52 WWII era “Warbird” airplanes to be flying overhead

TALLULAH, La. (VDN) — Fifty-two World War Two era “Warbird” airplanes will be at the Vicksburg Tallulah Regional airport next week.

Beginning Wednesday, October 15th, fifty-two WWII Warbirds will be making their way to the Vicksburg-Tallulah Regional Airport in Mound, LA, for the annual North American Trainer Association – SHAF Warbird Formation Clinic. Did you catch that number? Fifty-Two!  

Making this area, the host to the largest NATA Warbird Formation Clinic, in the United States. It’s a great economic boost and tourism boost, as the pilots that are training Wed. – Sat., purchase their own hotel rooms, rental cars, avgas for the training, eat at local restaurants, visit the casinos, the Vicksburg Military Park, shop downtown and more. 

Those registered are coming from 18 states, such as Alaska, Hawaii, New Jersey, Arizona, Texas, Missouri, and more. Why do they keep coming back and bringing their families and friends? Quite simply, it’s the hospitality from both sides of the River. (a quick shout out to Vicksburg on it’s 200th birthday!)

The Museum will be closed this week and the Clinic is not open to the public.

So once the clinic is in full swing on Thursday, the area will hear a lot of noise as the Warbirds go up to fly their sorties!

Once the clinic ends at noon on Saturday the 18th, there will be a slight pause; although, keep looking up, as there will be skywriting over the area, reminding you that at 3:00 the gates open for the Best Little Air Show in the World’s Twilight Extravaganza! Spectators will be entertained with LIVE Music from 8 time Josie Award Nominee, Leah Rose,  the 7 Days for the Troops Honor Tower, R/C Performances, a Car, Truck, Jeep Display, flight simulators, a NASA STEM ACTIVITY ZONE (sponsored by Entergy WIN – Women in Nuclear), a walk through exhibit at the Gathering and Honoring Tent of several members of the WWII 354^th “Pioneer Mustang”  Fighter Group’s including family members of the 354^th heroes, a tribute to the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 250th birthdays, plane rides, helicopter rides, merchandise, and local food vendors, like Triple J’s Pizza Taco, The Scoop on 61N, SnoBiz, LSU Ag Center’s Madison Parish 4H and more. A new addition to the show this year is Purity Oxygen Bar, and then-13 intense Acts, including the Jet Car, that will shake the ground and light up the sky! Saturday’s show will end around 7:30 pm.

Come back on Sunday, when the gates open at 1:00 for more of the same, yet different performance routines from the Saturday Twilight Extravaganza Show. Sundays show will end around 5:00 pm.

This is a family fun event that you will remember for a long time, and an event that doesn’t happen every year, but every other year. 

Tickets are available online through the social media event page : The Best Little Air Show in the World, through our website: https://southernheritageair.org, or at the gate! Adults are $15, ages 5-12 are $7, 4 and under are free.

Proceeds from the show will go to support the veteran progams for The Warrior Bonfire Program, 7 Days for the Troops, Purple Heart Homes, & The Southern Heritage Air Foundation.

Local volunteers work for over 18 months to pull this event together for the community they live in and love. But make no mistake,  without the support of the sponsors, the show would never happen.  We would like to give a big shout out to them, and say THANK YOU for supporting this event that brings both sides of the MS River together, and brings in people from outside the area as well.

So make sure to look up this week, and don’t forget to come to The Best Little Air Show in the World, October 18 & 19 at the Vicksburg-Tallulah Regional Airport. We hope to see you there!