Living History Flight Experience To Return To LI's American Airpower Museum

FARMINGDALE, NY — The C-47 D-Day Living History Flight Experience is set to return to the American Airpower Museum (AAM) in Farmingdale on May 14, according to a news release from the museum. The rain date is scheduled for May 15.

Guests have the chance to fly on the original WWII Douglas C-47 Skytrain transport aircraft “Second Chance,” and are joined by AAM’s Living Historians for a realistic recreation of what U.S. Paratroopers experienced on D-Day.

There are three flights set for May 14 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Seats are allocated first come first served. To book a flight, people may call 516-531-3950 or 631-454-2039, or visit the museum’s gift shop Wednesday to Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Hangar 3, 1230 New Highway, Farmingdale.

The cost of each C-47 flight is $350. A flight experience entitles someone to bring an additional person who can visit AAM’s exhibits all day free of charge. People can also visit the museum on May 14 to watch the flights or tour the museum, in which case, admission is $20 for adults; $15 for seniors and veterans; and $10 for children ages 5 through 12. No tickets or pre-registration is needed for regular admission.

"AAM’s Living History Flight Experience is a one-of-a-kind immersive educational program, where Living Historians join you in an original WWII C-47 to give a sense of what 101 st and 82 nd Airborne Division Paratroopers felt on their incredible 1,200-plane D-Day assault," the museum wrote in a news release.

Robert Scarabino, Long Island’s noted WWII living historian, is set to serve as mission commander on the flights. He has led AAM’s C-47 D-Day flights since 2003.

The mission includes: a briefing in the ready room; a chance to wear authentic military field jackets, helmets and gear; the actual sights, smells and sounds as the C-47’s twin engines fire up and you’re off into the blue; see, hear and feel the crew operating their C-47 as Scarabino orders his “paratroopers” to ready for battle. Finally, participants attach their parachute hook to the overhead static line for a simulated jump.

The family-friendly program is for all ages and provides an educational experience about World War II and the United States' Greatest Generation veterans.

“Second Chance,” an original WWII C-47, was transferred to the Royal Air Force in 1945 and flew in the Berlin Airlift (1948 - 1949) with the Royal Air Force, serving until 1950. The aircraft next served in the Belgian Air Force for two years. In 1952, "Second Chance" went to the French Air Force, serving two years in Vietnam, as well as in India, Algeria, Morocco and the Congo.

In 1967, the aircraft was sold to Israel and flew in the Israeli Defense Force for 32 years. American
Airpower Museum acquired the aircraft in 2000.

"Second Chance" regularly conducts AAM’s C-47 D-Day Living History Flights. The aircraft also performs at regional air shows in classic WWII D-Day markings with the original “D8”
code. One of the last C-47s still in stock military configuration, this aircraft has more than 17,000 hours in the air, one of the world’s lowest flight times ever.