HANGAR HAPPENINGS AUGUST NEWSLETTER OF THE YANKEE AIR MUSEUM WHAT S HAPPENING THIS MONTH IN AND ABOUT THE YANKEE AIR MUSEUM

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1 HANGAR HAPPENINGS AUGUST NEWSLETTER OF THE YANKEE AIR MUSEUM HANGAR HAPPENINGS WHAT S HAPPENING THIS MONTH IN AND ABOUT THE YANKEE AIR MUSEUM ISSUE FIFTEEN AUGUST 2016 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Thunder Over Michigan 1 My Dandy Gal 2 New Exhibits to the Museum 3 Volunteers Needed Willow Run Got Wild! 3 4 AUGUST 20TH - 21ST August is Ann Arbor Free Admission Month 5 Golf War Fundraiser 6 Flight Experiences 7 Willow Run Victory Car Show 8 Save the Bomber Plant Thunder Over Michigan 9 10 CONTACT US FOR MORE INFO YankeeAirMuseum.org With the summer heat taking us by storm, it s only appropriate that August is here and Thunder Over Michigan is quickly approaching. Reload the sunblock, grab a hat and make sure your tickets are ready. With only three weeks until the big weekend, we are practically bursting at the seams with excitement. This year, Thunder Over Michigan Air Show is themed as HELOtown USA because aside from the compelling jet performances, it is also hosting a variety of unique helicopters from around the world. This includes the famed Soviet Mi-24 Hind, the AH-1 Cobra, CH-47 Chinook, UH-1 Huey and many others. The air show will also be welcoming the Breitling Jet Team, the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor, the U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet and many other military and civilian performers. We have a unique show in so many ways, said Kevin Walsh, air show director. From the jet team and all of the helicopters to the WWII and modern battle reenactments, there is something for everyone.

2 HANGAR HAPPENINGS AUGUST ON THE HORIZON MONDAY AUGUST 1 ST Cruisin on the Bayou Sunset Join us every Monday night for Cruisin on the Bayou in downtown Belleville. For more information, see Page 8. WEDNESDAY AUGUST 3 RD Historical Presentation Night 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm Lon O. Nordeen- Air Warfare in the Missile Age Hear an overview of 50 years of Air Warfare development and combat from the Vietnam air war to recent operations over Syria and Iraq including discussion of the expanding role of drones presented by Lon Nordeen, author of Air Warfare in the Missile Age and 10 other books. SUNDAY AUGUST 7 TH Willow Run Victory Car Show SATURDAY AUGUST 13 TH The Museum will close at 1pm for a Private Event I recently fell in love with an older woman. Yes, I know, I m already married, but I couldn t help myself. She s not a stunning beauty, but she is attractive. She is a 1945 Douglas C-47 named Yankee Doodle Dandy and I have the privilege of flying on her to different airshows. Flying low and slow, she attracts attention wherever we go. The purr of her round engines attracts the attention of those on the ground. Once on the ground, the crowds quickly form around the Doug. I never tire of the questions, even though they often are the same. Watching the excitement in the eyes of the young ones as they approach the airplane and realize just how big she is, never gets old. Every show brings folks out whose grandfather or father or uncle used to fly the C-47 or worked on it or even jumped from it. On occasion, a woman may approach with a longing look in her eyes. She will relate how her husband flew them during the war, perhaps on D-Day or after the war during the Berlin Airlift. MY DANDY GAL GEOF BUSH, C-47 RIDE COORDINATOR You can tell that they are visualizing them in the seat doing their job for their country and freedom. And then there are the special occasions where an elderly gentleman will walk up to her and tell us that he flew them during the war. Often times they will show us a photo of them sitting in the seat or they will tell us a story of some of their experiences in the aircraft. More often than not, there are tears in their eyes when they finish. Perhaps from memories that they still cannot talk about. On occasion, while flying, approach control or a control tower will ask if we can do a low approach or a fly-by of the airport so that those on the ground can marvel at her beauty and sound. And, of course, we are more than happy to comply. Yes I m in love with a beautiful, older woman and I m not at all ashamed. SATURDAY AUGUST 20 TH & 21 ST Thunder Over Michigan SUNDAY AUGUST 21 ST 5k on the Runway Click Here for more information.

