What a great day this was. We met at the Chiengmai Gymkhana Club at 10am for coffee, breakfast & a good networking session amongst fellow classic car enthusiasts and then headed off in convoy.

We had an amazingly good turnout for the day – 19 vehicles in total, with everyone keen to see the exhibits at the Wing 41 Air Museum. Our route took us from the Gymkhana Club & into the city centre, where we turned left at the historic Tapae Gate, to then travel around the old city moat, turning off towards Central Airport Plaza and Chiang Mai Airport.

All Classic Cars of Lanna vehicles ‘regrouped’ in line outside what was once the old airport terminal building, where we were greeted by Khun Weerachart, one of the officers at Wing 41 and curator of the Wing 41 Air Museum. In keeping with the spirit of the day, Khun Weerachart was driving the very oldest vehicle belonging to Wing 41, a late 1940’s Wilys Jeep, resplendent in yellow paint, but lacking a bit in the braking department!

We were then escorted in procession, through the Wing 41 gates, past the guards and through the air base, until we eventually turned off through another gate and onto the approach road of the Air Museum. An old military version of the Douglas DC3 (C41 transport?) stood sentinel outside the hanger housing the oldest of the exhibits.

Our cars were lined up outside of the main aircraft hanger for a photo opportunity, before we all entered the hanger for an informative presentation on what lay within. Adjacent to the main hanger were a series of smaller hangers, containing yet more aircraft & we were free to browse for ourselves & clamber onto many of the aircraft, for a peek inside. I think the photos I have attached document more about the range of aircraft on display, than I can possibly write.

Eventually the time came to leave & volunteers were called for, to help Khun Weerachart & his team close the huge & heavy (non-electric) hanger doors. We then proceeded out of Wing 41, to the nearby ATC Club (Air Traffic Controllers), whose restaurant abuts a beautiful lake, for a lovely lunch, outside in a large sala.

Classic Cars of Lanna made a small presentation to Khun Weerachart & his team at the ATC Club, as a token of our sincere thanks for a wonderful & memorable day.

Our thanks also go to David Hardcastle, who was organiser of this special day.