by Christopher W. Hunt-
Despite weekend weather that featured low cloud cover and periods of light rain mixed with spotty sunshine, the 2011 Wings & Wheels: British Invasion air and car show, hosted by PALS, atttracted over 5,000 local and regional attendees to Sikorsky Airport in Stratford for the weekend event on May 21st and 22nd. The bustling tarmac in front of event co-sponsor Three Wing’s hangars provided eager transportation aficionados and paid guests with an array of machinery that would impress any impresario of classic automobiles and aircraft that visually told the story of air and car history throughout most of the 20th century.
Although low cloud cover did cancel some of the aerial events, the crowds were still treated to some stunning acrobatics, including a sibling rivalry motorcycle-plane race between Billy Werth in his Pitts SC2 Special who raced his brother David down the runway which thrilled the onlookers. Aerobatic performances were turned in by pilots Bob Cipolli who flew a Straudacher S300 monoplane and Bill Gordon in his Super Stairman WWII bi-plane trainer. Jim Bocell in his Corsair F4U and Dan Dameo in his Curtiss P-40 Warhawk rounded out the program with an array of impressive formation flybys.
Vintage aircraft and automobiles spanning decades of American and European manufacturers dotted the event site where attendees snapped photos and eagerly peered in through car windows marveling at the decades-old machinery. Antique Model A Fords, Bentleys and Rolls Royce’s in gleaming and immaculate condition were just a few of dozens of automobiles on display evoking memories of a grander period in car manufacturing. Individuals and families flocked to the many vintage aircraft on the tarmac as well; streaming under, around and through planes where event guests enjoyed examining their vast external underpinnings and the detailed interiors of such aircraft as the C-54, a former military cargo plane; the same model used in the famed Berlin airlift. Onboard, guests were treated to a miniature museum replete with a history of the 1948-1949 missions. A B-25 Ponchito aircraft was also present, the same model made famous by Jim Doolittle who lead his 18 bombers on the infamous one-way bombing missions from the USS Hornet which pounded Japan during WWII. Guests were also extended rides-for-hire in this historic aircraft. Also present was an H-34 Seahorse helicopter, manufactured by Sikorsky in the 1950s and 1960s which was the most commonly-used helicopter of its kind during the early days of the Vietnam War.
“Despite some inconsistent weather the event went off without a hitch,” said Joe Howley, Chairman and CEO of event host, PALS. “The aerial events we did hold were amazing as were the dozens of air and car displays on the ground. It was very evident that those who came had a great time.” Howley also pointed to Saturday evening’s fundraiser event as another aspect of the show that was greatly successful. “The Hoedown dinner and auction was clearly one of the highlights during the two days,” said Howley. “Not only did everyone have a great time but our silent auction brought in tens of thousands in donations all of which, of course, goes to a great cause at PALS.”
Howley also noted that the show was successful due to all of those who helped plan it. “Our PALS Staff, those representing our co-hosts, Three Wing and the literally dozens of volunteers and sponsors that participated, made the difference,” he said. “Months of planning went into this and it showed; every last aspect was extremely well coordinated and that made for an event that attendees were excited about.”
