American Airpower Museum Of LI To Host Historical D-Day Flight Experience

FARMINGDALE, NY — The American Airpower Museum's next C-47 D-Day Living History Flight Experience is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 6, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the museum announced.

Passengers will fly in an original WWII Douglas C-47 Skytrain Troop Transport and be joined by the museum's living historians for a "breathtakingly realistic and unforgettable recreation of what U.S. Paratroopers experienced in their quest to liberate Europe from Nazi fascism," the museum stated.

This one-of-a-kind immersive living history educational program lasts about two hours, including a 25-minute flight in the museum's legendary WWII Douglas C-47 Skytrain.

Living historians guide participants from arrival as they gear up. People will receive their 101st Airborne D-Day operations briefing prior to boarding the museum’s C-47 Skytrain, as if it were June 5, 1944. Flying over Long Island’s south shore beaches provides the backdrop for a simulated jump and a sense of what U.S. 101st and 82nd Airborne Division Paratroopers experienced on their June 5, 1944 momentous 1,200-plane airborne assault, behind the lines of the Normandy Beach landings at Utah, Point Du Hoc, and Omaha Beach.

During the flight experience, participants will wear authentic reproduction M-42/M-43 field jackets, just like the ones worn by paratroopers during D-Day and Operation Market Garden, Replica "Steel Pot" G.I. helmets, and a simulated jump harness. They will feel and hear the C-47’s engines firing up as you take to the skies.

"See, hear and feel what it was like for the crew operating their C-47 and paratroopers getting ready to make history on the night of June 5 and day of June 6, 1944," the museum stated. "As you ready to 'cross the beaches' you’ll 'stand up' and 'hook up,' simulating what it was like to be ready on the static line for the green light. Don’t worry, there’s no real jumping, it’s all a living history re-enactment of course!"

Attendees will then return to Hangar 3 and take photos with the museum's living historians, crew and C-47.

Four flights are scheduled on Sept. 6: at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Seats are allocated on a first come, first served basis, so people are encouraged to make a flight reservation. Passengers must arrive 60 minutes before their scheduled flights.

To book flights online, people may visit the American Airpower Museum website and click the "Flight Experience" tab. Or call 516-531-3950, 631-454-2039, or visit the museum's Cockpit USA gift shop Wednesday to Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at Hangar 3, 1230 New Highway, Farmingdale.

Cost for each C-47 flight is $375. A flight experience lets someone bring two guests who can watch flights take off and land, plus visit the museum's exhibits all day, for a reduced rate of $10 each.

Others may wish to visit AAM on Sept. 6, just to watch the flights and tour the exhibits. In that case, admission for adults is $18, seniors and veterans is $15, and $12 for children ages 3-12. No tickets or pre-registration is needed for regular admission.

"This is a wonderful way to educate present day Americans about WWII and our Greatest Generation veterans," the museum wrote. "Support AAM’s mission to honor American military aviation history and our great veterans, by helping maintain and preserve their legacy, the museum’s iconic aircraft. Help Keep 'Em Flying!"