0 Flying Circus Airshow to Build Permanent Aviation Museum

Forty years ago, a group of aviation enthusiasts who wanted to preserve aviation history and share their love of flying with new generations of people, came together and created The Flying Circus Airshow. Since then, for the past 39 years, every Sunday afternoon, May through October, the skies over Bealeton have been filled with the sights and sounds of World War Two era planes. Flying Circus performers have not only been doing their acts for enthusiastic crowds, but they have offered rides in their planes to young and old alike. Thus, they have been reviving old dreams of flight and helping create new ones!

On Sunday, July 18, the people of The Flying Circus Airshow will officially announce the next step they are taking to keep aviation history alive. They will be unveiling plans to build a new 6400 square foot "Living Aviation History Museum" at the Flying Circus Airfield. This half million dollar project will lift the Flying Circus from a seasonal airshow into a year-round aviation history center. At this Sunday's Airshow, the Circus will display an artist's rendering of the new facility and have the Museum's footprint outlined on the proposed site of the new building. They will introduce airshow attendees to the overall plan for the Museum, which include aircraft displays (many of which still fly in the Circus Airshow), aviation artifacts, documents, photographs, and educational exhibits! This regular Sunday Airshow will act as the kick-off for the Flying Circus Airshow Foundation fundraising effort to make this new dream of a Museum a reality.

John King, Flying Circus Foundation President and Airshow performer said, "The Museum will give us a new way to preserve aviation history and share our love of aviation with generations to come. Enthusiasts in this region are tremendously fortunate to have the amazing Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum, its Udvar Hazy Annex, and the Virginia Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame so close to our homes. Those facilities have spectacular collections, indeed. However, in a far more modest setting, we plan to fill one niche these other facilities cannot. Our mission is to give people the ability to feel, sit in and actually fly in antique aircraft which represent a huge part of America's aviation history." King went on to say, "All of the gate receipts from this Sunday's Airshow will be donated to the Museum, and the Show will mark the beginning of a fund-raising effort to make our new dream a reality. We will be seeking support from individuals, local companies and Corporations who share our desire to keep this part of history alive right here in Bealeton."

To make this upcoming show even more meaningful, one of the Flying Circus' founders,Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame inductee, and International Council of Air Shows Hall of Famer, Charlie Kulp A.K.A. "The Flying Farmer" will be coming out of retirement to revive his world class flying act especially for this event. Kulp flies his original Piper Cub aircraft in such an amazing fashion, that for years many, including aviation professionals, were convinced Kulp must have modified his plane! The truth is, Charlie is just an amazing pilot and airshow professional. A Flying Circus regular, Kulp's act has become the gold standard of Airshow Acts not only across the USA but Internationally as well!

In discussing the upcoming Show and his return to Airshow flying, Kulp remarked, "The Museum is an important part of the dream we tried to bring to life almost 40 years ago when we started The Flying Circus Airshow. The Museum is the next logical step in preserving the history of aviation which helped this great nation win world wars and build our country into a global economic power! Future generations need to know our history so they can build a bright future for all." Coming out of retirement is a huge and meaningful step for Kulp. "I am almost 85 years old. I had to get my Airshow Piper Cub out of retirement at The North Carolina Aviation Museum for our return. This is the absolute LAST airshow for both of us! I hope people will come out to see the show. I know if they do, they will fall in love with flying just as I did almost 8 decades ago!"

Gates will open for this special event on Sunday at 11 a.m. and the airshow will begin at 2:30 p.m.. As usual, admission remains at $10 for adults and $3 for children ages 3-12. Again, all monies collected will go directly to the Museum Fund.

King concluded by noting, "The Museum is not a replacement for our Sunday Airshow, rather, it represents an expansion of our mission by adding education to our desire to entertain and inspire! We look forward to becoming an even bigger part of aviation history!

For more information, contact John King at kingjd@hughes.net