Props and Pistons Festival

This American military transport aircraft produced in the 1950's went on to serve in Southeast Asia. During the War in Vietnam, the C-123 was used to deliver supplies, to evacuate the wounded, and also used to spray Agent Orange. After retirement this aircraft has survived and is the only flying C-123 in the WORLD and has appeared in several movies including; Naked Man, X-Men: Days of Future Past, and American Made staring Tom Cruise.

The L-21 is a conversion of the civil Piper PA-18 Super Cub with increased canopy area and military equipment. It is used for training and liaison work by the U.S. Army and Air Force and was supplied to many of our allies under the Mutual Assistance Defense Plan (MDAP).

This restored example served in the Italian Army until 1979 when it was returned to the United States. It was acquired by Air Heritage on June 1, 1987 and was totally restored back to it’s original Italian colors by the few dedicated members of Air Heritage at that time.

Ohio’s first pediatric-dedicated helicopter is housed at Akron Children’s Hospital. They can reach critically ill infants, children, teens and pediatric burn patients during medical emergencies at regional and community hospitals throughout northeast Ohio. Each flight includes a Med-Trans pilot, as well as a dedicated transport nurse, respiratory therapist and medic from Akron Children’s Critical Care Transport team. 

The Bell 407 is a four-blade, single-engine, civil utility helicopter. A derivative of the Bell 206L-4 LongRanger, the 407 uses a four-blade rotor instead of the two-blade rotor of the 206L-4. The 407 incorporates the Garmin G1000H NXi flight deck to easily provide flight information. It can include infrared cameras, various armaments, and equipment to perform different missions such as armed transport, search-and-rescue, reconnaissance, and medical evacuation. 

Come check out this brand new helicopter and chat with the experts from Bell.

Take a peek inside this 8 passenger business jet that is currently for sale. Put it on your Christmas wish list. More info on the Controller website

See firsthand what a small cargo aircraft looks like inside. You'll be impressed by the size of this aircraft. Based at Akron-Canton Airport, Castle can launch an aircraft within 1 hour of your call and fly into and out of most airports in the USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

The SAAB 340B has a max cruise speed of 290 knots. It's max cargo load is 7,500 lbs and it's range is 1,300 miles. Come walk through this workhorse of a plane.

The Army selected the L-19 as its new observation aircraft in 1949 since it was constructed of all metal, as the fabric-covered liaison aircraft used during World War II (such as the L-4) had short service lives. The L-19 did not disappoint and played a key role in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. The name, Bird Dog, was chosen because the role of the new aircraft was to find the enemy and orbit overhead until artillery (or attack aircraft) could be brought to bear on the enemy. While flying low and close to the battlefield, the pilot would observe the exploding shells and adjust the fire via his radios, in the manner of a bird dog (gun dog) used by game hunters. This museum quality aircraft is owned by Doug Cartledge and is based in Wadsworth.

Designed by North American Aviation, this is one of the last AT-6 series produced. ("AT designates "Advanced Trainer.") This plane is operated by Lake Erie Warbirds and spends it's down time on dispaly at the Liberty Aviation Muesum in Port Clinton.

This particular aircraft was produced under license  for the Royal Canadian Air Force.After WWII the aircraft was in used by the Italian Air Force until retired in the 1970s. In 1987 the aircraft was purchased by Charlie & Doug Cartledge and completely restored to its original WWII configuration. Over 5000 man hours went into the rebuild. Depending on the user, the plane has many names.

USAF: AT-6 Texan, US Navy: SNJ4 (equipped with tail hook), RCAF & RAF: Harvard, Australia: Wirraway

Founded in 2022, the CAF Buckeye Wing was established to recognize the crucial role that Ohio has played in aviation history.  Their 1943 Fairchild PT-26 was a primary trainer for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) throughout WWII.  Provided to the RCAF via the Lend Lease agreement, the PT-26 was responsible for training a number of the 8,864 Americans who joined the RCAF prior to the US involvement in WWII. 

The T-6 Texan II is a single-engine, two-seat primary trainer designed to train students in basic flying skills common to U.S. Air Force and Navy pilots. The T-6 has a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68 turbo-prop engine that delivers 1,100 horsepower. The aircraft is fully aerobatic and features a pressurized cockpit with an anti-G system, ejection seat, and an advanced avionics package. Stop by to learn how you can become a pilot.

"The Luck of the Irish" flew two resupply missions over the Battle of the Bulge in 1944 in which it dropped supplies from parapacks as well as from inside the fuselage to the surrounded troops below in the city of Bastogne. It also took part in Operation Varsity, the single largest air drop of troops and supplies during a single day, even to date. Over Varsity it towed two Waco CG-4A gliders full of troops.

