Memories of the Merced Antique Fly-in

During the years between 1963 and 2008, first weekend in June was a special time. The Merced Antique Fly-in, held in Merced, Calif., drew antique aircraft from all directions. You never knew what interesting old aircraft you might encounter at this annual event.

Merced is located in the agricultural Central Valley of California approximately 300 miles north of Los Angeles. In the early summer, Los Angeles and Orange County experience a low cloud cover called a marine layer created by moist air flowing in from the Pacific. Heading north out of the Los Angeles Basin, when you reach the “Ridge Route,” Highway 99, and cross the mountains, the sky is usually clear the rest of the way to Merced.

Organized by the Merced Pilots Association, it was one of the two big antique and classic aircraft shows that took place each year in California. The other is at nearby Watsonville on the Pacific coast. Heavy fog is a perpetual problem for Watsonville because of its proximity to the Pacific Ocean.

The Merced show has drawn 2,000 aircraft when you include antiques, classic, homebuilts, kitplanes, common civil aircraft and restored WWII aircraft – primarily trainers. An occasional P-51 or other WWII fighters will show up once in a while.

The closure of nearby Castle AFB was a serious blow to both the city of Merced and the fly-in. Air Force volunteers were a significant . . .