By John Chambless

Staff Writer

There will be plenty to see on the ground and in the air at this weekend's Air Show at the New Garden Flying Field. The annual event draws big crowds to the Toughkenamon airport, where historic planes, aerial thrills and live entertainment make an unbeatable combination.

The gates open at 9 a.m. each day, with a show of gleaming antique cars and hot rods, as well as aircraft on the ground, open for inspection. Live entertainment in the morning includes The Ultimate Abbott and Costello Tribute Show, a recreation of the comedy team's greatest routines, featuring Bill Riley as Bud Abbott and Joe Ziegler as Lou Costello, as well as Jason Crutchley, who plays Scoop Fields. 

Adding to the nostalgic mood will be The Manhattan Dolls, a swing-style vocal trio that presents music of the 1920s through the 1960s.

Kids will be able to enjoy a moonbounce on the grounds, and there will be festival foods and refreshments served all day. The air show starts at 11:30 a.m. each day, with a series of aerial fly-bys and stunts performed in a variety of aircraft.

The FLS Microjet is a scaled-down jet, in which Navy pilots Justin Lewis and Tom Lunsford perform maneuvers that show off the jet's versatility and high-performance equipment.

Matt Chapman, an award-winning flyer, will demonstrate his aerobatic prowess for the crowds each day, along with Jerry Wells Bucker Aerobatics.

Visitors can see the "Spirit of Freedom" display that commemorates the Berlin Airlift during World War II. Inside the restored Douglas C-54E transport aircraft is a museum filled with artifacts, exhibits and information about the pivotal humanitarian event. Named "Spirit of Freedom," the aircraft is painted to represent the 48th Troop Carrier Squadron, one of the many groups which participated in the Berlin Airlift to bring food and supplies to Berlin citizens who had been blockaded during the war.

The Mid-Atlantic Air Museum will bring their B-25J bomber, which is a fully restored, operational 1940s aircraft that has appeared in seven movies and the TV miniseries "War and Remembrance." 

Tickets can be ordered online in advance, or bought at the gate. Adult one-day admission is $17 ($7 for ages 6 to 12). A one-day family pass for two adults and two children is $45. There's a VIP parking pass available for $15, and a VIP hangar pass (indoor seating with tables, drinks and snacks) for $10. A weekend pass, good both days, is $30 for adults and $10 for ages 6 to 12. The New Garden Flying Field is at 1235 Newark Rd., Toughkenamon. For more information or reservations, visit www.newgardenflyingfield.com.