Old Friends and Vintage Planes at Geneseo Airshow
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In a field just outside Geneseo; a gathering of history and old friends.
"I just love coming up here. The people are wonderful at Geneseo,” said Chip Yingling.
"The aircraft are even better."
The Geneseo Airshow is a longtime favorite for people who love vintage planes.
"Oh yeah, Oh yeah. It's like a reunion every year we come back here, people that just love these kind of aircraft. It's wonderful. It's a great time,” said Yingling.
Jim Vocell is a pilot from New Hampshire who pilots a lot of planes.
“We're in front of a North American B-25, nicknamed the Billy Mitchell bomber. This one was the fourth one built; it is the oldest one flying in the world today," he said.
Jim's been flying personally, commercially, and now in retirement, for a long time.
"I was 14 when I started, and never stopped. Very privileged to have flown all my life."
He and other pilots say they're proud to honor the past, right down to the runway; thus the nickname "the greatest show on turf."
"Don't forget, most times in England we operated on grass strips, and this brings back history to educate the folks who want to come out and visit the airport."
Many of the aircraft in Geneseo were used by the military; some, as far back as World War II. All of them have their own story.
"Oh, the stories go on and on and on,” said Yingling.
Like the story of the B-25.
"There were 16 of these b-model airplanes launched from the aircraft carrier Hornet. It was basically a one-way mission for them and God bless them. They were the first Americans to retaliate against Japan in World War Two," said Vocell.
If that's a story you haven't heard before, well, you probably haven't spent enough time at an air show.
"That's what it's all about, learning the history, talking to the people, and celebrating them for what they've done for us,” Yingling said.