Oregon Museum Enjoys Successful Hood River Fly-In

Event marked by increased attendance and prosperous WAAM fundraising.

Meg Godlewski

Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 12:00 PM ET

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Edited By:

Travis Tingle

A Ford Trimotor sits on display at the recent Hood River Fly-In in Oregon. [Courtesy: Farron Brougher]

Key Takeaways:

The annual Hood River Fly-In successfully served as the Western Antique Airplane and Automobile Museum's (WAAAM) largest fundraiser, achieving its 120% funding goal for its fourth expansion project.
WAAAM's new expansion, slated for completion by spring 2026, will provide crucial additional space for displaying its extensive collection of airworthy rare and vintage aircraft and automobiles, accommodating restoration projects, and showcasing stored donations.
Despite challenging windy weather conditions that impacted some flights, the event maintained high attendance, offered alternative entertainment like vintage car rides, and relied on 220 dedicated volunteers to ensure safety and foster community connections among antique aircraft enthusiasts.

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The annual Hood River Fly-In was a success, with increased attendance numbers over last year. Now the folks at the Western Antique Airplane and Automobile Museum (WAAAM), the host of the event, are switching gears to focus on the latest expansion project—the fourth since the museum opened in 2007.

The museum, located at Ken Jernstedt Airfield (4S2), some 45 nm to the east of Portland International Airport (KPDX), boasts one of the finest collections of airworthy rare and vintage aircraft and automobiles and motorcycles on the West Coast. But it needs more room to display it all, according to museum director Stephanie Hatch.