Perfect weather enticed people from all over to the fourth
annual Hollister Air Fair on Saturday.
The fair, celebrating a century of powered flight, along with
100 years of Harley Davidson motorcycles and Henry Ford cars,
showcased a multitude of manmade historical mementos.
Perfect weather enticed people from all over to the fourth annual Hollister Air Fair on Saturday.
The fair, celebrating a century of powered flight, along with 100 years of Harley Davidson motorcycles and Henry Ford cars, showcased a multitude of manmade historical mementos.
Rare fighter planes from both world wars, classic cars and motorcycles and antique military vehicles and uniforms were on display for the public’s enjoyment.
Hollister resident Debbie Fisher brings her 10-year-old son, Colton Russel, to the fair every year because of his love affair with airplanes, she said. The free admission and intimate atmosphere creates a better learning environment for everyone who attends because people can get up-close and personal with the owners and presenters.
“We love it,” Fisher said. “Everyone explains stuff to your kids and you can cut them loose and let them see whatever they want.”
The friendly ambiance of the fair drew Hollister resident Ron Stephens and his son, Conner, 4, to the airport to meander through the hangers and runways.
“There’s not as many people and everyone’s friendly enough to let you sit in the planes or cars,” Stephens said.
The fair has been getting bigger throughout the years, which is garnering a broader selection of memorabilia to look at, Stephens said.
The fair is run by volunteers, with pilots flying their planes in from all over the country, said Ruth Erickson, the coordinator of the fair.
“All we can do is ask people to come down and show their planes and what they get in return is our thanks,” Erickson said.
The airport houses many of the planes on display year-round, and the air fair could still be put on even if no one brought their planes in, she said.
The constant patronage from the supporters of the airport is what makes the fair possible every year, which in turn creates a kind of time capsule for community members.
“People like to be a part of history,” she said. “A lot of the people here were in these planes in the wars, and people bring their kids out to experience it and see it.”
This year several P-51 Mustangs, rare World War II fighter planes, were on display. About 15,000 were made between 1941 to 1945, and less than 100 still exist today, said Mel Buchanan, the coordinator for the U.S. Aviation Museum out of San Jose.
The small size and close-knit feel is comfortable and hospitable, but it does have some drawbacks, Buchanan said.
“It’s well-run and everything’s very accessible, but it needs more publicity and more attendance,” he said. “The more people, the more airplanes.”
Getting publicity and good attendance is one of the biggest challenges to putting on the fair, Erickson said. The community should be made aware of events that are important to the local heritage, as well as the nation’s.
“We’ve got the best volunteers, the best aircrafts and booths and the love for doing this,” she said. “We’ve got the stuff for people to see.”
