An estimated 2,000 to 2,500 people, and over 80 aircraft, gathered at Shafter Airport on April 17 for the Minter Field Fly-in, an annual event featuring flying machines of all kinds.

According to the Minter Field Air Museum website, the 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. fly-in consisted of a showcase of aircraft from all over California, a pancake breakfast, plane rides, various vendors and a Missing Man formation fly by.

Rides were available for purchase in BT-13 training planes, a WWII Stearman bi-plane, and an antique 1929 bi-plane, the oldest air craft visiting the fly-in. Proceeds from these rides and the event went to support the nonprofit museum to help fund various projects they are working on.

Retired Major General Jim Whitehead, Chairman of The MFAM, said this year’s fly-in is different from the air shows of the past. ?”[For an air show,] we have to close the field and the FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] gives us the airspace to fly in. It’s controlled; no one can enter unless they are permitted to come in from a tower. It is a very formal show where there is a schedule of events.” For the fly-in he said, “the airspace is open, anybody can fly in when they want and anybody can take off when they want.”

Dave and Joanne Taylor, fans of the Minter Field air shows have been coming for many years. “I like the vintage airplanes from the ’40s and ’50s,” Dave said. They also mentioned that they will most likely be back next year to support the air show and Minter Field.

According to Whitehead, they were unable to do the full air show this year because it was not cost effective in this economy. In using the more loosely based fly-in format, they were able to charge less for the event. ?”People can come to this show with their family and pay less than the movies,” he said. “The way the economy is today, I think we appeal to the public, give them a great day of entertainment at a good price.”

The MFAM began these air shows in 1990 to celebrate the history of Minter Field and aviation in Kern County, said Whitehead.?The field was built in 1941 to train pilots for WWII and, during that time, the field graduated over 11,000 pilots. “We have a special history . [we] need to be proud of this place for its contributions to WWII and after WWII,” he said. “I’m proud the museum exists as it does today and what it does and contributes to the community.”

“I’m extremely fortunate to be a part of this,” said Steve Manning, member of the MFAM. ?When talking about the history of Minter field and its role throughout the last century, he said, “As aviation history goes, we’re right on the front page.”

At noon, the 805th Navion Squadron, led by David Swett, 48, flew around the area in the Missing Man formation in memory of Bakersfield aviator Al Goss who died recently in a plane accident. According to Swett, the Navion Squadron was asked to lead the formation last minute because the pilots who flew T-6 planes, the same plane that Goss himself flew, did not show up to the event.

Swett mentioned that the Missing Man formation was a “tradition that was born out of the days when there weren’t radios.” Pilots would fly in formation to signal to those on the ground who survived the mission. “They would know how many people didn’t make it back from the holes in the formation,” he said. There are many challenges, according to Swett, when performing the Missing Man formation at an open fly-in like this. “You have to be very precise with your flying and you have to trust the people you’re with absolutely. It’s just really challenging to do well,” he said.

Kurt Young, the pilot who performed the role of the Missing Man in the formation, said it was a great honor because “you are representing someone who didn’t come back from a mission.”

Pilot Ron Martin, 61, brought his ’47 Stinson Voyager to the show from his hangar that he keeps locally in Minter Field. He has been flying since he was 17 and said he has always been interested in airplanes. “We couldn’t afford a real airplane so we built models,” he said. The best part about flying according to Martin was “you see things you don’t get to see from the ground. You get up and it’s a whole different perspective.”

In addition to his hangar in Shafter, Martin said he has a hangar in Tehachapi where he keeps gliders and sail planes. He said he likes coming to the Minter Field air shows and fly-ins because it is like the kickoff for all the air shows in the season.

“It’s a slice of Americana,” said pilot Jolie Lucas, 48, about the fly-in.?”This is a wonderful air show. It allows people to come and get close to airplanes.” Lucas and her husband flew their Mooney Airplanes from their home in Santa Maria with eight other Mooney brand owners on behalf of the Mooney Ambassadors group.

“I grew up flying with my father; he was a trainer in WWII. We grew up having an airplane and so he instilled the love of aviation,” she said. When asked how it feels to fly she said, “It’s a thrill you can’t duplicate.” She purchased her plane, Maggie, for about $40,000. “So for the price of a SUV you could be flying,” she said.

“I love the old nostalgic music,” said attendee Crystal McCloud. McCloud and her family arrived around noon and sat in portable chairs by the runway to watch the planes going by. They said they liked that they were honoring Al Goss, and they remembered that they saw him at the last air show.

McCloud also said she likes to see the old biplanes because they’re so slow, and it’s hard to see how they are still able to get off the ground. Her husband, Ken McCloud said, “They keep Minter Field’s history alive here. It’s a gorgeous day.”

In addition to pilots and people, there were about 20 vendor booths set up selling everything from snacks to sunscreen to cars. Among the vendors, there was a family of aviation enthusiasts who were selling books they have collected throughout the years regarding war, aviation and history.?According to Dorothy McAllister, 72, who was running the booth, “it’s history that you really don’t get now.” She began collecting books with her son while he was in the marines. A few years ago she began attending air shows to sell the various books they have collected. When asked why she preferred war related books she said, “I like to get books that have this type of history.”

“It was a good turnout,” said Minter Field public relations director Dean Craun. He said they got over 80 planes to come in and estimated about 2,000 people. “We’re really happy with how it turned out.”

The Minter Field Air Museum, also open to the public during the event, holds varying artifacts from WWI through Vietnam. Most artifacts are donated from local families and war veterans. Also, records of trainees, instructors and staff are kept in the computer files, and handmade models of airplanes are displayed throughout the museum.

The MFAF is open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by appointment.

For more information about the museum, go to minterfieldairmuseum.com. “The history is here, without a museum such as this many of the youth today, and adults, would never know the history of Minter Field, of Kern County, so that’s why we’re here,” Whitehead said.