Open Cockpits and Dream Cars: Father's Day Fun Draws a Crowd

North central Connecticut hosted a number of Father’s Day celebrations on Sunday, from backyard barbeques and walks along local trails, to an impressive East Windsor car show and open cockpits at the New England Air Museum.

The Connecticut Children’s Place (CCP) brought classic cars, family fun and a festive atmosphere together for “Dream Cars for Kids’ Dreams.” This special event has been held on Father’s Day for the past 15 years and is the facility’s biggest yearly fundraiser, raising approximately $7,000 in 2010. The funds are used by the 38-bed diagnostic facility to protect and help abused, neglected, abandoned and otherwise disturbed children.

For Bob Labun of Westfield, MA, the car show was a family affair. Labun brought along his 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1, his daughter Nicole had her 2007 Ford Shelby GT and his son Doug had his 2011 Ford Taurus SHO.

June Daugherty, a volunteer organizer along with her husband Mike, both from Windsor, brought along their own cars to show, including a 1959 Pontiac Bonneville.

“It’s fun to drive,” June Daugherty said. “We’ve gone distances in those cars.”

June Daugherty said the event offers something for everyone while supporting a good cause. In addition to the more than 300 classic cars, face painting and food are offered and kids design the yearly t-shirts.

At the New England Air Museum in East Windsor, families lined up to take in the regular exhibits as well as climb into the cockpits of vintage aircraft.

Sal Renaldi of Windsor Locks brought his grandson, Cameron Plude, to the event and had a smile on his face.

“This is the first open cockpit [we’ve been to], it’s great,” Renaldi said.

Plude climbed into the cockpit of an F 100-A Super Sabre, which was in service from 1955 through 1979, according to museum staff member Jim Skiff.

Skiff flew the Super Sabre during his time with the 103rd Fighter Group, based at Bradley Airport.

Skiff said a Pratt & Whitney J57 engine, an example of which was displayed next to the aircraft, powered the plane.

“Every military airplane was powered by this engine,” he said.

Gina Maria Alimberti, the museum’s manager of visitor services, was pleased with the turnout for the Father’s Day open cockpit event, which she said was consistently popular.

“[It was] a busy, busy day, a great day for us,” she said.

In total, about 1,100 people visited the Air Museum on Sunday.