COTTAGE GROVE – It’s not a bird, it’s a plane – about 20 of them, actually.
They will be lined up outside the Oregon Aviation Historical Society and Museum in about a week. Modern and vintage aircraft, automobiles, and motorcycles will be there, too.
The 11th annual Wings and Wheels is on Saturday, June 28, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Jim 2475 Jim Wright Way in Cottage Grove.
“It can be hectic, but it’s fun,” said director and longtime museum volunteer Annette Whittington.
Museum coordinator Laura Pearson has been hard at work inviting community members to showcase their road and air vehicles for the public.
“The cars are pretty local,” said Whittington. “The airplanes can come from anywhere in Oregon.” Last year’s event included 28 cars and seven motorcycles, in addition to the aircraft. This year, there will be a new aviation display of the Holmes Glider and Story 2.
Children under the age of 13 can check out the event for free. Regular admission is $5.
The event is the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and proceeds directly support the restoration of vintage aircraft at the aviation center, which will be open during the event.
With an extensive collection of vintage aircraft, engines, data, and photography, the museum showcases the pioneering spirit that defined Oregon’s aerial development throughout the 20th century.
Oregon made significant contributions to airplane design and the development of experimental aircraft. The museum regularly showcases influential Oregon aviators, including air show performers Tex Rankin and Dorothy Hester, as well as notable vintage aircraft, such as a meticulously restored 1930s glider.
Glenda Wiffler’s local art will be for sale during the second annual art show, and Shawna Michaelis is serving breakfast and lunch from her Home Skillet food truck for the third year. Michaelis’ father was a pilot and air traffic controller. “Pilots have a very close spot in my heart. Meeting them and hearing their stories, that’s my favorite part,” Michaelis said.
Locally donated raffle prizes, such as tickets from the Cottage Theatre, will be available for purchase to help fund the museum.
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Whittington said she has historical preservation “in her genes.”
“My great-grandfather came on the Oregon Trail when he was 9 years old,” she said. “He helped start the Oregon Historical Society back in 1898.”
Whittington’s family has been involved in aviation since the 1920s and 1930s.
“I grew up at the airport. My parents ran the airport in Lakeview,” she said. “My dad did everything with an airplane that you can imagine — forest fire patrol, looking for people, looking for cows, snow survey …”
Though not a pilot herself, her sister has continued her aviation career in Salem for over 40 years, while Whittington honors her family legacy through museum preservation work.
“I do this for my dad,” she said, having been a volunteer board member for 35 years.
Behind Whittington in the museum was a wall of boxes of historical documents and files that require cataloging and digitization.
The museum faces significant challenges in digitizing its archives, primarily due to limited funding and a lack of resources, she said. The museum is seeking support from the community through volunteer assistance for archival work, potential grant funding, technical expertise in digital preservation, and financial contributions. The facility relies heavily on volunteers, grants, and community support.
Whittington said that the museum’s current volunteer requires younger support.
“We’re looking for some new blood,” Whittington said. “Our board members are all getting older, including myself.”
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