Wings & Wheels lands big crowd

Bob Port could not wait to get in the air.

Port was scheduled to be a passenger on Panchito, the famous World War II-era B-25 based at Delaware Coastal Airport. Panchito was one of the aircraft that took part in the 15th annual Wings & Wheels at the airport in Georgetown Oct. 5.

Morning fog delayed his departure, but the Air Force veteran was ready to relive a special moment from his younger days.

“Seventy-four years ago I got a ride on a B-25 going home on leave, from Mississippi to Washington. Here I am at 93 hitching another ride,” Port said.

The Delaware Aviation Museum Foundation had several of its planes on display.

Visitors also got to sit inside a Delaware Air National Guard C-130 Hercules and an Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter, both from Wilmington Airport.

Chorman Aerial Spraying brought one of its yellow cropdusters, which are familiar sights over Sussex County.

John Reichert, who turns 100 later in October, sat on a stool in front of the hangar he has had for almost 40 years, happy to talk about planes and cars with anybody who would stop.

Reichert has two vintage planes and a dusty Packard sedan inside.

“I love them. I’d rather be flying,” Rechert said.

The planes were only half of the fun.

A total of 287 classic cars filled the southern part of the airport ramp, according to the Historic Vintage Car Club of Delaware. Each one came with four wheels and a story.

None were more unique that the 1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass W-31 convertible, owned by Jeff and Brenda Kane of Milton. It was one of five built to promote the Smothers Brothers Racing Team.

“Dickie Smothers was big into racing,” Jeff said. “Oldsmobile shipped them out to five different racers in strategic parts of the country where they wanted to sell cars. 1969 was the only year they painted all five in team colors.”

Jeff said they found the car in shambles in a Florida junkyard, bought it and had it restored to original condition. Dickie Smothers even came to Florida to see the car and signed the glove box.

Fast-forward to 1981, when Mike Rogers’ DeLorean rolled off the assembly line. That’s the gull-wing doored sports car made famous in the movie “Back to the Future.”

“People want to know, ‘Where’s the flux capacitor?’ I tell them this is just a base model,” Rogers said. “When I was 6, I saw one in a magazine and said, ‘I want one.’”

Rogers, who is from Milford, said he drives it quite a bit to work and other car shows.

The U.S Naval Academy Parachute Team was also scheduled to jump at the airport.

Dozens of vendors, selling food and crafts, were set up in the parking lot.

Next year’s Wings & Wheels is scheduled for Oct. 3-4.