MONROE, N.C. — The thunder of airplane engines will return to the skies over Union County this weekend. 

After a COVID-19 hiatus, the Warbirds Over Monroe airshow is returning to the Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport this Saturday and Sunday, November 6 and 7.

Gates open at 9 a.m. both days, with planes taking to the air around noon both Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday morning, there will be a ceremony to honor veterans beginning at 10:45 a.m.

What You Need To Know

  • Gates open Saturday and Sunday at 9 a.m.

  • Show to feature roughly 40 planes

  • Airshow was canceled last year due to the pandemic

Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for kids ages 12 to 18 and $5 for veterans. If you prepurchase tickets online, there is a slight discount.

“This event doesn’t make any money, this is kind of a give back for the city for our Veterans Day celebration,” said Director Pete Hovanec.

Hovanec said he’s thrilled to have the airshow back this year, and he hopes it gives people a sense of returning to normal. However, he emphasized the event is outside and will have plenty of space to social distance for guests concerned about COVID-19.

For Cody Busse, he’s just excited to show off a plane with a long history at the show.

Busse grew up going to airshows and fell in love with the industry and its history. The plane he is showing, a German Focke-Wulf 149D, was carefully restored over 10 years to its 1962 heyday by a previous owner.

“It was bought by actually Bob Russell in Germany. He had it shipped over here, and he restored it to kind of start the Warriors and Warbirds, at the time, air show. Which is now Warbirds Over Monroe,” Busse explained.

Russell passed away last year. So, Busse and another friend bought the plane from his estate to keep investing in the labor of love. The plane will now be on display at the 2021 Warbirds Over Monroe show but won't take to the skies.

But just being at the show is an honor Busse said.

“This whole airshow is for Veterans Day. All those guys, from all the wars, all our veterans, they’ve just done so much, and just can’t let their history, their stories die, fade away. So it’s just a good thing, keep in remembrance of them,” he added.

The show will have roughly 40 planes, re-enactments, fireworks, food and fun, according to Hovanec.