SoKY’s Choice: annual Hangar Party ‘takes off’ indoors
The community showed out among the rain chance for the 2025 'Hangar Party'
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WNKY) — A crowd of several hundred gathered Saturday evening inside the Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport hangar for the annual Aviation Heritage Park Hangar Party—an event filled with aircraft, music and a celebration of aviation’s role in the community.
The event was moved indoors this year due to the threat of rain, but organizers say that didn’t dampen the spirit.
“This year was going to be a doozy,” said Bob Pitchford, a member of the Aviation Heritage Park Board of Directors. “So we pivoted and brought everything in the house… and it probably ensured this beautiful evening,” Pitchford said sarcastically during the dry and beautiful evening.
The Hangar Party serves as the park’s primary fundraiser, helping to keep the museum and outdoor exhibits free to the public.
“This is our big get back,” Pitchford said. “We had this big party, invite 700 or 800 of our closest friends, and have a big time.”
Airport manager Susan Harmon said the event is about more than just raising money.
“Everybody can come out, have fun, see the static displays and have love,” Harmon said. “It’s great to involve everybody and let them know a little bit about general aviation.”
Several aircraft were on display, many brought in by local pilots. Harmon said despite the weather preventing some aircraft from flying in, attendees still had plenty to explore.
For retired pilot Fitz Shelton, the event was about sharing a lifelong passion.
“When everybody else just wants to stay on the ground… all you need is a couple thousand feet and you can be anywhere else in the world,” Shelton said.
Shelton, who began flying at 18, now flies a rare 1947 Oscar Taylorcraft that he co-owns and displays at events like this one. He said one of the highlights is connecting with young people who may one day follow in his footsteps.
“If you can get a young person and they fly for the first time… when they say, ‘I want to go to the Air Force Academy and be an F-14 pilot’… that’s a great honor for me,” he said. “Because I was that kid once.”
Pitchford echoed that sentiment, saying aviation can be a pathway for local students to dream big.
“Every one of our honored aviators… they were all ten years old once,” he said. “Looking up and wondering, ‘Can I do that?’”
For more information about the Aviation Heritage Park, visit AviationHeritagePark.com or see them in-person at 1825 Three Springs Road in Bowling Green.
