![A Ford Trimotor sits on display at the recent Hood River Fly-In in Oregon. [Courtesy: Farron Brougher]](https://www.flyingmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Trimotor-door-open-1-scaled.jpg)
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.
“Since 2019 WAAAM has been raising funds for the latest addition to the museum,” Hatch said. “We finally hit our projected 120 percent funded [goal] after the 2024 fly-in. [That’s] 100 percent for the building and 20 percent extra because that’s how construction always seems to go.”
Hatch added that the new space will give the museum extra space to display current exhibits in the collection and provide much-needed placement for projects nearing completion in the restoration shop, as well as the donations that have been in storage until an appropriate room is made for them.
The new addition is slated to be complete by spring 2026, and this year’s fly-in attendees had a chance to see a preview of that space.
The fly-in, which took place September 6-7, is the museum’s largest fundraiser. Sometimes the weather can make it more of a challenge to fly in. Last year, for example, the visibility was hampered by smoke from wildfires. This year it was the wind.
![The Grumman Goose owned by Addison Pemberton sits on the ramp at the Hood River Fly-In in Oregon. [Courtesy: Farron Brougher]](https://www.flyingmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Grumman-Goose-Addison-Pemberton-owner-1024x768.jpg)
According to volunteer Farron Brougher, who has worked the fly-in before, careful attention is always paid to the weather, as you have to be extra cautious when it comes to protecting these antique designs.
“Saturday’s weather went well until it turned a corner in the late afternoon—around 4 p.m. [PDT]—and then tanked at dark, but fortunately didn’t stay bad for long,” Hatch said. “Sunday was windy, which was fine for normal pilots, but for someone getting their very first open cockpit biplane ride in the museum’s aircraft, it was a bit too much for a good flight, so we stopped the revenue rides midmorning.”
When the winds kicked up, the aircraft stayed down. However, there were rides in vintage cars to keep folks entertained, and it was still fun to get up close to the aircraft, such as the Ford Trimotor, which in its heyday was one of the first airliners.
![Showing off their WAAAM awards, Summer Martell (left) poses with Bean Thun at the annual Hood River Fly-in. [Courtesy: Summer Martell]](https://www.flyingmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Bean-and-Summer-Large-768x1024.jpeg)
Volunteers Make It Work
The fly-in would not be possible without the efforts of some 220 dedicated volunteers, according to Hatch.
“Our volunteers out on the flight line directing aircraft parking are here from dawn to dusk, making sure everyone has a good time and stays safe,” she said.
On Saturday the Lions Club provided breakfast and lunch, which drew a long line. When the weather turned, pilots pulled together to make sure aircraft were properly secured, and the owners of antique open-cockpit designs were lucky enough to find hangar space to wait out the storm.
“We were all on our phones, watching the convective activity approach, watching the radar and walking up and down the flight line, making sure all the airplanes were tied down,” said Summer Martell, from Port Townsend, Washington.
Martell flies a 1930s-era Student Prince biplane, number 103, which was the last one built in the factory on Swan Island near Portland before the factory closed due to the Great Depression.
Martell learned to fly as a teen in the Student Prince. It was owned by her father, “Flyin’ Bryan.” Father and daughter spent summers barnstorming, with Summer hauling cans of gas to the airplane and collecting the money as her father flew.
Today Martell works as a DPE and ATP-rated corporate pilot. She inherited the airplane from her father, and like him, spends a good deal of time hopping rides at fly-ins. This year the Student Prince brought home the Hood River trophy for grand champion.
Meet New Friends, Reconnect With Old
The fly-in is a celebration, and lots of new friends are made. Bean Thun, 82, posed for photos in front of his award-winning, freshly-restored 1929 Davis V-3. He took home the best antique award.
Thun also paused to pose with Martell, since the pair have known each other for 35 years. Thun’s father, John Thun, created Thun Field, now known as Pierce County Airport-Thun Field (KPLU), during World War II.
Today the airport located east of Tacoma sports three busy flight schools and is home to a smattering of vintage aircraft, several of which made the journey to be part of the Hood River Fly-In.