Overall, it flew in 25 Fully Combat-Operational Resupply Missions in the European theatre. It also flew 13 missions in which it evacuated American, British, French and even German POWs.

Come learn about the thousands of Goodyear built Corsair's that were built here in WWII. Many of our displays are historic in nature and some, like LTA, explain the cutting edge technology going into the Lighter Than Air (Airships) being bulit here again.

Various displays, pictures, and speakers will be discussing the aviation history of Akron from the early blimps & WWII aircraft to the current aircraft and components being developed throughout the area.

Members from the Wright Stuff Squadron will be wearing Rosie the Riveter and other WWII uniforms. They will also host presentations on the impact women had on aviation.

Manufactured over a 30 year span this workhouse of a plane was popular as a small passenger or cargo aircraft. Be ready to hear the rumble of it's 450 HP engines. Have your cameras ready because you don't want to miss it doing photo fly-by's during the show.  This aircraft is based at the Wadsworth Airport and is proudly owned by Dane and Bryan Jorgensen.

The C-45 Expeditor was the military versin of the Beechcraft 18. First used as a civil aircraft, it was adopted by the military with little modification and used to transport officers or small amounts of cargo from base to base. Other military models of the “Twin Beech” included the F-2 photographic reconnaissance version, the AT-7 navigation trainer, and the AT-11 bombardier trainer – which sported a radically redesigned plexiglas nose for practicing with the Norden Bombsight. The Navy used their JRB and SNB models for similar roles.

After the war, C-45s served as “Bugsmashers” – allowing desk-bound officers to get just enough hours in the air to earn their flight pay. Many were later sold to civilian owners and became the first wave of the new trend of private business aircraft.

The Ohio National Guard Chinook is a tandem rotor, medium-lift helicopter that meets tactical and combat support mission requirements for military forces around the world. The Chinook is one of the worlds most reliable and efficient transport helicopter, capable of handling loads up to 24,000 lbs. and a maximum gross weight of up to 50,000 lbs. 

Check out this unique paint job which is a tribute to all Veterans. Castle is a proud sponsor and supporter of the Veterans Airlift Command (VAC). The VAC provides free air transportation to post 9/11 combat wounded and their families for medical and other compassionate purposes through a national network of volunteer aircraft owners and pilots.
A portion of each and every flight goes to help this incredible organization.

Prepare to be impressed by this beautifully restored piece of history. The Beechcraft T-34 Mentor is a military trainer aircraft derived from the Beechcraft Model 35 Bonanza. The earlier versions of the T-34, dating from around the late 1940s to the 1950s, were piston-engined and were eventually succeeded by the upgraded turboprop engine. This fine aircraft is owned and operated by Castle Aviation located at the Akron-Canton Airport.

Manufactured by Piper Aircraft Company, as a Liaison / Observation aircraft for WWII combat missions. It was built for and delivered directly to the U.S. Army in 1944.  This aircraft was immediately deployed to Italy and served from 1944 through the end of WWII.  The aircraft was returned to the United States and eventually declared surplus by the military and sold to the civilian market. This aircraft is based at the Wadsworth Airport and is proudly flown by Dane and Bryan Jorgensen.

The CAF Red Tail Squadron is committed to telling the inspirational story of the Tuskegee Airmen, America’s first black military pilots and their support personnel. They tell the story of the Tuskegee Airmen and the WASP (women pilots), and the obstacles they both overcame to be able to serve their country during WWII. 

Check out the P-51 in the spectator area or watch the skies for it's daily aerobatic performances.

The Stearman is a strong and rugged training aircraft. Nearly 9,000 of these aircraft saw active service with various training units throughout North America during WWII.

Heritage Biplane, Ltd, located at Akron-Fulton Airport, owns and operates this aircraft and is dedicated to preserving the memory of the thousands of young aviators who first flew these aircraft in the defense of our nation during the early 1940s. 

Today, you too can don a leather helmet and goggles and take to the air. Schedule your flight at Heritage Biplane.

Designed by Grumman Aircraft of Long Island, NY the first TBF Avenger torpedo bomber was delivered to the Navy in January 1942. Later, in November of that same year, the Eastern Aircraft Division of General Motors delivered its first TBM Avenger. One of the largest single engine aircraft of WWII, it was also the first of that type to carry an electrically operated gun turret. When production finally ended in 1945, a total of 9,836 Avengers had been built.

Despite a disastrous combat debut at the Battle of Midway, the Avenger went on to become the workhorse of U.S. naval aviation, dropping 32,737 tons of bombs, torpedoes, depth charges, and mines.