The high-flying fun returns to Jennings this weekend for the 41st annual End of the Season Stearman Fly-in at the Jennings Airport.

The vintage biplanes began arriving Wednesday for the annual gathering which includes friendly aerial competitions, flying formations and public viewing of the classically restored World War II trainers and other aircraft expected to be on display.

Stearman pilot Bill Ross of Irvington, Ala. says nearly two dozen Stearman and their pilots from across the region, as well as other aircraft including Cessnas and Piper Cubs, are expected at this weekend’s event.

“Most of the Stearman are returning for the event, but we have a few new Stearman owners who have expressed an interest in coming,” Ross said. “We usually have planes flying in from Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana, but we have had some come in as far as from Missouri and California.”

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

Spectators can view the open-cockpit aircraft, 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. Bowen 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 military during World War II, before being modified to spray crops Today, the biplanes are recreational hobbies for hundreds of pilots, including Ross, who bought a 1941 Stearman in 2007 after flying his first Stearman in 1984.

“I’ve always been fascinated with the Stearman,” Ross said. “It’s one of my favorites, if not my all time favorite aircraft.”

The fascination with the Stearman is different for everyone, he said.

“For most people I think it is the nostalgia of the open cockpit biplanes from the 1940s and the fact they were the primary training aircraft for the military prior to World War II,” he said.

But the common thread among the Stearman owners is the camaraderie and fellowship, enjoyed at gatherings such as the fly-in in Jennings. The pilots enjoy showing off their planes, competing in the aviation games and visiting with each other.

“Stearman owners are the nicest people I have ever met,” Ross said. “They are a genuine breed of people that are unique from any other aviation people because of their camaraderie. They love to learn and talk about their airplanes.”

About 3,800 Stearman are believed to still be flying today, according to Ross.

“There were 10,000 manufactured and worldwide 3,800 are believed to still be active, regularly flying,” he said, noting others may be sitting in barns or undergoing restoration.