Donations Keep Them Flying

Preserving a generation of American history in airborne condition and showcasing it to the world comes at a great cost.

​

Because, in the interest of airborne safety and historical authenticity, we do not cut any corners on our maintenance, crew training, or historical education programming, operating Placid Lassie costs at minimum $250,000 annually.

​

Our historic appearances in Europe in 2014, 2019, and 2024 in commemoration of the D-Day invasion and Berlin Airlift cost about $200,000 each, in addition to our normal operating costs.

​

Additionally, our efforts to restore our PBY Catalina to airworthy status and operate her at airshows across the nation, in tribute to another less-recognized story of valiant wartime and postwar service, are expected to cost over $1 million.

​

We are fortunate to be able to bolster our revenue through merchandise sales and appearance fees as a popular airshow act in collaboration with a variety of round-canopy parachute reenactment teams, but these cover only a fraction of our costs. Please consider joining our devoted group of donors who contribute to keep historic aircraft in the skies.