The Military Aviation Museum Hosts Annual “Warbirds Over the Beach” Airshow

Virginia Beach, VA — The Military Aviation Museum recently held their “Warbirds Over the Beach” airshow the weekend of May 17-18, 2014 and it did not disappoint.  The airshow features static and flying demonstrations of some of the finest examples of warbirds from WWII.

The airshow was held at the Virginia Beach Airport which is a private airport owned and operated by the Military Aviation Museum. Aircraft on are display for close inspection prior to flight operations.

The museum boasts over 60 aircraft, most of which are flyable. Among the collections notable aircraft are a Canadian built Hawker Hurricane, the only currently flying (as of this writing) DeHavilland Mosquito and a reproduction Messerschmitt Me-262 “Schwalbe” (which was unfortunately was a no-show at Saturday’s show).

Visitors were also treated to an authentic German paratrooper drop performed by the World War II Airborne Demonstration Team. The jump we executed out of a Spanish built Junkers Ju-52 (CASA) using authentic round parachutes.

Also featured were WWII re-enactors representing both Allied and Axis branches of service. Their camps, gear and uniforms added to the WWII era ambiance and made one feel immersed in the history.

Hangers housing WWII reproduction aircraft and other WWII aircraft were also open to the public. One hanger, Hanger 6, is an authentic German Luftwaffe hangar that was relocated from the Cottbus Army Airfield in Cottbus, Germany, a small town southeast of Berlin.

Visitors were afforded great views during take-offs and landings however due to FAA flight restrictions the airborne aircraft flew an odd pattern at the end of the grass field. Only during the RAF fly over (Hurricane, Spitfire and Mosquito formation) did aircraft fly directly over the field (albeit at a much higher altitude).

Noticeably absent were the B-17G “Chuckie” and Focke Wulf FW-190A8 sold last year Tillamook Air Museum of Tillamook, Oregon. Details about the short-lived announcement from last June about the sale of the collection are still sketchy. Perhaps the sale of the two aircraft produced enough revenue to resolve any financial difficulties the owner, Jerry Yagen, might have been experiencing.

Also absent was the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum’s Lancaster bomber. A representative for the CWHM confirm to the Air Museum Network that the Lanc had experienced mechanical issues and was unable to make the trip down from Ontario Canada.

The show organizers also need to work out better ways to mark boundaries for spectators at the west end of the airfield. Some spectators were subjected to an elderly gentleman with media credentials barking orders at them from atop scissor lift to “Move back!”.  The spectators were behind cars on a small paved parking area clearly not on the flight line.

Overall this is a spectacular exhibit or some rare and pristine aircraft from WWII. What also makes this museum and show unique is the high number of impeccably restored flying aircraft.  The weather and venue are a great place to enjoy this slice of  aviation history.

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