WESTFIELD–The Westfield Aviation Museum will be holding their third annual Big Band Hangar Dance on Oct. 14, to raise money for the future site of the museum.
A picture of Simply Swing from their website, used with permission from Joe LaRosa.
The dance will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Hangar Three at Barnes Municipal Airport, and will feature live swing and big band music, a buffet, dancing, raffles and a cash bar. The funds will go toward the completion of the museum’s building. The plan for the museum has been ongoing for at least a decade according to members, and the project is finally nearing its completion.
“First dance we had, it was a hoot,” Pete Howe, Westfield Aviation Museum president, said. “We’re trying to raise money for awareness and frankly, it’s fun.”
Howe said that there are 250 tickets available and they are $40 each, but if the sales exceed expectations they are willing to sell more tickets. Additionally, Howe said that there have been invitations made to local politicians and noted people, but no official attendance has been received.
Front view of the PT-23.
The last two hangar dances, Howe said, were both well-received and sold out relatively quickly, and he sees this dance being no different–especially because alcohol will now be served.
Howe said this will be the first hangar dance that serves alcohol, which will be provided by Papps Bar and Grille. Regarding what kinds of alcohol would be served, a representative from Papps said that there would be a cash bar, but they were waiting for confirmation from the Westfield License Commission on what could be served. Whatever is allowed though, Papps said they will serve it.
Food will also be provided at the event, which will be from both East Mountain Country Club and Papps. Entrees will be provided by East Mountain and hors d’oeuvres will be provided by Papps.
The band that will be playing is a 10-piece outfit called “Simply Swing,” a central Connecticut-based band that performs “over 30 shows a year,” according to drummer and musical director Joe LaRosa.
LaRosa said that the band–which comes mostly from a military background–plays a variety of big band and swing music, including songs from Glenn Miller Band, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Natalie Cole.
Howe said that the event has the potential to raise several thousand dollars, which would bring the museum very close to having the funding needed to build their structure at 10 Airport Road.
Howe said that the museum is a place where history will not only be preserved, but also where people can experience some of the history and machines, as well.
This is a side-view of a Fairchild PT-23 trainer plane.
The museum will house live exhibits, provide the possibility for visitors to partake in plane rides, as well as learn about the history of aviation in the world, the country and in Westfield. Additionally, a majority of the aircraft and vehicles that are expected to be in the museum will be in working order and operational.
The planes are from a variety of makers and years, ranging from 1912 Bleriot replica to 1980 Kaman Autogyro, as well as more popular and well-known planes from Cessna. The planes are also coming from all over the US, including Nevada, Minnesota and Dallas.
WW II communications jeep.
For a more complete recap of the variety of vehicles that will be on display once the museum opens, you can read the May 16, 2015 article from Westfield News.
Howe said that the museum has received a lot of support from the community over the years, and this has shown both in the reaction to the hangar dances and from the outpouring of support. At one point, Howe said that they had received written support from “1,400 to 1,500 people” to build the museum.
Tickets are available by emailing [email protected], or in person at either Thermal Dynamix, 15 East Silver St., Westfield, or East Mountain Country Club, 1458 East Mountain Road, Westfield.
