The Heart of America Wing Unit of the Commemorative Air Force from Kansas is gearing up four, possibly five, of their warbirds to prepare for an exciting trip to the Trenton Municipal Airport to show off their stuff during Saturday’s Independence Day celebration.
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The Heart of America Wing Unit of the Commemorative Air Force from Kansas is gearing up four, possibly five, of their warbirds to prepare for an exciting trip to the Trenton Municipal Airport to show off their stuff during Saturday’s Independence Day celebration.
The City of Trenton and the Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring the Independence Day activities, which include a fly-in, a breakfast, entertainment, displays and a fireworks display in the evening.
According to City Administrative Assistant Rosetta Marsh, the airplanes are scheduled to arrive at Trenton between 7:30 and 8 a.m. As the airplanes approach, Mrs. Marsh said they will do a few flyovers.
“And what?s even more exciting is that individuals who come out and sign up can win a chance to fly in one of these planes,” Mrs. Marsh said.
One of the planes to arrive is the Vultee BT-13 Valiant, which is being sponsored by White Cloud Engineering and Snyder and Associates. With retractable landing gear and a powerful engine, the Vultee V-54 basic combat trainer was too lavish for the cash-strapped United States Army Air Corps of 1938, so Vultee redesigned the aircraft and made it less complicated. The first order for 300 new BT-13 Valiants was placed in September of 1939 and it would become the most widely-used American training aircraft of World War II. When production ceased in 1944, 11,537 Valiants had been produced. The Valiant was retired at the end of the war, but over 100 of these aircraft are still registered in the United States today.
Two Fairchild PT-19?s will also make their appearance Saturday morning. These planes are sponsored by Citizen’s Bank & Trust, Shafer, Kline and Warren and Burns and McDonnell. The PT-19 was used as a training plane during the war. It has two open cockpits for the student and instructor and is powered by a Ranger L-440 six-cylinder, inverted, air-cooled inline engine of 175 horsepower.
Not only will individuals get to view the planes such as the Vultee BT-13 and the PT-19, but they will also be able to enjoy a pancake and sausage breakfast served by the Preceptor Nu chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, which begins at 7 a.m. The cost to individuals will be $3.50. Pilots will get a free breakfast. The Trenton Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors will also be serving drinks during the morning and a meal of hamburgers and hot dogs, beginning at around 10:30 a.m.
There will be a military display in the airport hangar and other musical activities are also planned. Local pilot Jim Bush will offer rides in his airplane throughout the day. The 1221st Transportation Unit of the National Guard will supervise parking at the airport during the fly-in.
The evening activities will move to C.F. Russell Stadium at 7 p.m., with the presentation of the colors by the Joseph L. Norton VFW Post No. 919 and Ladies Auxiliary. Musical entertainment will follow, with the evening to conclude with a fireworks display at dusk. The Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors will have food items available for sale as well.
There is no admission cost to any of the events.