throughout the day. The plane’s Wright R-2600 engines echoed around Sussex County as it gave people a thrilling look at a classic aircraft.

“It’s a living history flight,” said Bill Rozek, a volunteer with the Delaware Aviation Museum. “This gives people the opportunity to experience what our fathers and grandfathers experienced in World War II. Some of them are in tears just to experience this, some are doing cartwheels.”

The wheels part of Wings & Wheels did not disappoint either.

Just down the ramp from the planes were rows of antique, classic and muscle cars and trucks.

Joe Kulesa of Long Neck Shores could not help but talk about his customized 2016 Ford Mustang. He won best engine at last year’s Wings & Wheels. 

“I bought it stock and did most of the work except for the supercharger. It’s got a different grille, different tail lights,” Kulesa said. He said a company in Georgetown did the striking Mustang graphics on the side.

Every car that registered for the show got a photo in front of a world War II-era T-6 Texan while driving in.

The event kicked off with Sgt. Matt Barlow of the Georgetown Police Department singing the national anthem and remarks from Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown.

The parking lot was filled with vendors ranging from the Brandywine Valley SPCA to face painting.

Hungry visitors also landed at the many food trucks for a bite to eat during the event.