Most families will look at Christmas lights by either driving or sometimes walking around different neighborhoods and displays.
However, for nine years, the Midland High Sky Wing has offered a unique way to experience Christmas lights; flying above from the seat of a vintage World War II plane.
Starting this week, the High Sky Wing will be offering its Christmas Lights Night Flights.
For 10 nights this month, passengers can fly in a Beech C-45, also known as the “Spirit of West Texas,” and enjoy the Christmas light splendor in the Odessa-Midland area.
Flights will take place from 6-9:30 p.m. from Dec. 9-11, 14-18 and 20-21 and will take off from the Commemorative Air Force Main Hangar at Midland International Air and Space Port before returning.
“We’re always excited to bring this back to the community,” Wing Leader at High Sky Wing Gena Linebarger said. “We love to see the smiles on everyone’s faces when they come off the aircraft. It brings a lot of joy to people.”
Each flight lasts about 30 minutes, flying generally over grasslands.
“We do that for two reasons, one it’s lit up very nicely and two, it’s in close proximity to the airport,” Linebarger said. “Therefore, we give you more time in the air seeing the lights. Occasionally we’ll take a flight and go downtown Midland and loop around the grassland areas as well. But we want to give our riders as much time as we can to see the beautiful lights.”
About four different pilots take turns flying during each night.
“We have several pilots that are qualified to fly,” Linebarger said. “The pilots rotate. We have four pilots and they take turns that way we don’t wear anyone out. They’ve flown this aircraft consistently. We do encourage our riders to come out early. We do have a little bit of paperwork that goes with it but we also have hot chocolate and cookies and Christmas music playing so it’s a festive atmosphere. We encourage people to check out our museum while waiting for their flight or spend some time afterwards to go through the museum then.”
For Linebarger, the Christmas lights flights offer a unique opportunity for families to enjoy the displays and for the High Sky Wing to be involved in the community.
Children must be ages 5 and older.
“A lot of people don’t just get the chance to fly, especially a warbird,” Linebarger said. “To combine that experience with going up in the aircraft and seeing the Christmas lights, it’s just those beautiful things that comes together. It’s a good family thing too.”
The plane seats five people. Cabin seats are $75 per person and $145 for the co-pilot seat.
Customers also have the choice of purchasing all five seats on the aircraft for $395.
The C-45 has plenty of history in the Midland area as Linebarger said it was a plane that was seen a lot at the Midland Air Field during World War II.
The aircraft was used to help train bombardiers during the war who actually used an AT-11, a plane much similar to the C-45.
“We’re giving people a history lesson and we call them a living history flight,” Linebarger said. “We’re combining the joy of Christmas with a little bit of education and what it would be like in World War II to fly a C-45.”
The C-45 is also capable of handling children ages 5 and up, which is another reason the High Sky Wing uses that plane each year.
“The seating is more like a commercial airline,” Linebarger said. “It accommodates the younger folks. Not all the CAF aircraft is capable of doing that. Most of the time, you have to be 12 or up to ride so that’s why this is a great family gift to give as well.”
To book a flight, email [email protected] or call 432-254-6182.
For more information about the Christmas Lights Night Flights or the High Sky Wing and the CAF, visit tinyurl.com/42e7n9h9.
