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Photo gallery: The 2023 Gator Fly-In

WUFT | By Rae Riiska,
Augustus Hoff
Published March 27, 2023 at 10:10 AM EDT
A group of T6 Texan aircraft fly overhead the Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Fla., March 25, 2023. The missing man formation flyover was performed in honor of Col. Joseph Kittinger, former United States Airforce member. (Rae Riiska/WUFT News)
A group of T6 Texan aircraft fly overhead the Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Fla., March 25, 2023. The missing man formation flyover was performed in honor of Col. Joseph Kittinger, former United States Airforce member. (Rae Riiska/WUFT News)
Christopher Will (left) and James J. Dalton II (right) prepare to take flight in a 70-year-old North American T34-B Mentor aircraft at Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Fla., March 24, 2023. The T34-B will be available for the public to rent during the Gator Fly-In event on March 25, 2023. (Rae Riiska/WUFT News)
Christopher Will (left) and James J. Dalton II (right) prepare to take flight in a 70-year-old North American T34-B Mentor aircraft at Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Fla., March 24, 2023. The T34-B will be available for the public to rent during the Gator Fly-In event on March 25, 2023. (Rae Riiska/WUFT News)

Bill Pokorny, retired Navy and retired general manager of the University Air Center, speaks to a crowd of veterans at the Gator Fly-In day. The event was held at The Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Fla. March 25, 2023. (Rae Riiska/WUFT News)
Bill Pokorny, retired Navy and retired general manager of the University Air Center, speaks to a crowd of veterans at the Gator Fly-In day. The event was held at The Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Fla. March 25, 2023. (Rae Riiska/WUFT News)

 

Patrons of the Gator Fly-In event stand in front of a US Air Force C130H3 aircraft. The event took place at Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Fla. March 25, 2023. It was expected that around 5000 people attended the event. (Rae Riiska/WUFT News)
Patrons of the Gator Fly-In event stand in front of a US Air Force C130H3 aircraft. The event took place at Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Fla. March 25, 2023. It was expected that around 5000 people attended the event. (Rae Riiska/WUFT News)

 

Tom Bemben (left) and Rowan Bemben (right) sit in the cockpit of a US Air Force C130H3 aircraft. The C130H3 was a part of the Gator Fly-In event hosted at the Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Fla., March 25, 2023. (Rae Riiska/WUFT)
Tom Bemben (left) and Rowan Bemben (right) sit in the cockpit of a US Air Force C130H3 aircraft. The C130H3 was a part of the Gator Fly-In event hosted at the Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Fla., March 25, 2023. (Rae Riiska/WUFT)

 

A group of T6 Texan aircraft fly overhead the Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Fla., March 25, 2023. The missing man formation flyover was performed in honor of Col. Joseph Kittinger, former United States Airforce member. (Rae Riiska/WUFT News)
A group of T6 Texan aircraft fly overhead the Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Fla., March 25, 2023. The missing man formation flyover was performed in honor of Col. Joseph Kittinger, former United States Airforce member. (Rae Riiska/WUFT News)

 

Col. James J. Dalton stands on top of a 70-year-old North American T34-B Mentor aircraft at Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Fla., March 24, 2023. Patrons of the Gator Fly-In event will be able to rent rides on the T34-B on March 25 during the event. (Rae Riiska/WUFT News)
Col. James J. Dalton stands on top of a 70-year-old North American T34-B Mentor aircraft at Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Fla., March 24, 2023. Patrons of the Gator Fly-In event will be able to rent rides on the T34-B on March 25 during the event. (Rae Riiska/WUFT News)

 

A crowd of patrons at the Gator Fly-In event wait to enter the cockpit of a US Air Force C130H3 aircraft. The C130H3 was a part of the event hosted at the Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Fla., March 25, 2023. (Rae Riiska/WUFT News)
A crowd of patrons at the Gator Fly-In event wait to enter the cockpit of a US Air Force C130H3 aircraft. The C130H3 was a part of the event hosted at the Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Fla., March 25, 2023. (Rae Riiska/WUFT News)

 

