WACO plans annual Fly-In and Gala Sept. 18-20

WACO planes from across the country will be on display at the WACO Air Museum Friday, Sept. 18 through Sunday, Sept. 20, as part of the WACO Air Museum’s annual Fly-In and Gala.

The Fly-In offers a weekend-long celebration that will feature planes from every era of WACO’s history, as well as biplane and helicopter rides, a vintage car show, and a Gala event with live music, a catered dinner, and an auction.

Classic WACO planes will arrive and depart from WACO Field throughout the weekend. Events will kick off with the air museum opening at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 18, followed by a scavenger hunt, a silent auction, and the opening of biplane rides. Food trucks will be available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and aviation-related kids’ activities will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Powered paramotors and ultralights will be on display at 6 p.m.

Gates will open at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19, and the annual WACO Vintage Car Show will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A live concert featuring Noah Back will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will also feature food trucks, a beer garden, biplane and helicopter rides, and kids’ activities including a special Star Wars character photo-op.

The annual WACO Airplane Parade will begin at 2 p.m., and the annual WACO Gala will start at 6 p.m., featuring live music, dinner, desserts, a cash bar, and an auction. Reservations for the WACO Gala are available online at www.wacoairmuseum.org, and all proceeds from the GALA tickets go to support the WACO Air Museum’s Wings & Dreams Campaign.

Special events for Sunday, Sept. 20 will include kids’ activities and a touch-a-truck starting at 10 a.m., food trucks, a scavenger hunt, and the Flour Drop contest, sponsored by Sporty’s, Flight Outfitters and Aircraft Spruce, at 1 p.m.

The annual R/C Airshow and Candy Drop, sponsored by the Barnstormers R/C Club, will be held at 2 p.m.

Admission to the Fly-In is $10 for adults or $8 for seniors and military members. Admission is $5 for children (4-17); children three and under are free. Biplane and helicopter rides are an additional charge, and more information is available online at www.wacoairmuseum.org.

Located at 1865 S. County Road 25A, the WACO Air Museum features a fully functional airfield as well as a museum and gift shop with interactive exhibits and a collection of original biplanes and gliders on display. The museum also hosts an ongoing lecture series, as well as the annual Lego Brickmaster Showcase and Wings on Strings.

The WACO Education Center offers STEM Programs and Private Pilot Ground School, education programs, and the FIRST Technical Challenge. The Education Center also offers summer camps, including robotics camp and drone camp, and the Wings & Dreams Campaign.