MONROE — Flyboys, Tinseltown stars, swing kids and pin curls: The 1940s are returning to Monroe this weekend with the fourth Warriors and Warbirds Air Show.

As many as 70,000 people are expected to come see the annual Veterans Day air show on Saturday and Sunday at the Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport to check out the World War II-era planes and take in stunt flying and reenactments of World War II bombing runs, complete with pyrotechnics.

“The great thing is people can get up close to the plane and the pilots and learn about the history of the planes,” said city spokesman Pete Hovanec.

One of the main attractions will be the Flying Fortress B-17 bomber, which was featured in the movie “The Memphis Belle.” Hovanec said there are only about a dozen flying in the world, and another 35 that survived the war but are grounded.

“For me, that’s the highlight, to be able to see a piece of history but also movie memorabilia,” said Economic Development Director Chris Platé.

Coincidentally, Matthew Modine, who appeared in the movie, is filming “The Trial” in Union County. He will speak Saturday at the show.

NASA astronaut Joe Edwards will also speak during the opening ceremonies, as will Michelle Marcano from Union County Veterans Services.

Now in its fourth year, the air show began on the ground, with a hangar dance.

“We were out on the hangar and felt that not enough was being done to honor our veterans,” said event co-founder Bob Russell. “We wanted to do something to let them know we appreciate their sacrifices to make this country free.”

Once the city got involved with the event, the show literally took off. This is its second year as a performance air show.

But no matter how big the event gets, Platé says it’s important to remember why it was created in the first place.

“What they were able to survive and go through — the air show is about celebrating them and all veterans, but World War II particularly, because they’re becoming more and more rare as well,” he said.

Gates open at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for veterans and free for those 18 and under. Smoking, pets and coolers are prohibited. For more information, visit www.warriorsandwarbirds.com.



Schedule

9 a.m. – Gates Open

10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. – Opening Ceremony

11:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Air Show

5:30 p.m. – Hangar Dance, Saturday only

Parking

Visitors can park at the business parking lots on Airport Road, at SPCC and along Capitol Drive. They can also park on the grass lots at the corner of Old Charlotte Highway and Airport Road and on the grass lot at Rocky River Road at the AeroPoint Industrial Centre. There will be shuttle rides to the event location.