EDEN PRAIRIE - Thousands of aviation buffs will be looking to the skies on Saturday and Sunday in Eden Prairie.
From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days, visit Flying Cloud Airport at the corner of Flying Cloud Drive and Pioneer Trail for the AirExpo.
Wings of the North presents the show as part of its mission "to preserve and present aviation history," according to a news release.
Airplanes expected include World War II planes like the AT-6 Texan, the P-51 Mustang, the T-28 Trojan and the four-engine B-17 Flying Fortress plus other military and civilian models, the release said. "The aircraft will be on ground display and some will perform single-ship and formation fly-overs. Rides will be for sale on a select few airplanes including the B-17."
You can take a ride in the B-17 Yankee Lady for a half hour for $425 per seat. Other planes and helicopters are expected to be available for rides as well.
VIPs from across the country are expected, many World War II veterans.
"Usually people turn up to see the airplanes and see the tents with the VIPS in them," said Bob Jasperson of Wings of the North. "That's the heart of the show, the gentlemen and ladies who were in the service and served our country."
"Invited VIPs include Tuskegee Airmen, Doolittle Raiders, Black Sheep, Vietnam River Rats, aces from World War II, Korea and Vietnam, World War II aircrew members, a participant in the Son Tay prisoner of war camp raid and a pilot held prisoner for almost six years in North Vietnam," according to the release.
"They include Dick Cole, Jimmy Doolittle's co-pilot on the famous 1942 raid on Tokyo and Tom Griffin, the navigator of the number 9 airplane on the same raid," the release said. Jasperson said it was "the first time we struck back at the Japanese."
"Aces expected to be in attendance include retired Air Force General Frederick 'Boots' Blesse, double ace in the F-86 Sabre Jet in Korea, retired Air Force Col. Chuck DeBellevue, top U.S. ace during Vietnam in the F-4 Phantom, and retired Navy Commander Claude Schmidt, ace from the Pacific Theater in World War II flying the F6F Hellcat. Also attending will be Women's Air Force Service Pilot Elizabeth Strohfus, Son Tay raid pilot Bill Guenon, and former Hanoi POW Dave Everson," the release said.
You can meet the VIPs during the show. In addition, they will attend the "Evening with Eagles" dinner at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 18, in the Garden Room at Eden Prairie City Center, 8080 Mitchell Road. After dinner several VIPs will take part in a symposium moderated by Stan Turner, long-time Twin Cities television and radio personality. Although tickets are no longer available for the dinner, tickets are still available for the symposium, for $10, Jasperson said.
Cost for AirExpo 2009 is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 8 to 12. Children ages 7 and younger get in free. There is free parking and a free shuttle bus to the admission gate.