Discover Aviation Days in Blaine, Minnesota June 1st and 2nd

Discover Aviation Days held annually at the Anoka County Airport in Blane, Minnesota is a free air show that will be held on June 1-2 this year. With a full schedule of events and attractions, this is a well-attended event both in terms of visitors and aircraft on display, attracting a large number of experimental, homebuilt, civil, corporate, military, WWII, and vintage warbird aircraft.

There will be FAA Pilot Safety Seminars as well as aviation presentations by NASA Astronaut and Reno Air Racer, Curtis L. Brown, former WWII W.A.S.P. test pilot, Elizabeth Strohfus and Chris Gabiou of Twin Cities Aviation.

A major attraction of this event is the opening up of the Golden Wings Flying Museum, the extraordinary private collection of Greg Herrick. The collection contains over 30 beautifully restored and airworthy aircraft primarily from the “Golden Age of Aviation.” Among rarities on display is NASA’s first aircraft, a spot welded stainless steel amphibian, the 1937 Fleetwings Seabird and the first airplane in which a pope ever flew. One of six trimotors in the collection is a 1927 Ford Trimotor which is America’s oldest surviving commercial airliner. Other interesting flyers include a 1954 Aero Car and a 1936 Aeronca C-3 “Flying Bathtub.” Saturday night, the museum will be the site of the 13th Annual “Evening Hangar Dance” with 1940’s swing music provided by the Dave Andrew’s Big Band amongst the collection of classic aircraft with attendees encouraged to wear their best 1940s period attire.

The Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing will have their North American B-25J Mitchell “Miss Mitchell” at the show and available for flight experiences, along with Nostalgic Wings, offering rides in their vintage biplane as well as more modern flight experiences from Twin Cities Aviation and Minnesota Helicopters.

There will be aerial demonstrations and flybys, vendors, exhibits and attractions to provide fun for the whole family. Gates open at 7AM and while there is no admission fee, the event organizers are requesting for parking donations to help defray the costs of staging the event.