Lincoln Airport Wings & Wheels returns

Lincoln's regional event, Wings & Wheels, returns to Lincoln Airport on Friday, Aug. 28, and Saturday, Aug. 29. On the ramp, 75-plus specialty and display aircraft, from home-built to modern jets, will be on display, co-located with 250 display cars spanning yesterday to today. Add hot air balloons, food and artisan vendors, and a Youth Aviation Education Expo featuring flight simulators and exhibits from the Aerospace Museum of California, and you have an event for all ages. Wings & Wheels is priced to be family-friendly, with Friday night's entrance fee at $5 and Saturday's at $10 for adults, with no charge for youth under 18. Parking is free. A prepaid VIP experience includes VIP parking for both days, the Friday night dinner, access to the VIP tent both days and a VIP lunch on Saturday. Visit lincolnchamber.com/lincoln-airport-open-house-copy/ for more details. Highlighting Friday night is the hot air balloon "Moon Glow," where five hot air balloons will tether to the ground and shine spotlights up through the propane fire to illuminate their envelopes. It's spectacular against the night sky, with the action starting around 8:30 p.m. From the gates opening at 5 p.m., guests can watch display aircraft arrive and be positioned on the tarmac, grab dinner from a food truck and listen to tunes from the local band, the Blue Jays. The action really begins on Saturday – early – with the entrance gates opening at 7 a.m. for a five-balloon hot air balloon lift-off. Display aircraft and cars will arrive and be strategically positioned on the tarmac. This year, the event will offer two tethered hot air balloon rides ($20 per person), where guests will climb into the balloon basket and rise 50 feet for a bird's-eye view of the event. The opening ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. with a presentation of the Colors, a parachute drop and landing with the American Flag, the National Anthem and a flyover by two Beale Air Force Bae T-38 jet aircraft. Also on tap, will be fly-bys of solo and team aircraft. Two of the largest aircraft will be the US Coast Guard's C-27 and a WW II bomber, the A-26. Commercial rides in vintage aircraft are also available throughout the event. Wings & Wheels is designed to be both family-friendly and educational. Come out to see great cars and aircraft and talk to their enthusiastic owners. The event concludes at 2 p.m. For information, see the link at Lincolnchamber.com, then go to Events and then to Wings & Wheels.