Floyd Bennett Field Celebrates Its History

The P-40 "Flying Tiger" was used during World War II in China.

A two-day celebration of the aviation history of Floyd Bennett Field was celebrated last weekend with dozens of vintage aircraft flying in and landing at the nearby facility.

Featuring planes from the '30s, '40s, '50s and beyond, the aircraft ranged from a double-winged Stearemin, circa 1920s-and-up, to a fly-over of the Lockheed F117A Stealth Fighter and the landing of the huge C-130 Hercules, which is currently being used as a troop and equipment carrier.

The Stealth fly-over was a salute from the U.S. Air Force. The ultra-modern aircraft could not land because of the short length of Floyd Bennett's landing strips, but hundreds of enthusiastic visitors were able to watch it "salute" by dipping its wings as it flew by.

Inside Hangar Four, the National Park Service and the Experimental Aircraft Association unveiled a replica of a 1903 Wright Flyer for exhibition.

Line-up of some of the early planes was impressive to visitors.

Tours led by Park Rangers included a visit to the former control tower and a tour of the field's normal contingent of aircraft being restored by volunteers.

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