Sonoma Valley Airport Display Days

Sonoma Valley Airport is a local hub of historic aviation and classic planes, and one weekend a month, owners put their aircraft on display for visitors to come see. Kids of all ages, including grown-up kids, love to come check out the historic aircraft on display and see some of them take to the skies. Best of all, display days at Sonoma Valley Airport are free!

Located just south of the town of Sonoma, Sonoma Valley Airport's display days usually take place on the second weekend of every month. The aiport (also known as Schellville Airport) is home to a wide array of historic planes, making it a living aviation museum of sorts. Feel free to wander the hangar rows and check out the planes on view. The airport is well known for its fleet of World War II-era Boeing Stearman biplanes, and you'll also see rare machines like an SNJ (the Navy version of the famous North American T-6 "Texan" trainer), a De Havilland Tiger Moth, a Piper Cub or two, a Curtiss P-40N Warhawk, and a North American P-51 Mustang. The next display days this summer are July 9 and 10 and August 13 and 14.

Since this is a working airport, planes are coming and going all the time. It's a lot of fun to watch them start the engine on a Stearman biplane, taxi it out to the runway, and take off. Adventurous types can even go for a ride in one of the classic planes operated by Vintage Aircraft Co. Walk-ins are taken on weekends from 10:30 am to 4 pm (no reservations are needed), and rides start at $225 for a 20-minute unforgettable scenic flight over the Wine Country. Longer flights will even take you out over Novato and Tomales Bay or Mt. Tam and the Marin Headlands! Those who desire an even more exciting flight can even book a ride in the P-40 or P-51.

Walking around the airport looking at old planes is a lot of fun, but since this is a real working airport and not a static museum, safety is something that has to be a first priority. If you're visiting the Sonoma Valley Airport with children, please keep these safety rules in mind:

• Children must be in the direct presence of an adult at all times.
• Never, ever walk in front of an airplane with a moving propellor!
• Always assume that a plane's propellor could start turning at any time.
• Don't touch or climb on planes.
• Stay off the taxiways when planes are present — they always have the right-of-way.
• Small children must hold the hand of an adult while walking around the airport.
• Never let children run around or wander around unattended.
• Leave your pets at home.

Visiting the airport on a display day is a fun outing, so use these common-sense tips to keep it that way.

If you're hungry after your visit, Angelo's Wine Country Deli located just down the street from the airport (look for the life-size fiberglass cow on the roof) makes awesome sandwiches and amazing homemade beef jerky. It's always our go-to place for lunch when we're in the area. You can also visit the Fruit Basket across the street for fresh produce, fruit, drinks, and a wide variety of snacks.

Also worth visiting and literally right next door is Cornerstone Sonoma, a complex of shops and wine-tasting rooms accompanied by a collection of gardens, each one designed by a noted landscape architect. Folktable restaurant offers locally-sourced fare, too.

If You Go

Sonoma Valley Airport is located at 23980 Arnold Drive (Highway 121) in Sonoma. To get there from Marin, take Highway 101 to Highway 37 east. Follow 37 to the Highway 121 turnoff near Sonoma Raceway, then follow Highway 121 north. Look for the airport on the right side of the road.

For more information, visit the airport onlne at sonomavalleyairport.com or call (707) 938-2444. For airplane ride information, call Vintage Aircraft Co. at the same phone number, or visit www.vintageaircraft.com.