Democracy Dies in Darkness

See planes over the Mall? Don’t fret, it’s aviation history in action.

Nearly 60 aircraft will fly at 1,000 feet on Saturday above one of the most protected airspaces in the country

May 10, 2024 at 6:00 a.m. EDT
Mark Baker, president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, flies during a March practice run for the May 11th National Mall flyover celebrating the organization's 85th anniversary. (Chris Rose/AOPA)
5 min

Beginning at noon on Saturday, nearly 60 aircraft spanning the history of aviation will buzz over D.C.’s National Mall, a rare public parade of planes and helicopters streaking across the country’s most restricted airspace.

The flyover was organized by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association to mark its 85th anniversary. The flight will include a wish list of aircraft for aviation nerds, from classic 1920s and 1930s planes, rare prototypes never put into mass production, and public service vehicles such as crop dusters and planes used to dump water on forest fires.