3 HANGAR HAPPENINGS AUGUST NEW EXHIBITS TO THE MUSEUM! The Exhibits Department & Special Projects Department has been having a very busy summer with all the current projects going on at the Museum right now! We are working hard to bring new exhibit displays for our guests to continue to improve the visitor experience! If you haven t visited the Museum lately, stop by and see the new exhibits and many projects that are being worked on! Interested in helping out? We d love to have you! our volunteer coordinator, Tom Carroll, for more information! Volunteers@YankeeAirMuseum.org Volunteer Jerry Cross putting the finishing touches on the C-47 model display New exhibit on Desert Storm to Present Day conflicts Restoration work has begun on the F-100 New exhibits being added each month! AIR SHOW VOLUNTEERS We are looking for volunteers to help with tear-down and clean-up of the airshow on Monday & Tuesday (Aug 22-23). If you are available and interested, please contact Dave Steiner at hangarhapps@yankeeairmuseum.org The CATS Team (Chair And Table Set-up) still needs volunteers for Aug 17-19, prior to the big show weekend! The team could use your help Wednesday, Thursday, and/or Friday. We work mostly in the shade of tents, with a great view of the aircraft arrivals and practice runs! There is always a chair nearby (or 4,000!) if you need to take a break, and all the water you need! We start at 9:00AM. If you are interested, please contact John Dusbiber at jdusbiber@aol.com.

4 HANGAR HAPPENINGS AUGUST WILLOW RUN GOT WILD ON JUNE 22! Our first ever Wild Wednesday at Willow Run event celebrating the 35th anniversary of Yankee Air Museum was a raging success! Thousands of families stopped by the museum and the Willow Run airport for a fun-filled day with activities, games, and awe-inspiring performances by the Canadian Armed Forces: the Snowbirds aerial jet demonstration team, the CF-18 Hornet demo, and the Skyhawks Parachute team! Our first time having a mid-week airshow as well as hosting the Canadian Armed Forces, the event brought out thousands of spectators to witness the Snowbirds nine-jet team perform a spectacular aerial demonstration show! The tight formations and unique displays of the Snowbirds showed the audience how skilled and talented the pilots are. It s all about Teamwork when it comes to the Snowbirds and the Skyhawks! The Parachute demonstration team performed a magnificent show with their signature Canadian flag parachutes. The Skyhawks were very engaged with the crowd, and even invited children to learn how to pack a parachute and help the team with that task once they had safely landed! All in all, it was a fantastically WILD day at Willow Run! Thank you to all of our supporters, volunteers, and performers who made the event a resounding success! CONTACT US FOR MORE INFO YankeeAirMuseum.org YANKEE AIR FORCE, INC D Street (48111) Belleville, Michigan USA hangarhapps@ yankeeairmuseum.org

5 HANGAR HAPPENINGS AUGUST We Our Neighbors! AUGUST IS ANN ARBOR FREE ADMISSION MONTH! FREE MUSEUM ADMISSION August 1-31 for all residents of Ann Arbor! (with proof of residency) Airplanes Up Close! Free admission courtesy of our sponsors: Ya n k e ea i rmus eu m.org CONTACT US FOR MORE INFO YankeeAirMuseum.org YANKEE AIR FORCE, INC D Street (48111) Belleville, Michigan USA hangarhapps@ yankeeairmuseum.org

