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Wings & Wheels brings big crowd to Georgetown airport

Classic cars, planes thrill visitors on perfect weather day
Panchito provides a nice photo op for people at Wings & Wheels at Delaware Coastal Airport Oct. 4. The World War II B-25 bomber gave rides all day, a big part of the annual fly-in-drive-in. BILL SHULL PHOTOS
Bill Shull
October 8, 2025

Holly Noseworthy drove her yellow 2002 Trans Am convertible into Delaware Coastal Airport on a perfect ragtop day.

“We found out about the show four years ago, fell in love with it and keep coming back,” she said.

She was one of hundreds of classic car owners who came to the 16th annual Wings & Wheels event Oct. 4. Thousands of people came out to see the classics, both with and without wings, at the fall fly-in-drive-in.

Pontiacs and Packards mixed with Corvettes and Mustangs.

“I’ve had it for 21 years,” said Marjorie Richard of Dagsboro of her custom 2000 Mustang. “I just got done building it in the last seven years.”

On the aviation side, a clear blue sky meant high-flying action. The United States Naval Academy Parachute Team thrilled the crowd with several jumps.

Panchito, the B-25 bomber based at the airport, is always a favorite when it roars off the runway to give rides around Sussex County.

Jeff Chorman brought some of his fleet of aerial sprayers and crop dusters.

Rick Cyrus flew his homebuilt RV-6 in from Salisbury, Md.

“It’s not like a normal Cessna. It’s a little different,” Cyrus said. 

And, talk about different. John Chirtea was there with his electric flying car, called a Black Fly. 

Chirtea has become a common sight over Eagle Crest Aerodrome, but he was expected to demo the aircraft for the big crowd at Delaware Coastal.

A new exhibit this year was the U.S. Air Force Performance Lab, which had an F-16 jet engine on display outside and a jet fighter experience inside.

“We have an F-35 simulator inside that uses Oculus. There’s some rumbling in the seat – it’s just a lot of fun,” said Nick Perez, a USAF recruiter. “It allows us to showcase what the Air Force is about.”

Organizers have announced that next year’s Wings & Wheels will be held Oct. 2-3.

 

Holly Noseworthy of Felton polishes the hood of her 2002 Pontiac Trans Am. It was a perfect day to have a convertible.
Chorman Aerial Spraying had five aircraft at Wings & Wheels, including an AT-6 Texan, right, and the red helicopter, which is used for mosquito spraying.
An F-16 engine, courtesy of the Air Force Performance Lab, was a popular attraction.
Marjorie Richard of Dagsboro built her custom Mustang herself. The sign under the hood says, “This is a car show, not a petting zoo, please do not touch.”
The United States Naval Academy Parachute Team gets a briefing before its first jump of the day.
A member of the United States Naval Academy Parachute Team makes a grand arrival.
The United States Naval Academy Parachute Team spirals down trailing pink smoke.
A smoky engine start for Panchito as it begins its day giving rides over Sussex County.
McQueen Classics displays a nice lineup of vehicles to Wings & Wheels.
One of Jeff Chorman’s Air Tractor crop dusters has the Delaware flag on the tail.
John Chirtea hauls his Black Fly flying car to the flight line. Chirtea was scheduled to demo the unique electric aircraft.
Some of the World War II-era military vehicles on display.
A Corvette Stingray is directed to parking at Wings & Wheels.
A Studebaker Avanti arrives for Wings & Wheels.
The U.S. Air Force Performance Lab gave kids an opportunity to fly in an F-35 simulator.
Rick Cyrus brought his homebuilt 2003 RV-6 from Salisbury, Md.
A lineup on red Corvettes.
This 1936 Packard was a showstopper.
A 1968 Buick Skylark leads the parade of vehicles arriving for the car show portion of Wings & Wheels.
Ben Hoffecker gets his 1939 Chevy four-door sedan show-ready. “I take it around and drive and enjoy it,” he said.
Four Epsilon TB-30s make a formation pass over Wings & Wheels.
Bob Young and his 1959 Cessna 175. Young is one of the longest-resident hangar tenants at Delaware Coastal Airport.
Guy Walker of Rehoboth Beach with his 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby Cobra.

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Bill Shull has been covering Lewes for the Cape Gazette since 2023. He comes to the world of print journalism after 40 years in TV news. Bill has worked in his hometown of Philadelphia, as well as Atlanta and Washington, D.C. He came to Lewes in 2014 to help launch WRDE-TV. Bill served as WRDE’s news director for more than eight years, working in Lewes and Milton. He is a 1986 graduate of Penn State University. Bill is an avid aviation and wildlife photographer, and a big Penn State football, Eagles, Phillies and PGA Tour golf fan. Bill, his wife Jill and their rescue cat, Lucky, live in Rehoboth Beach.

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