The “World War II Weekend” air show is a stunning gathering of warbirds in Reading, Pennsylvania. Put on by the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum, this year’s show took place June 2-4, and as always it did not fail to impress young and old alike.
As the premiere East Coast air show, dedicated solely to W.W. II warbirds, the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum puts on an absolute stunning weekend. The performance included the following aircraft: B-29 “Fifi”, B-17 “Yankee Lady”, P-51 Mustangs, B-25 Mitchells, TBM Avenger, SB2C Helldiver, SBD Dauntless, P-40 Warhawk, Spitfire Mark IX, P-63 Kingcobra, F4U Corsair, plus many trainers including the Geico “Skytypers” flying SNJ-2 Texans in formation.
While the crowd is being entertained by the aerial demonstrations, there is plenty of unique goings on at the show. In between performances, one can pay for a flight in a B-29, P-51 or many other warbirds. As you first enter the show, one walks through the “French village”, which is the introduction to the re-enactor world. Here you can see people role playing as: American, British, Chinese, Japanese, French, and even German soldiers.
As Reading Regional Airport is not the largest facility, it allows for a more intimate view and interaction with the display aircraft. Unlike many shows, where the warbirds get warmed up and taxi from afar, these warbirds are towed right in front of the crowd as they are taken to nearby stands to warmup. The sight, sound and smell, of these warbirds, provide one a more inclusive experience.
