Aviation_0910_2017

else^ can^ you^ go^ to^ the"Wheretop^ of^ a^75 year‐old^ control

tower‐^ and^ watch^75 year old^ airplanes^ take^ off^ on^

grass^ runway?"^ —^ MikeaPotter,^ Director^ of^ the^ Military

AviationVirginia^ Museum,^ Beach,^ Virginia^

mark^ the^ 75thToanniversary^ of^ America's^ involvement

in^ World^ War^ II,^ I headed^ to^ Virginia^ Beach,^ Virginia^

attend^ the^2017 WarbirdstoOver^ the^ Beach^ air^ show

atMuseum.^ the^ Military^ Aviation^ For^ those^ of^ you^

you^ who've^ had^ thewhoopportunity^ to^ visit^ the^ Military

Aviationtheir^ Museum^ at^ private^ Virginia^ Beach^

you^ know^ that^ it^ isAirport,a^ must‐see^ for^ all^ aviation

enthusiast.^ Founded^ and^ funded in^2005 by^ Gerald^

displaysYagen,^ the^ museum^ "Jerry"^ one^ of^ the^ world's

largestof^ private^ collections^ historic^ military^ aircraft.^

missionfulfill^ the^ museum's^ To^ to^ preserve^ these^ historic

aircraft,^ a^ dedicated^ army of^ staff^ and^ volunteers^

themtirelessly^ to^ restore^ works^ to^ their^ original^ flying

condition.our^ As^ most^ of^ WWII^ veterans^ have^ passed

the^ annual^ Warbirds^ Overon,the^ Beach^ air^ show^ honours

and^ celebrates^ these^ soldiers through^ the^ planes^ they^

loved.^ This^ air^ show^ is^ different^ than^ most^ others^ I^ attend^ as^ the

Museum'stransformed^ grounds^ are^ also^ into^ a^ WWII^ park

with^ military^ tents,coveredweapons,^ vehicles,^ and^ memorabilia,

and^ filled^ with^ WWII re‐enactors,^ both^ friendliest^

rollsfoes,^ playing^ very^ convincing^ and^ and^ providing^ us^ a^ glimpse

of^ life^ in^ that scary,^ yet^ exciting^ time.^

only^ this^ year's^ event,^ not^ opportunity^ did^ I^ have^ the^ During

toplanes,^ enjoy^ many^ amazing^ but^ was^ fortunate^ to^

birdtime^ with^ three^ war^ spend^ pilots,^ who^ helped^ me^ appreciate

theto^ skill^ needed^ fly^ these^ planes.^

Wilson^ is^ living^ everyJoshaviator's^ dream.^ At^41 years

oldtime^ he^ is^ a^ full‐‐^ commercial^ pilot^ flying^ the^ Air‐

aA319,^ A320^ and^ A321;^ bus^ part‐time^ aviator^ with^ the

Air^ National^ Guard^ out^ of Langley^ AFB^ with^ time^ in^

F16^ Fighting^ Falcon,^ thetheRC‐^26 Metroliner,^ the^ F

Raptor,Aggressor;^ and^ the^ T‐^38 and^ in^ his^ free^ item^

for^ the^ MilitaryvolunteersAviation^ Museum^ with^ the

opportunityto^ to^ fly^ up^ dozen^ different^ war^ birds.^

passion^ for^ flying^ startedwatchingat^ age^5 while^ Josh's

hisas^ first^ air^ show.^ As^ soon^ he^ saw^ an^ F4^ fly^ he^

ashe^ wanted^ a^ life^ knew^ an^ aviator.^ Following^ the^ advice

a^ pilot^ gave^ him^ on that^ fateful^ day,^ Josh^ studied^

agein^ school^ and^ at^ hard^17 began^ private^ flying^ lessons.

But^ his^ dreams^ were almost^ grounded^ after^ he^

hisinto^ a^ spin^ early^ in^ got^ training^ that^ left^ him^ with^

deathly^ fear^ of^ spinsaand^ stalls.^ Josh^ continued^ with

hetraining^ and^ figured^ if^ his^ was^ going^ to^ fly^ passengers

for^ a^ living^ he^ needed^ to get^ over^ his^ fear.^ So^ he^

aerobaticsup^ for^ aviation^ signed^ lessons.^ The^ first^ thing

theystalls,^ taught^ him^ was^ spins,^ rolls^ and^ loops.^

andgot^ over^ his^ fear^ Josh^ started^ spending^ all^ his^ free

time^ watching^ the more^ experienced^ acrobatic^

pilots.^ His^ first^ job^ out^ of^ college^ was^ with^ the^ French^ Connection

Airshow,competition^ teaching^ aerobatics^ and^

experienceinstruction.^ After^ gaining^ tailwheel^ in^ a^ T‐^6

Texan,work^ Josh^ went^ to^ After^ gaining^ experience^ in

T‐^6 Texan,^ Josh^ wentato^ work^ for^ North^ American^

providingGun^ in^ Florida^ Top^ instruction^ in^ flying^ this

war^ bird.^

de^ Havilland^ DH.98^ Mosquito^