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Fly into yesteryear with Aviation Days


The event will be held this weekend at the York Airport

Drive past the York Airport in Jackson Township on a typical day and you might see propeller planes, a medical helicopter and even the occasional small jet.

But this weekend, the facility will be transformed into a historical tribute to the planes of World War II, as the airport holds its annual Aviation Days event.

"It's kind of like an open house for people who never get a chance to see any airplanes," according to Steve Nagorny, a flight instructor at the airport and the event's co-organizer. "It's not every day you get to see some of the remaining World War II airplanes."

A new addition to this year's attractions is the Spirit of Freedom C-54, from the Reading Air Museum. Admission to the event is free, but there is a fee for viewing the interior of the plane, because, as Nagorny describes it, "It's a flying museum."

The plane is similar to those used in the Berlin Air Lift, a nearly year-long operation, beginning in June 1948, in which U.S. and British aircraft provided food, clothing, water and medicine to the more than 2 million residents in West Berlin. The air lift was in answer to the Soviet Union blocking all vehicles and trains to and from the city, according to spiritoffreedom.org.

Also on hand will be a T-6 Texan, which was used in the U.S. to train pilots for World War II flights, and a B-25 bomber, which features front, top and rear machine guns.

Although the vintage planes are in flying shape, no rides will be given on them. There will be rides, however, on other planes and helicopters there, he said.

And if that's not enough, "We have some of the best barbecue in York County," he said.

Nagorny said that in the near-decade in which the event has been held, the weather has been great. He and co-organizer Dave Myers always hold it on Father's Day by design, he said.

"It's a nice way to spend an afternoon," Nagorny said. "Take the kids, take the grandkids, take your father."

If you go

What: York Airport Aviation Days

When: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Saturday, June 18; 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday, June 19 

Where: York Airport, 6054 Lincoln Highway West, Jackson Township.

Admission: Free to the event, but there is a fee to view the interior of the Spirit of Freedom C-54.

For more information go to the event's website.