We finally got home on Monday after spending 5 days at the Arlington Fly-In. Arlington is in Washington State, just off the I-5, south of Seattle and is the 3rd largest air show of it’s kind in North America. We on the other hand, coming from Penticton, came over the Cascade Mountains. They sure were pretty!
One of the many peaks of the Cascades
We found many small towns along the road including this one. A beautiful representation of the old west as seen in the movies.
The whole town looked like this!
Now, you will notice I said, “of it’s kind”, because this type of show is a little different than the shows that most folks have seen.
Never did figure out what this one was.
First, it’s called a fly-in because more that half of those attending, fly in, in their own small planes. Second, this type of show celebrates, home-built, experimental and antique air craft. Not to mention antique cars and military equipment. There is a military camp called Camp Adams, set up at the very edge of the grounds and they showcase everything from cars and motorcycles, to guns, tanks and planes, with nothing younger than the Vietnam War. Most of this stuff was from WW2, with lots of folks in costume appropriate to the time frame.
These folks spent the entire show living in Camp Adam and dressing the part.
Do these guys look like they were getting ready for their next mission? Perhaps they were waiting to board the B-17 that came and spent the week with us.
Crews on board and she's ready for one last mission!
This old beauty was parked with the antique bi-planes.
There were lots of antique cars, one of a kind planes and most interestingly a few that were the only survivors of their type left in existence like this restored Bi-plane below.
- A Boeing 40, the only one in existence!
A Fly-in is the place where those who want to learn more, can, since there are many workshops available, as well as venders selling everything an aviator could possibly want to or need to build or outfit their newest projects. Those who don’t have planes but enjoy them, can come onto the grounds and camp for 5 days while the shows and displays go on all day.
The Grummy in at the very top of the photo, see if you can find her. Look for the green shade. There's only a small number of RV's showing as this was the last day!
Traditional air shows usually involve military planes doing formation acrobatics as well as purpose built planes doing their shows, with static displays that you never actually get to touch.
This beautifully restored Spitfire was one of the few you couldn't get up close and personal with
There was a little of that at Arlington, with a few purpose built acrobatic planes, and a couple of antique war birds doing simple fly overs, but most of the shows were done by average guys flying home built planes or older WW2 Trainers. Plus all the planes that had been flown in were parked in groupings of their type, where everyone could look at them, and in lots of cases touch or even get inside of, with the proud owners available to answer questions.
A group of like minded individuals who own the same plane and work hard to have fun!
We were treated to fairly impromptu shows like this one for the entire 5 days! Not only that but Camp Adam wasn’t just a pretty face. These folks came loaded for bear and were more than happy to show off their wares. Nothing like a little tank battle and flak gun shoot to give you some idea of what the sights and sounds actually were during the latter stages of WW 2.
One of the many types of tanks and support equipment on display.
These guys were having just too much fun!
Just so you know, these were all my photos, but it just seemed apropos to present some of them in the era appropriate format.
This flak gun was fired, giving us all a sense of the drama those in the sky must have felt when approaching their bombing targets.
There were a couple of these old Harvard Trainers and this gorgeous DC-2. The DC-2 was fully restored and open to walk through. Apparently there are only 2 left flying in the world.
This was one of the more interesting acrobatic participants. She was amazingly graceful!
This old girl looked like she had just taken a break from her usual route to come and visit for a while!
On the last evening, these folks turned up and gave us quite the show, called a Light Up. The wind was a little too high for flying but that certainly didn’t stop all of us from being highly impressed with the beauty of Hot Air Balloons.
First one up and lit.
Going for the full burn.
Trying to coordinate the light up
The last thing I did, was go for a ride in a 1929 barnstorming bi-plane. It was quite the exciting end to a terrific time. Next time we’ll head over to Oshkosh, Wisconsin for the biggest fly-in there is. You know the saying, “Go big, or go home!”
My ride has arrived!
Travels with Grummy 