American Airpower Museum’s recently hosted their “Legends of Airpower Weekend”

Farmingdale, NY — While many in the Long Island NY and surrounding areas know about the annual Memorial Day Bethpage Airshow over Jones Beach, many do not know that many of the aircraft take-off and land from the historic Republic Airport in Farmingdale, NY. The airport is named after the Republic Aviation company who built more than 9,000 P-47 Thunderbolts during WWII.

Nestled on the field is one of Long Island NY’s (and the East coast’s) best kept aviation museum secrets The American Airpower Museum. The museum is owned by Jeff and Jacky Clyman who own the “Cockpit USA” clothing brand. The museum’s collection includes a number of historic and important aircraft from WWII and later, most of which still fly.

Along with the airshow over Jones Beach, the American Airpower Museum hosts their own show that showcases their amazing collection of WWII aircraft. But here is the real secret: While the airshow only runs on Saturday and Sunday the museum hosts their annual Legends of Airpower Weekend from Friday to Monday. And on Monday the crowds are much lighter affording visitors much more access to aircraft. In addition, road traffic in and out of the area was relatively light.

This year’s even was particularly special in that the museum set out to honor the 70th anniversary of D-Day. Besides being treated to their amazing aircraft collection the museum was offered visitors a change to participate in the “C-47 D-Day Experience”. This was a one one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience what it might have been like to as a U.S. paratrooper on the eve of D-Day.

The museum also hosted the Yankee Air Museum’s B-17G “Yankee Lady” who were offering their own flight experience. In addition, the Yankee Air Museum honored WWI vets in attendance with a complementary ride in the B-17 and brief but moving ceremony afterwards.

The collection of aircraft owned by American Airpower Museum is impressive. Among the gems is Gen. Hap Arnold’s executive B-25 converted for him as a “flying office”. This aircraft is also the oldest surviving B-25 having been the 4th off the North American Aviation Production Line in 1940.  Of course a museum’s collection at Republic Field must also include the P-47D “Thunderbolt”, often referred to as the “Jug” due to its large, jug-like shape.  The museum’s example is a P-47D-40 named “Jacky’s Revenge” after Jeffy Clyman’s wife Jacky.

The museum also boasts in its collection an immaculate P-40 “Warhawk”, a Goodyear build FG-1D Corsair, Consolidated PBY-5A “Catalina” (currently undergoing restoration in the museum’s hanger),and a Grumman TBM-3E “Avenger” autographed by George Bush senior (who fly them during WWII).

What truly sets the American Airpower Museum apart from other museums is their staff. We were met at the gate by Fred Freketic, Lead Photographer/Videographer for the museum who greeted us with a warm welcome and then proceeded to give us a guided tour of the museum’s amazing aircraft and facilities. Along the way were greeted Richie Criscuolo (Lead Information Technology Specialist), who we had meet the week prior at the “Wings Over the Beach” airshow, and still treated us like old friends.

Each and every member of the museum staff we encountered was friendly, easy going and knowledgeable. Even the flightline crew was extremely professional and kept the visitors out of harm’s way without the need to bark out orders. This only adds to the overall enjoyment the experience.

If you can’t make it to the airshow next year it’s still well worth a visit to see the collection and to meet the staff. In addition the museum’s gift shop features unique items from the Pilot USA collection not typically found in other gift shops.

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