HomeFreeFlight demonstrations, vintage cars on display at Commemorative Air Force open house
RGV CAF member Chris Hughston climbs into a Ryan PT-22 ‘Recruit' aircraft for a flight demonstration Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, at the November open house event for the Rio Grande Valley Wing of the Commemorative Air Force at the Port Isabel – Cameron County Airport in Los Fresnos. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)
LOS FRESNOS — Visitors to the Port Isabel–Cameron County Airport received a blast from the past during the Rio Grande Valley Wing of the Commemorative Air Force’s monthly open house event Saturday morning at their hangar and museum.
The free event from 10-2 p.m. featured vintage car rides for visitors from the RGV CAF’s collection of vehicles, like a 1969 MUTT M151A1 Jeep, around the CAF hangar perimeter.
CAF members also gave flight demonstrations with their collection of historic aircraft flown during and after WWII.
The Commemorative Air Force, which began in the Rio Grande Valley in 1957, is a nonprofit that focuses on finding and restoring in flying condition a complete collection of military aircraft of the United States — and some from other nations, to share with and keep their history alive for the public.
Visitors examine a collection of historic aircraft Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, for the November open house event at the Rio Grande Valley Wing of the Commemorative Air Force at the Port Isabel – Cameron County Airport in Los Fresnos. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)A Val replica aircraft releases a smoke trail as it flies overhead Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, for the November open house event at the Rio Grande Valley Wing of the Commemorative Air Force at the Port Isabel – Cameron County Airport in Los Fresnos. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)CAF member Chris Hughston II leans against a Taylorcraft plane from 1942 Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, for the November open house event at the Rio Grande Valley Wing of the Commemorative Air Force at the Port Isabel – Cameron County Airport in Los Fresnos. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)RGV CAF safety officer T.J. Perez drives Tina and Jeff Beard and their grandson Micheal around the airfield in a 1969 MUTT M151A1 Jeep Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, for the November open house event at the Rio Grande Valley Wing of the Commemorative Air Force at the Port Isabel – Cameron County Airport in Los Fresnos. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)RGV CAF member Chris Hughston climbs into a Ryan PT-22 ‘Recruit’ aircraft for a flight demonstration Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, at the November open house event for the Rio Grande Valley Wing of the Commemorative Air Force at the Port Isabel – Cameron County Airport in Los Fresnos. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)
