Oakland County Airport's 'Festival of Flight' offering plane rides, air show, more

For those dreaming to take to the sky and soar with the clouds, here's your chance.

The Oakland County International Airport's annual free open house and air show, which was recently renamed the "Festival of Flight," is looking to celebrate the region's rich aviation heritage with an air show, aircraft displays and rides into the sky from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 11.

This year's air show, set for 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., features five performers: the all-female skydiving team Misty Blues, Stephen Covington flying "The Raptor," Skip Stewart flying "Prometheus The Flying Machine" biplane, Erik Edgren's Comedy Show in the “T-Clips,” and a multiship performance by Vanguard Squadron.

A highlight of the Festival of Flight will be opportunities for guests to take helicopter and plane rides up into the air for $50 per person.

On the ground, local rock band Wanted will perform a live show beginning at noon and will also play the national anthem at the start of the air show.

Guests will be welcome to explore the numerous and diverse set of aircrafts and military vehicles on display, such as the historic 1928 Ford Tri-Motor aircraft, a Boeing 727 cargo plane, World War II-era military vehicles, the Lake Erie Warbirds TBM Avenger WWII Bomber, Tuskegee Airmen's "North American AT-6G," Civil Air Patrol aircraft, as well as vintage aircrafts, single and multi-engine planes, seaplanes, and various other military, general aviation, and flight school aircrafts.

Check out photos fromthis year's Thunder over Michigan Air Show at Ypsilanti's Willow Run Airport

Oakland County Parks and Recreation will also offer a Kids Zone Play Area, and the Oakland County Health Division will host a health fair with information and services.

Admission and parking for the Festival of Flight is free. For more information, go to the Oakland County International Airport Festival of Flight's website.