WACO Military Experience

The first WACO Military Experience, a military show and swap meet, will take place July 10, 11 and 12 in Troy, home of the WACO Aircraft Company. The WACO Military Experience will be at historic WACO Field, site of the WACO Air Museum at 1865 S. County Rd. 25A in Troy. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. July 10 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 11 and July 12.
Military displays include vintage aircraft representing 20th century conflicts along with authentically restored military vehicles.
Featured will be re-enactors and living history encampments, authentic military uniforms and artifacts, home-front displays and military drill demonstrations.
Area nonprofit organizations, veteran’s organizations and memorabilia vendors will also will have displays throughout the three-day weekend. There also will be food and themed entertainment.
The WACO Military Experience is open to the public. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 7-17. Children ages 6 and younger are free. Active or retired military get $1 off admission with proof of service.
At 8 p.m. July 11, there will be a USO Big Band Dance. Admission is $8.

Attendees also can visit the WACO Air Museum, which showcases the legacy of the WACO Aircraft Company and other regional aircraft history, including a WACO primary glider, a 1902 Wright Brothers Glider replica, the WACO 4 and WACO Cootie replica, the Mackey Taperwing, and a WACO UPF-7.
Many spectacular photo murals grace the walls of the 7,500-square-foot facility. On exhibit are some of the thousands of rare WACO photographs held by the WACO Historical Society and numerous WACO factory and WWII WACO combat glider artifacts and photos. The museum also features 10 WACO radio-controlled models, a museum theater/classroom, numerous WACO vintage aircraft scale models, radial aircraft engines, vintage propellers, a museum archive library and a museum gift shop.
Museum admission is $6 for adults, with military ID $5, students 7-18 years $3. Admission is free for children 6 and under free and WACO Historical Society members.
For details about the WACO Military Experience, contact Karen Purke, executive director of the WACO Historical Society at (937) 335-9226 or go online at www.wacoairmuseum.org.