American Airpower Museum To Host Flight Experiences In October

Farmingdale NY

15 September, 2021

4:17 PM

Description

FARMINGDALE, NY — The American Airpower Museum (AAM) is set to host another round of C-47 D-Day Living History Flight Experiences in October, the museum announced. The flights are scheduled for Oct. 9, with an Oct. 10 rain date. Those interested will fly on the AAM's original WWII Douglas C-47 Skytrain "Second Chance," where they will be joined by AAM's living historians. The historians will deliver a realistic recreation of what U.S. Paratroopers experienced in the Invasion of Normandy during World War II. The flight experiences were also held in June and July, and the museum is bringing the event back by popular demand. Four flights are scheduled for Oct. 9 between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Seats are first-come-first-served. People can book their flight by calling 516-531-3950 or 631-454-2039. Alternatively, tickets can be secured by visiting AAM's gift shop from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday, at Hangar 3, Republic Airport, 1230 New Highway, Farmingdale. Each C-47 flight costs $350. Teenagers under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Each guest is assigned the identity of a member of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. All get a feel for what it was like as a 101st and 82nd Airborne Division paratrooper making their 1,200-plane airborne D-Day assault when Allied forces stormed the coast of northern France. The crew are all licensed pilots. Some are ex-military who have flown the museum's C-47 and other restored aircraft for several years. Reenactment flights are led by famous World War II Living Historian Robert Scarabino, who is director of the 101st Airborne Living History Group. With help from his 101st airborne living historians, Commander Scarabino transports his passengers back in time. The D-Day Flight Experience as a WWII paratrooper includes a mission briefing for the Battle of Normandy, the Allied operation which launched the successful invasion of German-occupied Western Europe during World War II; a chance to wear authentic military field jackets, helmets, and gear worn throughout the mission; and the chance to take flight in an original WWII C-47 — one of the few true C-47s still in original military condition. Scarabino starts off in a small "Ready Room" with walls covered in maps of the French coast. He lays out the objective: destroy a Nazi German garrison and secure the causeways leading to the beach. Before dismissing his "troops," he will issue them a tourniquet, a box of what was meant to be morphine, plus a reminder to take out a GI life insurance policy. Once onboard AAM's C-47, Scarabino's "troops" will experience the sights, smells and sounds as mighty engines fire up. They'll watch the crew operate their C-47 as paratroopers get ready for battle. As the plane flies over Jones Beach, eventgoers will line up and get ready to parachute down. They will relive the WWII experience right up to the time when each hooks their parachute to the above static line and gets ready to jump, according to the museum. "Many participants have said they were sweating and their hearts were racing because it was so realistic," the museum wrote. Following roughly 30 minutes in the air, those on the flight will return to Republic Airport, take a taxi to Hangar 3 and pull a card from their pocket sharing the fate of the paratrooper whose identity they assumed. Back on the ground, they can tour the museum, which contains more than a dozen flight-ready military aircraft used throughout the 20th century. People can also visit AAM on Oct. 9 to watch the flights and tour the museum. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and veterans, and $8 for children ages 5 to 12. No tickets or pre-registration is necessary for regular museum admission.