Jack Kehoe, of Upper Township, shows off his 1954 Chevy Bel Air convertible, one of the antique autos on display at the festival.
By Donald Wittkowski
Perched on top of his father's shoulders, 6-year-old Jackson Grande peered into the open cockpit of a bright red historic biplane and marveled over what he saw.
"My favorite part of the plane were the things moving up and down on the wings, the flaps," Jackson said excitedly, drawing smiles from his parents.
Then Jackson's 4-year-old brother, Lucas, chimed in. "My favorite part was looking inside the plane, and the propeller," Lucas said.
Jackson, Lucas and their parents, Lynn and Matt Grande, of New York City, were among thousands of people who strolled the grounds of the municipal airport Saturday during the Ocean City Air Festival, a popular annual event.
The festival kicked off a weekend of aviation-related fun that will culminate Sunday from 1-3 p.m. with an air show featuring aerobatic flying over the beaches and Boardwalk between Sixth and 14th streets.
Children get ready to fly their creations in a paper airplane contest.
The Grandes live in Manhattan and have a summer home in Ocean City. Lynn Grande noted that her family planned the entire weekend at the shore around the air show activities.
"We specifically came here because we thought the boys would enjoy these events," she said. "We'll be here again Sunday for the air show."
Sunday's forecast calls for sunny skies, far better weather than the thick, gray clouds and mist that hung over Ocean City on Saturday. The dreary conditions prevented some historic planes from making their scheduled appearance at the air festival.
George Dunner, sales manager for Red Baron Air Tours, the operator of the red 1940 Waco biplane admired by Jackson and Lucas Grande, was waiting for the weather to clear so his company could begin sightseeing flights from the airport.
About the only things flying early Saturday afternoon were paper airplanes gliding inside an airport hangar. Children took part in a paper airplane contest to see how far their creations would soar.
Rows of model airplanes were another attraction at the municipal airport.
Karen Foster, of Ocean City, watched as her 6-year-old daughter, Megan, flung her paper airplane. Megan's toss was good enough to win third place.
Foster said her family comes to the air festival every year. This was the fourth time Megan had competed in the paper airplane contest.
"We really enjoy coming here," Foster said. "This is a great community event with a lot of family activities. We always look forward to seeing the planes."
People were free to roam the airport grounds and peek inside the planes lining the tarmac. A police boat and fire truck were also on display. The family-friendly festival also included model planes, face painting paperclip sculpting, music and food vendors.
Jack Kehoe, of Upper Township, shows off his 1954 Chevy Bel Air convertible, one of the antique autos on display at the festival.
While the planes were the headliners, the festival also featured an antique car and truck show that drew plenty of attention from onlookers.
Jack Kehoe, of Upper Township, showed off his red 1954 Chevy Bel Air convertible that he bought two years ago for $20,000. Kehoe noted that it took him 10 years to persuade the Bel Air's previous owner to finally sell it to him.
The 85-year-old Kehoe has owned other vintage cars over the years, including a Ford Model T and Ford Model A. He currently has a 1948 Chevy Club Coupe. But the Bel Air is his favorite, he confided.
"I love it," he said. "It rides real nice."
