I've been a fan of Grimes Field for decades. My uncle used to work for the aviation lighting company, plus while learning to fly we would come here for pie at the restaurant (listed separately.) As fun as flying is, it's still always nice to fly someplace with a cool destination. Food, plus a museum (again, another listing) make this a great little place. As a general aviation airport, it is well-maintained and easy to fly in and out of.
Today we went for another reason. The 75th anniversary of the Doolittle raid is coming up. If you don't know what that is, you should have been paying attention in history class. Go Google it, and if you have longer watch the classic war movie "Thirty Second Over Tokyo." Anyway, there aren't many participants left, so this might be the last gathering they have. They've been doing it for a few years, and each time I visit it is fun. The B-25s gather here over the few days before the anniversary, then fly down to Wright-Patt for a ceremony.
The gathering at Grimes isn't quite an airshow, though you will see some flyovers. The planes taxi in and out, and you can inspect them when there's no activity. If you or anyone you know are a plane buff this will make their day, or month, or year. You can buy rides, talk to reenactors and veterans, see the "Flying Christmas Tree" light-testing plane, and walk down to the museum. Sweetie graciously came along and wasn't too bored; Baby K liked it- I was so proud.
The rest of the year it is a great small airport. Fly in here if you can, or drive in for some pie and plane-watching. read more