The center counsel of a C130H3 is empty after a US Air Force crew from Savannah, Georgia, unloads. The flight deck of a C130H3 aircraft will be open to the public during the Gator Fly-In event at the Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Fla., March 24, 2023. (Rae Riiska/WUFT News)
The center counsel of a C130H3 is empty after a US Air Force crew from Savannah, Georgia, unloads. The flight deck of a C130H3 aircraft will be open to the public during the Gator Fly-In event at the Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Fla., March 24, 2023. (Rae Riiska/WUFT News)

 

A US Navy aircraft sits on the tarmac of the Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Fla. The aircraft was displayed for patrons of the Gator Fly-In event March 25, 2023. (Rae Riiska/WUFT News)
A US Navy aircraft sits on the tarmac of the Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Fla. The aircraft was displayed for patrons of the Gator Fly-In event March 25, 2023. (Rae Riiska/WUFT News)

 

The University of Florida Gator Guard performs a drill routine in front of a crowd of veterans for the Gator Fly-In event held at the Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Fla., March 25, 2023. (Rae Riiska/WUFT News)
The University of Florida Gator Guard performs a drill routine in front of a crowd of veterans for the Gator Fly-In event held at the Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Fla., March 25, 2023. (Rae Riiska/WUFT News)

 

An aircraft marshall directs a C130H3 into the Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Fla., March 24, 2023. The US Air Force craft will be a part of the Gator Fly-In event which takes place on March 25, 2023. “Our annual Gator Fly-In and American Services Appreciation Day is our way of honoring all branches of the military, including some great Gator dignitaries, military and civil aviators who will be flying it many different types of aircraft to the UAC for the event,” said Allan Penska, CEO, Gainesville Regional Airport. (Rae Riiska/WUFT News)
An aircraft marshall directs a C130H3 into the Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Fla., March 24, 2023. The US Air Force craft will be a part of the Gator Fly-In event which takes place on March 25, 2023. “Our annual Gator Fly-In and American Services Appreciation Day is our way of honoring all branches of the military, including some great Gator dignitaries, military and civil aviators who will be flying it many different types of aircraft to the UAC for the event,” said Allan Penska, CEO, Gainesville Regional Airport. (Rae Riiska/WUFT News)

 

A US Air Force 1993 C130H3 sits on the tarmac of Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Fla., March 24, 2023. The plane will be part of the Gator Fly-In event on March 25, 2023. Patrons in attendance can expect to see live music, food trucks, an opening ceremony with flyovers and a color guard presentation along with the “Flown West” ceremony for Col. Joseph Kittinger. (Rae Riiska/WUFT News)
A US Air Force 1993 C130H3 sits on the tarmac of Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Fla., March 24, 2023. The plane will be part of the Gator Fly-In event on March 25, 2023. Patrons in attendance can expect to see live music, food trucks, an opening ceremony with flyovers and a color guard presentation along with the “Flown West” ceremony for Col. Joseph Kittinger. (Rae Riiska/WUFT News)

 

A helicopter takes patrons of the Gator Fly-In on a 15-minute tour of Gainesville, March 25, 2023. The tours were a part of the Gator Fly-In event at the Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Fla. (Rae Riiska/WUFT News)
A helicopter takes patrons of the Gator Fly-In on a 15-minute tour of Gainesville, March 25, 2023. The tours were a part of the Gator Fly-In event at the Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Fla. (Rae Riiska/WUFT News)

 

Century Tower is seen during an aerial fly-over of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla., on Mar. 24, 2023. The fly-over is a tour offered on the Gator Fly-in event on Saturday, Mar. 25, 2023. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)

 

The University of Florida is seen during an aerial fly-over over in Gainesville, Fla., on Mar. 24, 2023. The fly-over is a tour offered on the Gator Fly-in event on Saturday, Mar. 25, 2023. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)
The University of Florida is seen during an aerial fly-over over in Gainesville, Fla., on Mar. 24, 2023. The fly-over is a tour offered on the Gator Fly-in event on Saturday, Mar. 25, 2023. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)
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Arts and Entertainment Gainesville Regional AirportGainesvilleUniversity of FloridaFloridamusicwuft newsveteransbillairportgeorgiasaturdayWUFT
Rae Riiska
Rae is a reporter for WUFT News who can be reached by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.
See stories by Rae Riiska
Augustus Hoff
Augustus is a reporter for WUFT News who can be reached by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.
See stories by Augustus Hoff