Even if you don’t live in Virginia or an adjoining state, you may have heard of The Flying Circus Aerodrome. It will soon have its own museum.
The weekly Flying Circus airshow, a lovingly corny revue of Stearmans and Wacos, wingwalking and formation flying, aerobatics and ride hopping, has realized the dream of preserving the golden age of aviation. Forty years and a thousand Sundays since it began in 1971, the Circus is taking its next step—an ambitious plan to build a unique aviation museum.
On July 18, Charlie Kulp— a.k.a. “The Flying Farmer” and Flying Circus founder—will emerge from retirement to fly one last special show. Now a non-profit foundation, the Circus is hosting the performance as a kickoff fundraiser to begin construction of a new hangar to become the museum’s home. When completed, it will house a permanent collection of aviation artifacts and documents, temporary educational exhibits, and aircraft active in the Circus shows. The estimated cost is $500,000.
The gates for the July 18 event open at 11 a.m. Kulp’s performance will begin at 3:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $3 for children ages 3 through 12. All money collected goes to the Hangar/Museum Fund. Additional donations can be made at the gate, snack bar, and gift shop.
Those flying to Bealeton for the event can land at Warrenton/Fauquier Airport, the closest public airport. Ground transportation will be available from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. for arrivals. Return transportation will begin at the end of the airshow (approximately 4 p.m.). Culpeper Regional is the next closest airport, but no ground transportation will be provided.
The Flying Circus field is a closed grass strip and is only available to the public with prior permission.
Related Articles
