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Planes of Fame’s air display<br>sees bigger crowds each year<br>

VALLE — Now in its third year, the High Country Warbirds Air Display put on by the Air Museum Planes of Fame continues to see growth.

That was the word put out by Bob Reed, the man in charge at the Valle museum. There were more planes, more people and more participants than ever before. And Reed expects bigger and better things in the future, too.

The Air Museum Planes of Fame’s 1929 Ford Trimotor pulls into the Valle-Grand Canyon Airport Saturday afternoon during the museum’s third annual High Country Warbirds Air Display. The Trimotor, seen here with paying passengers aboard, was just one of many aircraft being displayed during the event.

“We had an extremely good crowd,” Reed said. “To me, it’s kind of a sign of things to come with the air display. Each year as we grow, we can afford to bring in more from Chino.”

Planes of Fame’s main museum is in Chino, Calif., and some of its planes and pilots make the trip to Valle for the show.

Folks at the display seemed to be having a good time. Some got a close look at some of the wartime planes and other exhibits while a few visited merchandise tables. The smell of barbecued burgers and dogs filled the air and many enjoyed actual flights in the planes.

Reed said many people wanted to take a ride in one of the two Mustangs on display. Others, mainly the older crowd, enjoyed rides in the Ford Trimotor, which flew over the Canyon in the 1920s.

“One of the neat things is we’re a flying museum,” Reed said. “Where else can you see a Trimotor flying or a Mustang flying? When you look at all these things, it’s amazing.”


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