For nearly three decades, aviation enthusiasts and families have gathered at Cape May Airport’s Hangar #1 to experience historic aircraft up close, and this year’s AirFest is set to continue that tradition with one of its largest lineups yet.
AirFest 2026, the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum’s signature event and largest annual fundraiser, will take place Sept. 3 through 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day .
The event began nearly 30 years ago as a pancake breakfast fly-in, when pilots were encouraged to fly in and support the museum in exchange for breakfast.
Today, AirFest draws about 10,000 visitors over the four-day weekend and has grown into the museum’s largest annual fundraiser.
NASW Events and Communications Manager Austin Myers, who has worked at the museum for six years, begins planning the next AirFest as soon as the current one ends. This year’s event will feature the largest collection of aircraft the museum has booked for AirFest, with historic planes representing different chapters of military aviation history.
Among the headliners is the C-47 “Placid Lassie,” a 1943 World War II combat veteran that participated in D-Day, Operation Market Garden, the Battle of the Bulge and Operation Varsity. Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the aircraft and see what it was like inside a plane used during the war.
The Military Aviation Museum’s flying Messerschmitt Me 262 reproduction will also be featured. The aircraft represents the world’s first operational jet fighter.
Other aircraft will highlight the connections between American and Japanese aviation during World War II, including a TBM Avenger and a flying Japanese A6M Zero replica. A Stinson OY-1 Sentinel, which flew artillery-spotting missions during the Battle of Saipan, and a Fairchild UC-61 Forwarder in U.S. Coast Guard markings will also be on display.
The variety of aircraft reflects the museum’s own history. Naval Air Station Wildwood served as a World War II dive-bomber training facility, preparing young naval aviators for combat.
“What a lot of folks don’t know is these were guys [who were] maybe 18 to 23 years old,” Myers said. “Who might have never even have driven a car, and then now all of a sudden they’re here and they’re being told, ‘Hey, you’re going to learn to fly an airplane.’”
The museum is dedicated to the 42 naval aviators who died while training at NAS Wildwood between 1943 and 1945.
Myers said preserving that history is only part of AirFest’s purpose. The event also aims to introduce visitors — particularly young people — to aviation and the career opportunities available in the field.
“We have the FAA coming from the technical center. They talk about aviation STEM and all these career opportunities that you might have not thought about before,” Myers said.
Visitors can also meet pilots and crews, explore military vehicles and fire trucks, see living-history reenactors and visit aviation and STEM exhibits. Food trucks, vendors, live music, caricatures, face painting and a beer and wine garden will add to the family-friendly atmosphere.
Although AirFest is primarily a static-display event, some aircraft will fly in and out of Cape May Airport throughout the weekend. The Aero Club of Pennsylvania and EAA Fly-In will bring approximately 15 to 20 privately owned aircraft on Saturday, while AtlantiCare Medevac, Cape May County Mosquito Control and the New Jersey Forest Fire Service are also scheduled to participate.
There are no scheduled aerial performances, and aircraft arrivals and departures are subject to weather and other operational factors.
For Myers, AirFest is also an opportunity to introduce people to a museum they may have passed without realizing what is inside.
“The first time I ever came to Airfest was actually in 2019. I never knew this place was here,” he said.
After walking into the museum’s 92,000-square-foot Hangar #1, Myers said he immediately understood its appeal.
“I walked through the front door, and I instantly fell in love with the hangar,” he said.
Now, six years into his job, Myers hopes AirFest will give other visitors that same experience.
“I encourage folks to just take the ride,” he said. “To be honest, if you’re coming — I’m coming from Ocean City each day, back and forth — it’s worth the ride.”
AirFest admission is $18 for adults and $14 for children ages 3 to 12. Museum members, active-duty military and children ages 3 and under are admitted free. Veterans receive a $2 discount.
Free parking will be available, with shuttle service around the Cape May Airport complex on Saturday and Sunday.
Julia graduated from Rider University in 2024 with a BA in multiplatform journalism and minor in social media strategies. In addition to reporting on local news for Shore Local, she is a social media strategist for small businesses. Connect with her: shorelocaljulia@gmail.com or @juliatrain on Instagram.
