Kicking off air show in style

Vintage airplanes and a couple hundred people smitten by them converged in a vast and spotless hangar Friday evening for a gala that launched this weekend’s Wings Over Wine Country air show.

Cocktails and appetizers of wild salmon and bruschetta began this Mustang Round-Up, hosted by volunteers of the Pacific Coast Air Museum. The organization is celebrating its 25th year and attracting public interest in its quest to significantly upgrade its presence at the Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport, where it occupies two simple buildings and keeps its historic aircraft on a dirt lot.

Friday’s fundraising party occupied the airport’s Vine Jet hangar. Through the social hour, guests enjoyed live music as they mingled, noshed and viewed the exhibited aircraft, auction items and a large-screen PowerPoint presentation on the history and ambitions of the Pacific Coast Air Museum.

As dinner wrapped up, the crowd turned its attention to a program that featured remarks by two local World War II combat veterans. There was an auction, then an appeal for donations to PCAM’s effort to construct a handsome structure ideal for air-and-space exhibits and events.

Following the dessert and thank-yous, everyone flew home. There was a major, two-day air show to prepare for.