Massey Aerodrome visitors 'fly-in' a piece of history

MASSEY — Two successful “fly-ins” were held at the the Massey Aerodrome this spring, thanks in no small part to the nearly perfect weather on both weekends. The Chili Fiesta Fly-In on May 11 attracted 64 visiting airplanes and the Antique Fly-In on June 1 drew 101 airplanes including many biplanes from the 1930’s and ’40’s.

The events are open to the public, free of admission and many hundred local residents took advantage of the beautiful weather to wander among the parked aircraft or watch the planes land and take off from the vantage point of a hill overlooking the runway. In addition, the Massey Air Museum, hangars, 1937 DC-3 twin-engine airliner and An-2 biplane were open for tours, as they are every weekend.

Guests and Massey Aerodrome supply the food at the Chili Fiesta Fly-In while the Millington Community Fire Company sold hot dogs, hamburgers and sodas at the Antique Fly-In. The Antique Fly-In coincided with the annual Museums of Kent County Driving Tour, thus providing a pleasant surprise to those unsuspecting visitors that were unaware of the fly-in.

Of the 16 biplanes at the “Antique Fly-In,” the oldest aircraft was a parasol wing 1930 Davis D-1K racer and the furthest distance traveled was by a very rare 1941 Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3 World War 2 trainer that came from Bayport Aerodrome on Long Island, NY. The “Antique Fly-In” is a judged event of the Antique Airplane Association and eleven aircraft received awards for Best in Class.

Show cars are also welcome to display at fly-ins. Appropriately, there were six Model T Fords this year for the Antique Fly-In.

Volunteers from the Middletown Cadet Squadron, Civil Air Patrol and Camden DE, Caesar Rodney H. S. State Champion JROTC Drill Team helped to make the fly-ins possible.