6 HANGAR HAPPENINGS JULY HOLE SCRAMBLE & FUND RAISER Help raise money for the NEW Yankee Air Museum Monday September 12th 11am shotgun start Selfridge ANGB, Mt Clemens, MI $ 100 PER PLAYER ENTRY FEE INCLUDES: Ticket & Parking pass to THUNDER OVER MICHIGAN Aug 20 or 21 ($60 value) Entry must be received or post marked by Aug 1 st to receive air show tickets Entry into TWO drawings for a ride in the B-17 Yankee Lady ($450 value) Coffee & donuts at the start, hot dog, chips, soda at the turn PRIME RIB dinner Satisfaction that you are helping build the NEW museum - Priceless MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: Yankee Air Museum, PO Box 590, Belleville, MI PLAYER NAMES MUST BE SUBMITTED BY SEPT 1 ST TO BE ON BASE SECURITY LIST. No problem assigning you to a team if you don t have one. Proof of insurance, Driver s license and Current Vehicle Registration required to drive on base Entry is on NORTH side security gate only, I-94 to M-59 exit 240 A/B * Only entry fees received/postmarked by Sept 1st will be entered into the bomber ride drawings Special GOLF WAR trophy with winners names immortalized on affixed Dog Tag SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Event/hole sponsorships $150 - includes tickets to air show INFORMATION: (734) or (734) ext 247, leave a message for Dave Steiner or hangarhapps@yankeeairmuseum.org All but $50 of fee is tax deductible - Yankee Air Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit

7 HANGAR HAPPENINGS AUGUST B-17 & B-25 EXCURSIONS Book A Flight Experience! B-17 & B-25 RIDES Flight experiences on our B-17 Yankee Lady or B-25 Yankee Warrior are available beginning in May and run throughout October. We offer flights out of Willow Run, MI and Port Clinton, OH on a regular basis. We also fly around the country throughout the air show season to bring this experience to other aviation enthusiasts. Reservations for each are required, so click on either one of our classic beauties to learn more and to find out when they are coming to a city near you! Go to our website YankeeAirMuseum.org to book your flight today! Pricing on the B-17: $450 for non-yam member Pricing on the B-25: $400 for non-yam member Payment required when booking. * See Thunder Over Michigan for special pricing for the air show weekend. BOOK NOW! The Yankee Air Museum, based at historic Willow Run Airport, is pleased to announce it has been granted FAA approval to operate its 1992 Waco Biplane for sightseeing flights. Called Air Tours, these flights will give riders a fantastic open cockpit experience over some of Michigan s most scenic areas. After boarding and taxiing, the biplane ride lasts for 15 minutes. WACO RIDES Pricing on the WACO is as follows: 1 PERSON (not to exceed 350lbs in passenger weight): $195 for YAM member $225 for non-yam member 2 PERSONS (not to exceed 350lbs in combined passenger weight): $295 for YAM members $325 for non-yam members Gift certificates for the 2016 flying season are available now. Please write to biplanerides@yankeeairmuseum.org for more information. BOOK NOW! C-47 RIDES The Yankee Air Museum, based at the historic Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti, offers sightseeing rides on its historic C-47 Yankee Doodle Dandy aircraft which continues in the 2016 flying season. The C-47 aircraft is a commercial Douglas DC-3 converted for military use during WWII that served in a variety of capacities in multiple operations throughout the war and beyond. The C-47 has often been referred by some of its former WWII pilots as the most rugged and reliable aircraft flown during the war. This can be attributed to the fact that its genesis was the Douglas DC-3, which was a commercial, passenger airliner. At that time the design specifications for commercial aircraft were far more rigid than for aircraft built solely for military use. Pricing on the C-47: $175 for YAM member $195 for non-yam member C-47rides@yankeeairmuseum.org, or visit or call for more information. These hearty aircraft served to transport paratroopers to their destinations and played a vital role in the D-Day invasion at Normandy as well as the Battle of the Bulge. They also were used to transport troops, to tow gliders used for troop insertions behind enemy lines, to evacuate the wounded, and to deliver supplies. After the war, many C-47s were converted back to commercial DC-3 passenger airliners. C-47 flights will give riders an exciting sightseeing experience over some of S. E. Michigan s most interesting and familiar areas. After boarding and taxiing, the C-47 ride lasts about 15 minutes. Gift certificates for the 2016 flying season are available now. BOOK NOW!

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