- April 4, 2025
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Rylan Russell enjoys his first airshow at the Flagler Executive Airport. Photos by Aleksey Volchek
The B-25
The Hekmat and Sean Moylan family, of Palm Coast
Craig Peterson, of Palm Coast, shares his service stories from Guam with a visitor.
Warbirds from World War II put on a show in the air for Freedom Fest visitors.
Killian Gardner has just witnessed a glorious view from Avenger, an air defense humvee unit. His aunt, Chelsey Hefner, is there to help him down.
Danika and her dad, Nick, explored a Humvee unit. Freedom Fest featured an air defense unit that is identical to the one stationed just miles away from Flagler Executive Airport.
Palm Coast residents and pilot students Ben Mbuthia and Junare Gordon, of Daytona Aviation, posted the cabin of this massive transportation heli to their social feeds.
Cabin View that Ben and Junare were checking out.
A Soviet-era Yak-52 taxies in after an exhibition flight.
Keeping spectators entertained between the warbird exhibition flights were the unmanned acrobatic aircraft.
Putting the "flag" into Flagler: "Project Flag World Record" and its host, Nikki White, attempt to break the world record for the largest number of people standing and holding an American flag In one place.
Maverick is feeling patriotic with his grandfather, Mike.
Steve Bower, of Palm Coast, received his lapel pin and a letter Flagler County Commissioner Greg Hansen . Steve served in 12th Combat Aviation Group stationed at Long Ben 1967-1968.
The third-annual Freedom Fest put the flag into Flagler, as the Flagler Executive Airport became the epicenter of patriotism on Nov. 3. About 7,000 people attended, with kids and their families getting a chance to see, touch and hear the technology of today and the past that keeps Americans safe from coast to coast safe.
While World War II warbirds put on a spectacular air show, not all were from the past. The Avenger Air Defense System attracted many youngsters with a chance to experience the view from its top cabin.
Also that day at the festival was Project Flag, which broke the record for the largest number of people waving an American flag in Flagler County with 781 flags in one place.
Then a ceremony commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. Servicemen and women, who were on active duty between 1955 and 1975 (regardless of where they served), traveled from as far as Orlando and Tampa to receive their lapel pins. Some children of the soldiers bonded with their fallen parents by receiving pins, posthumously honoring their parent's legacy.
"It's a unique and powerful relationship when local businesses partner with local government," Flagler Broadcasting VP and General Manager David Ayres said. "(Airport Director Roy Sieger) and the Flagler County commissioners get that, and it's a win-win for the community and local charities."
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