World War II planes displayed at SHD

WEYERS CAVE, Va. (WHSV) – In the 1940s, the U.S. was climbing out of the great depression and airplanes were developing rapidly. With the world at war, each country was competing to make the fastest, most durable and strongest planes to have the advantage against their enemies.

Those planes served their purpose, and are no longer used by the militaries of each country, but the Commemorative Air Force works to restore these old planes and bring them back to their prime, in the air.

At Shenandoah Regional Airport, many displays were parked near the runway to depict the evolution of aviation and combat weapons developed for planes. A glaring difference between WWII planes and modern fighter jets is the engines that propel each plane forward. Modern-day jets are equipped with jet engines and can reach supersonic speeds. WWII planes have propellors on the front and cannot go nearly as fast as an F-15 Eagle or a F-35A Lightning II.

Phil McClanahan is one of the CAF’s pilots. He flies for the Capital Wing division of the CAF and comes from a military background. McClanahan served in the military for over 20 years and worked on fighter jets and planes during his tenure. He said it was a unique experience flying and working on a plane older than him.

“These are a lot different, they’re history and it’s kind of harder to find instruction manuals or parts and stuff. There is a network of people in the warbird community that can help us out,” McClanahan said.

Phil has been a plane fan since he was a kid. He said flying and working on planes fuels his youth and lets him forget about some of his worries in the world.

“Well, my mom asked me, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ and I said ‘Mom, I want to be a pilot.’ She said, ‘Well you can’t do both.’ So yes, I haven’t grown up yet,” McClanahan said.

According to the United States census, the average age of an American is around 38 years old. This means the average person is half the age of the warbirds created by the “Greatest Generation.” Though the planes are old, the CAF works to keep them in shape and able to function like any other plane.

“Not having to turn car factories into bomber factories is not something we’ve had to do in a while,” Dan Hetlage, with the Capital Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, said. “The greatest generation did. One of the things we want to do to honor them is keeping their warbirds flying and making sure we educate them, especially young people, that freedom isn’t free.”

McClanahan has flown planes for many years and has hundreds of logged flight times. However, he said he feels the same rush every time he gets behind the control of one of the warbirds.

“It’s funny, I’ve been flying for 35 years I still get those butterflies, like, ‘Wow, this is so cool. I get to do this.’ It’s a neat experience every time I get in it,” McClanahan said.

For McClanahan and Hetlage, the best part of their travelling displays and rides is the impact it leaves on children. They both said it reminds them of themselves when they were the same age.

“The smiles, sometimes it take weeks to erase that smile from a kid,” McClanahan said. “To see them sit in that airplane and put their hands on the controls, and see those smiles it’s worth it. It’s just so gratifying.”

People can go to SHD on April 28 to see warbirds on display and in action. Tickets for flights, if they aren’t sold out, can be purchased on site. Otherwise, the displays are free to view for the public.

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