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Fly-ins will feature World War II aircraft
Dowagiac, Watervliet airports expect more than 20 warbirds
The skies over Southwest Michigan will be flush with World War II-vintage aircraft Sunday, Sept. 28, as Dowagiac and Watervliet
airports host fly-ins, organizers announced.
The public is invited to the events organized by Experimental Aircraft Association Chapters 585 in Watervliet and 1028
in Dowagiac.
The Dowagiac highlight will be a P-51 Mustang fighter plane, and Watervliet will feature a F4-U Corsair fighter plane.
Dowagiac's Fly-in & Warbird Roundup will be 7-11 a.m. and include a Lions Club pancake breakfast. The chapter reports
it expects 20 World War II airplanes, including the P-51 named "Gunslinger."
The plane operated by the Commemorative Air Force saw action in Europe in the closing months of the war. The EAA chapter
said Gunslinger is among the world's most famous P-51s and has been on the airshow circuit for more than 35 years.
"Gunfighter" will lead a contingent of Stearman, T-6's, Corsair and TBM and other rare warbirds and other general
aviation aircraft, the chapter reported.
The Dowagiac event is free at the airport at 710 W. Prairie Ronde.
There is a $1 parking fee for the Watervliet event, which is along M-140, just north of the city.
The Watervliet chapter said it expects planes to begin arriving at about 10 a.m. Several will have appeared at the Dowagiac
event, organizer Al Hartline said.
Lunch will be available 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Proceeds support the Civil Air Patrol.
Hartline said this is the fifth year his EAA chapter has tried to host a warbird fly-in. Two such fly-ins were rained
out.
He said the fly-in has become Watervliet's second-most popular event behind the Lane Automotive car show. He said the
last fly-in drew more than 2,000 people.
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