SHELBY COUNTY, TX (KTRE) -
The 9th Annual Center Fly- in Air Show was
chance for the Shelby County community to get a view from a different
perspective.
The event included free flights for
the kids and flight stunt pilots for everyone to enjoy.
"Shelby county kids, we just try
to give them something that they can do," said Jenny Fancher, Assistant
Director, Shelby County Chamber of Commerce.
"About 15 planes flew in to Center for
the air show including one from 1943."
"It's a 1943, UC78 B, it was
originally a military trainer," said Terry Sullivan, Pilot.
90-year-old W.I. Davis recognized it as soon
as it taxied in, he spent 400 hours training in one during World War II.
"These were used primarily for twin
engine training, I guess 1944 was the first time I flew one of these,"
said Davis.
Davis was a part of the Army Air Core
and trained in the plane to get comfortable with more complicated models.
"Training pilots to fly B-17's,
B-24's, multi-engine planes, this was just to get you familiar with operating
more than one engine," said Davis.
It took Terry Sullivan about five years to
restore the plane to its former glory.
He says meeting veterans like Davis is
just an added bonus to restoring planes.
"They're a piece of history,
they're walking history books, that's why I focus my attention on people who
did it for real and went to war, we owe them a lot," said Sullivan.
For Davis, seeing a plan he hadn't
seen in decades was an unexpected gift.
"Its just a great experience
getting to see it and see that its been restored and the shape its in, it looks
probably better than the last one I flew," said Davis.
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