Experience the thrill of flight this weekend as dozens of Stearman and taildraggers take to the skies over Jennings for the 42nd annual End of the Season Stearman and Taildragger Fly-in at the Jennings Airport.

The vintage aircraft began arriving Wednesday for the annual gathering which includes friendly aviation competitions, flying formations and public viewing of the classic restored World War II trainers and other taildraggers.

Pilot Billy Gotreaux of DeRidder said nearly two dozen Stearman and their pilots from all over the country are expected for the weekend event, including those from Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana. Since the planes are open cockpit, the number of Stearman attending depends greatly on the weather, he said.

“We usually have 20 to 25 Stearman from a four to five state area around Louisiana,” Gotreaux said. “We actually had one fly in from California one year.”

The colorful air displays will begin at 6:30 a.m. Saturday with the “Dawn Patrol.”

Spectators can view the airplanes and watch aerial competitions from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday at the grass field located behind the Days Inn and Motel 6 at the intersection of the Interstate 10 Service Road at Exit 64 and La. 26. Admission is free.

The fun heats up at 2 p.m. with the E.J. Bowden Memorial “Spine Tingling” Top Gun contests, featuring flour bombing, spot landings and other aviation games. The event concludes at 4:30 p.m. with a formation flying display.

Food, drinks and t-shirts will be sold during the event.

The two-seater, open cockpit Stearman was the primary trainer for the Army, Navy and Coast Guard during World War II, before being modified as crop dusters.

Today, the biplanes are recreational hobbies for hundreds of pilots, including Gotreaux, who has been flying for over 20 years. He will be flying a 1942 Stearman.

“I’ve always been fascinated with the Stearman,” said Gotreaux, who grew up in Lake Charles and Iowa on a farm.

Gotreaux said there is something about a Stearman that fascinates people, especially aviation enthusiasts.

“I think there is something about being able to fly a Warbird,” he said. “The sights, smell and sounds takes you back in time to the 1940s.”

The common thread among the Stearman owners is the camaraderie and fellowship enjoyed at gatherings such as the fly-in in Jennings.

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For more information, visit www.jenningsstearmanflyin.com or the Stearman Fly-in on Facebook at http://facebook.com/stearmanflyin.