Compared to the $6 to $8 tickets to enter a gun show, the $10 ticket fee for the PA event proved to be, again, the bargain of the year. The WWII vintage aircraft, vehicles, firearms, and equipment on display by collectors, is awesome, not to mention the re-enacting demonstrations involving U.S., Germanicon, and Japaneseicon firefights using blank-firing weapons.

During the airshow, the announcer made a glum comment. He said enjoy (videotape) these warbirds in flight now because the day will come when they will no longer be flying. Acquiring and restoring a vintage fighter takes $250,000. But that's not what will be grounding these WWII planes.

He said: 1) fuel costs are high 2) the hi octane fuel these aircraft take just isn't available anymore. In actuality, these relic planes have to have their respective engines "retuned" to take a lower octane fuel. 3) Insurance is a factor, too. He didn't explain but either insurance companies won't insure these relics or, if they will, the premiums are sky-high.

He said there is no problem getting qualified mechanics to maintain these planes nor is there a problem getting parts for them. In fact, there are companies that produce new parts for these vintage planes.

I did manage to get inside a C47 fitted to carry a stick of paratroopers. The movies make the inside of one look MUCH more spacious than what it really is.

As usual, I marveled at the sight of four remaining band of brothers autographing books in their usual place in the museum hangar.

Other than being stuck in a snail-crawl 1.5 hour traffic jam 2 miles before the expressway exit into the airfield, it was a great experience.

Another interesting bit of info came from one of the German re-enactors. I admired his Mauser 98 whose muzzle end (front sight) was "different" from the usual Mausers I see. He said it was modified by the Israeles. He said Russiaicon sold a bunch of captured 98s to them. I think he even said some Mauser chambers were redone to accommodate the .308 cartridge. You guys on the Mauser forum might shed some light on this.

If you haven't been to the Reading show, I encourage you to go just once. You won't be disappointed in the variety of sights and experiences of the WWII generation.
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