In celebration of its 78th anniversary, the American Airpower Museum’s Douglas C-47B “Skytrain” transport will conductfourLiving History Flight Experiences on Saturday, July 23, 2022.  Dozens of Long Islanders will get a rare chance to fly in AAM’s iconic WWII C-47B, one of the few still in original military condition.  This is a one-of-a-kind immersive educational program, where Living Historians give guests a sense of what 101st and 82nd Airborne Division Paratroopers felt on their incredible 1,200-plane D-Day assault.  WWII Living Historian Robert Scarabino, with help from his 101st Airborne Reenactors, will transport passengers back in time.  

 

Affectionately dubbed “Second Chance,”AAM’s iconic transport is an original C-47B built in 1944 and supplied to the U.S. Army Air Force.  AAM’s D-Day flight experience features:  a mission briefing; a chance for guests to wear authentic military field jackets,helmets, and gear throughout the mission.  Once on board AAM’s C-47B, passengers watch pilots operate their aircraft as “paratroopers” (reenactors) get ready for battle.  It’s so realistic and unforgettable,right up to the moment when guests hook their parachutes up to the static line and get ready to jump.  Don’t worry, no jumping allowed!

 

Four flights are scheduledbetween 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.;three are full but seats are still available on flight four.To book a seat on the fourth flight or inquire about future flights, check out AAM’s website at www.americanairpowermuseum.org, click on “Visit” and go to “Flight Experiences.”  Another option is to visit the museum’s gift shop Wednesday through Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Hangar 3, 1230 New Highway, Farmingdale, NY 11735, or call (516) 531-3950 or (631) 454-2039.

 

The public is welcome to visit Hangar 3 all day on July 23rd, to watch each flight and tour AAM’s many exhibits.  Visitors can watch as “paratroopers” (reenactors) and passengers suit up, apply face black-out, don their parachutes, check weapons and board Second Chance.   Watch as the plane’s mighty twin engines fire up and she takes off from Republic.  Regular admission for adults is $15, seniors and veterans $12 and children 5-12 $10.Tickets and pre-registration not required for regular admission.  

 

Second Chance, an original WWII C-47B, was transferred to the Royal Air Force in 1945 and flew in the Berlin Airlift (1948 - 1949) with the RAF, serving until 1950.The aircraft next served in the Belgian Air Force for two years.  In 1952 she went to the French Air Force, serving two years in Viet Nam, as well as in India, Algeria, Morocco and the Congo.  In 1967 she was sold to Israel and flew in the Israeli Defense Force 32 years.  AAMacquired the aircraft in 2000.  In addition to AAM’s D-Day flights, she also performs at regional air shows in classic WWII D-Day markings with the original “D8” code.  One of the last C-47Bs still in stock military configuration, this aircraft has just over 17,000 hours in the air, one of the world’s lowest flight times ever!

 

This is a family-friendly program for all ages and a wonderful way to educate young Americans about WWII and how U.S. military veteransfought to defend our freedom.  Support AAM’s mission to honor veterans and military aviation history by helping maintain and preserve the museum’s iconic aircraft.

 

The American Airpower Museum is an aviation museum located on the landmarked former site of RepublicAviationat Republic Airport, Farmingdale, NY.  The Museum maintains a collection of aviation artifacts and an array of aircraft spanning the many years of the aircraft factory's history.  The Museum is a 501 (c) (3) Nonprofit Educational Foundation Chartered by the New York State Board of Regents.