FOLEY – Foley’s historic N3N biplane will join the skies over Pensacola this month as part of the annual Veterans Flight during the Blue Angels Air Show on July 11 and 12.
The Veterans Flight, held at the Pensacola Aviation Center at Pensacola International Airport, honors veterans of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. During the event, a variety of vintage military aircraft will take veterans up for commemorative flights.
This year marks the first time a Navy N3N biplane will fly in the Veterans Flight, and Foley’s 83-year-old aircraft will proudly lead that milestone. Other historic aircraft expected to participate include Stearman biplanes, T-6 Texans, and a T-34 Mentor.
Phil Webb, the volunteer pilot who maintains and flies the N3N for Foley, said the Veterans Flight started about 12 years ago as a grassroots effort to honor veterans. This year’s event also commemorates the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
“We started out flying World War II veterans, but since we have fewer of those heroes with us today, we now also fly veterans from the Korean and Vietnam eras,” Webb said. “We’ve made this an annual tradition in conjunction with the Blue Angels air show to say thank you to those who served.”
Several World War II veterans, all over 100 years old, are scheduled to participate in the flights, with each aircraft making two or three flights on the mornings of July 11 and 12.
Foley acquired the N3N in 2024, with Webb flying the aircraft from Long Island, New York, to its new home in Foley. The aircraft is part of the city’s efforts to recognize its military heritage, following Foley’s designation as an American World War II Heritage City by the National Park Service, a distinction given to only one city per state or territory.
During World War II, Foley was home to Barin Field, a Navy base where thousands of aviators trained. The city is working toward establishing a museum to honor Barin Field and Foley’s role in preparing Navy pilots for service.
As the first major acquisition for this initiative, the N3N will be flown locally and at aviation events to help educate the public about the pilots who served and those who trained them.
“This is an iconic biplane that harkens back to the golden era of aviation,” Webb said. “It was originally designed in the 1930s and became well-known as a primary trainer for the U.S. Navy during World War II.”
Project supporters are working to acquire additional aircraft types used at Barin Field, along with other historic items for the planned museum display. Recently, the city also received a non-flying T-34B Mentor on long-term loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola.
The Navy acquired Foley’s N3N in 1941, one of nearly 1,000 built between 1935 and 1942. The aircraft type served as a training platform for pilots during World War II and remained in service until 1959, making it the last biplane used by the United States military.
For updates on the Veterans Flight and Foley’s aviation heritage projects, visit cityoffoley.org and follow the City of Foley on social media.