Satisfy your need for excitement Saturday, April 24, 10am-2pm at Aviation Heritage Park’s annual Open Cockpit event!
AHP welcomes the public, whether you are an aviation enthusiast or a local history fan, to have an up-close look at all the park warbirds. The cockpits will be open on all eight of the static displays for you to check out the perfectly restored interiors. Each will have a knowledgeable docent on hand discussing the aircraft and telling the stories of the pilots. Guest docents will include Brigadier General Dan Cherry, pilot of Phantom 550; Col. Arnie Franklin, F-111 pilot and leader of the USAF portion of Operation Eldorado Canyon; Sgt. Patrick O’Leary, a former crew chief for HMX1; and Major General Allen Youngman, former Kentucky Adjutant General.
Viewing platforms will be available for all the park aircraft. From this vantage, park visitors can look inside Marine One, the Panther, Shooting Star, Phantom 550, Aardvark and the UH1 – all owned (and regulated) by governmental agencies. Interested visitors may get into the Talon – flown by every astronaut who walked on the moon. The T-38 is owned by Warren County/Aviation Heritage Park. The Cub, honoring Willa Brown, will also be open for viewing inside the park’s restoration tent.
Each of the park aircraft honors regional aviation heroes. The most recent artifact is one of only five authorized Marine One replicas in the United States. The park’s Sikorsky helicopter honors former commander of the HMX-1, Bowling Green native Col. Arthur (Mac) Reynolds.
Phantom 550 is a plane with local historical significance. The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is the actual plane that Brig. Gen. Dan Cherry of Bowling Green flew in the Vietnam War when he shot down a MiG-21.
The General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark commemorates the heroic actions of Bowling Green native Col. Arnie Franklin, who led the Air Force portion of the Libyan Raid on Muammar Gaddafi (El Dorado Canyon). This particular airplane flew right wing on the mission, and additionally, dropped the last bomb during Desert Storm.
The Grumman F9F Panther tells the story of LCDR John Magda, a Naval aviator during WW2, who participated in the Battle of Midway – an Ace at age 23. Post the war he served as commander of the Blue Angels until the outbreak of the Korean War where he lost his life on a mission.
Glasgow native General Russ Dougherty’s story is told with a Lockheed T-38 Shooting Star. General Dougherty wore four stars and served as Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, and then took command of the Strategic Air Command.
Get the camera ready when you climb up to see the Northrup T-38 Talon. You are invited to not only look, but climb into the seat. The NASA trainer, honoring local astronaut Terry Wilcutt, was flown by all the astronauts who have ever walked on the moon. Additionally, the pilots who have been in its seat include all six Mercury missions through 1963, the 10 Gemini missions, and the Apollo program.
AHP’s Bell UH-1 Huey helicopter honors regional Vietnam veterans and tell the story of Col. Raymond Nutter. Col. Nutter was one of the most highly decorated soldiers of the Vietnam War. During his distinguished Army career, Col. Nutter served as a Senior Aviator, Helicopter Pilot, Gunship Pilot, Master Parachutist, Battalion Commander and Senior Advisor to the Kentucky National Guard.
While at the park be sure to check out the 1941 Piper J3 Cub honoring Glasgow native Willa Brown, who trained several of the famed Tuskegee Airmen and was the first African American female commercial pilot in the United States and a Civil Air Patrol Officer. The Cub is in the restoration tent, awaiting display in the AHP Museum.
For more information about Aviation Heritage Park, the aircraft, the pilots or this event, go to AviationHeritagePark.com. Aviation Heritage Park is located at the corner of Three Springs Road and Smallhouse Road at Basil Griffin Park. Access to the park is free and open during daylight hours year-round.
-by Cara Pitchford
