Warbirds to rumble over Colorado Springs for August air show

In two months time, the skies over Colorado Springs will be filled with military planes from a bygone era.

The Pikes Peak Regional Air Show at the Colorado Springs Airport, Aug. 9-10, will feature more than 40 historic aircraft, including many from World War II. Proceeds from the event will go to fund the Colorado Springs-based National Museum of World War II Aviation and the Peterson Air and Space Museum.

"These are the aircraft that defended us in World War II," said Bruce Long, from the Peterson museum. "It's our heritage."

Jim Henderson, also from the Peterson museum, expects the two day event to bring in thousands of spectators.

Both days of the show begin with a demonstration by the Air Force Academy's Wings of Blue Parachute Team. Throughout the day there will be various aerial demonstrations by bombers, fighters and trainer planes.

Among them will be Jim Tobul and his F4U Corsair, which survived the Korean war and has been rebuilt several times following crashes. Both days will end with a demonstration by Steve Hinton in a F7F Tigercat, the a Navy twin-engine fighter.

In addition to the aerial spectacles, attendees will also have the chance to get in the pilot's seat of a flight simulator with the choice of flying an F-16 fighter jet or a P-51 Mustang.

There will also be an exhibit on Tuskegee Airmen, the first American black combat pilots. Other displays include aircraft mechanics and aerospace principles.

"We hope that people have a great time, and walk away just a little more informed about, and highly proud of America's aviation achievements," said John Henry, a member of the aviation museum's board.

Several of the aircraft, including Tobul's Corsair, have been rebuilt on site by the museum's 65,000 square foot facility WestPac Restorations. The hangers are filled with hunks of old, damaged aircraft, while volunteers work to build them into flying pieces of history.

The organization has gone to great lengths to maintain authenticity, even rebuilding equipment no longer in use.

Stages of the restoration process are open to museum visitors.

The aviation museum is also still looking for volunteers to help staff the event.

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