Annual open house raises funds for Wings of History Air Museum in San Martin
Published in the April 27 – May 10, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Staff Report
A visitor rides a hot air balloon during last year’s Wings of History open house at the San Martin Airport. Families who want a fun and free adventure should visit the San Martin Airport Saturday May 14 for the annual open house. Hot air balloon and airplane rides are available for children.
Morgan Hill Life file photo
The farm country of San Martin is across the continent from North Carolina’s famous Kitty Hawk beach, but it has a little bit of pioneer aviation history hidden in a hanger at its small public airport. Visitors to the Wings of History Air Museum are often surprised to discover an exact-sized replica of Orville and Wilbur Wright’s first airplane, which resembled an immense box kite with an engine attached.
Looking for a great family outing where the kids can learn the science and history of airplanes? Want to explore an aviation museum filled with antique aircraft and learn about their stories? If so, then mark your calendar for May 14. The Wings of History Air Museum is holding its annual Fly-In and Open House from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This free, festive affair is an opportunity for everyone to explore, discover, and experience the magic of flight and its remarkable history.
The Wings of History Air Museum contains historical aircraft and engines as well as other artifacts of historical interest that help to illustrate the early history of aviation.
There will be free airplane rides for kids 8 to 17 provided by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 62 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rides are limited to first come, first served. For more information about the EAA Young Eagles Program visit www.youngeagles.org. Those interested may also sign-up for a flight ahead of the event by visiting www.eaa62.org/ye-signup.php. Complete the form, print out the confirmation on both sides of a sheet, and bring it to the event.
Hot air balloon demonstrations will herald the day starting at 7 a.m. A tethered balloon will offer rides on site, weather permitting, so check the skies overhead. For more information, visit www.lta2sum.com.
There will be food available all day starting with a continental breakfast at 8 a.m.
Throughout the day, visitors can take docent-led tours through the museum featuring about 30 airplanes, sailplanes and helicopters. There are many historical airplane engines on display from small two-cylinder engines with a few horsepower to large multi-cylinder engines including an air cooled Pratt and Whitney R-1830 radial engine with 14 cylinders. The museum includes an active propeller shop which makes wooden propellers for experimental and antique aircraft. It is the only active propeller shop west of the Mississippi River. The museum also has a library of books describing all phases of aviation history.
Food available is all day starting with a continental breakfast at 8 a.m.
