WWII aircraft will be flying over Modesto this weekend. Here's why.
MODESTO — Modesto residents, don't be alarmed if you see WWII aircraft flying across the sky. The North American Trainer Association is in Modesto for a four-day clinic.
Bruce McGrew has been involved with the association since the year 2000. It's a nonprofit corporation dedicated to the preservation, restoration and safe operation of military aircraft.
"We're being hosted by the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) here," he said. "Great hangar that they've got here."
Mary Mount with the CAF spoke on having the trainer association there.
"It is wonderful having them here. They are nationwide organization, and the first time they came here, seeing all these beautiful airplanes, it really has done a lot for the community and the opportunity for people to see WWII warbirds that they normally wouldn't see," Mount said.
A total of twenty pilots came together with one goal.
"They all hope to have a new rating. So they come in as newbies. Maybe they've never flown in formation before. So they will go out in what's called a two ship, which just means one plane in themselves," McGrew said.
While flying may be the most thrilling part of training, McGrew said it's what comes after that is the most valuable.
"They've had the brief. They've had the flight and the debrief, and the debrief is where the learning really occurs," he said. " So you check your ego at the door because you made a mistake, and here's your mistake, and so they talk about it, and you learn from all that."
Every aircraft on site was completely restored by their pilots.
"All these planes here have been totally rebuilt," McGrew said. He added, "And they have to be maintained to as-built standards. Compressions are checked, spark plugs are checked, timing, everything mechanically is checked to make sure it's fully airworthy."
This is the North American Trainer Association's fourth year in Modesto but certainly not its last.
The training is closed to the public, but the CAF says the best place to see the aircraft up close is the east side of the airport on Mitchell Road.
