ARLINGTON A Big Beautiful Doll rolled into the Arlington Airport Monday morning when its owner, Jerry Klingen, of Saltys Restaurant in West Seattle, decided to display it in search for a possible buyer.
Its a full-scale, composite model of a P-51 WWII fighter, said Barbara Tolbert, executive director of the Fly-In. Its a fantastic work of art, she added.
These life-size model airplanes are often displayed at military bases and airports. They are called airplanes on sticks, Tolbert laughed. Its real Americana.
Airplanes and aviation enthusiasts in campers started rolling into the Arlington Airport last week for the Arlington Fly-In which opens at
9 a.m., Wednesday, July 11.
So far we have 100 campers settled in, with another 1,100 expected, Tolbert said at 3 p.m. Monday.
The weather looks good, as of Monday afternoon, and Tolbert said there will be plenty of water available.
Its a good sign when one of the first planes to arrive is an A-1 Skyraider, she said.
Bill Anders Skyraider arrived from the Heritage Flight Museum in Bellingham. Anders is an Apollo 11 astronaut, Tolbert said.
In the final hours before opening the gates, the volunteer crews are hanging signs on tents, welcoming vendors and helping get them set up, and all the other tweaking needed by an event the size of the Fly-In which brings 50,000 people to the Arlington Airport.
A Salute to Veterans has been added this year, on the final day of the Fly-In, Sunday, July 15, when all veterans are invited to attend for free.
Weve got a team of ladies from Cascade Valley Hospital who will escort the elder vets in golf carts, Tolbert said. The air show that day includes a special appearance by Julie Clark and her T-34, along with a military fly-by in the air show which starts at 1 p.m. Sunday.
The hot air balloons will appear in the sky bright and early Saturday morning after the balloon glow Friday night and the Saturday night fireworks air show is a sight to see, as well.
Throughout the five-day show, war-bird airplanes, including Americas Cascade Warbird Squadron, will be on display on the warbird ramp at the southwest end of the site, with aircraft owners and pilots on hand to answer questions and sign autographs.
Admission to Paul Allens Flying Heritage Collection of military aircraft is discounted during the Fly-In, with a bus offering transport to the collection which will be moving from Arlington to Paine Field later this year. A P-51, a P-47 and Jenny, from collection will fly-by for the Saturday and Sunday air shows and a military vehicle parade is included in Friday, Saturday and Sundays air show, Tolbert said
Veteran authors in the new authors tent, include Art Unruh and his book, Shadow Casters, a WWII airmans journey through war, and Gary Suffern, with his Pacified Zone featuring his experiences as a veteran of the war in Vietnam.
The daily air show features performances by Dan Buchanan, Frank Donnely, Ken Fowler, Bud and Ross Granley, Eric Hansen, Kathy Hirtz, John Mrazek, Red Eagle Air Sports, Renny Price and Eric Tucker.
Entry is $15 general admission on the west side of the Arlington Airport. Order tickets on-line at www.ticketwindowonline.com or call 206-325-6500. Children under 15 enter free.