Citing several factors, organizers have canceled the 2025 Wilbur Wright Fly-in that usually takes place in July at Hagerstown’s public airport.
Optimist Club of Hagerstown has worked with Wayne County-based Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 373, food vendors, first responders and volunteers to offer the annual event on the 4,000-foot grass runway for many years.
EAA and Optimist leaders have both expressed hope on social media that the event will return in 2026. In some years, it has drawn about 3,000 fans.
Pilots from around the country traditionally have stopped for the Wilbur Wright Fly-in before EAA’s annual July convention in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and demonstrated their skills and shown their planes.
In its early years, the Wilbur Wright Fly-in was called the Hagerstown Flying Circus. The event now honors Wright, a co-inventor of fixed-wing air travel.
Wright was born near Millville about five miles from Hagerstown’s airport. The Wilbur Wright Birthplace Museum is open regularly to visitors at 1525 N. County Road 750 E. in Hagerstown.
In the meantime, those interested in seeing planes can stop by EAA’s fly-in breakfasts from 8:30-10:30 a.m. on the second Saturday each month through October at Hagerstown’s airport, 999 S. Washington St. Donations are encouraged for food. Those who come by car are welcome.
EAA also has planned a fly-in campout Sept. 19-21, also at Hagerstown’s airport. Participants can camp out under their wing or in their RV. Saturday’s activities include a fly-in breakfast, daytime poker run to local airports and a bonfire or movie at night.
For more information, call 765-993-2216.
A version of this article appeared in the July 16 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.