Organizers of the 9th Wings-n-Wheels will be looking toward the sky this weekend.

They hope to see plenty of planes landing at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, not any weather that will keep their pilots from taking off.

“It’s all weather-related,” said Bob Griffin, co-chair of the Ernie Hall Aviation Museum board of directors. “If the weather is good, we’ll have a nice turnout.”

Last year’s airplane turnout was down because, while the rain stayed away locally on the event’s first day, there were storms in the surrounding area that kept pilots grounded. On the second day, low visibility in the morning delayed the arrival of some planes until the afternoon.

The weather didn’t affect the car owners, and more than 800 vehicles were on display last year. Dash plaques will be given to the first 200 cars each day as the 9th Wings-n-Wheels takes place on Saturday and Sunday.

This year’s event coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Air Force Reserves, and a ceremony with cake will celebrate the event at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Military aircraft on site for this year’s event will include a World War II-era B-25 bomber that attendees can book a flight on (for a fee) and a P-51 Mustang, a single-seat fighter plane used during WWII and the Korean War.

“Weather permitting, it will fly over several times, which should be pretty cool,” Griffin said.

There also will be an interactive hangar where visitors can put on virtual reality goggles and simulate making repairs on military aircraft.

The Ernie Hall Aviation Museum will have a mini display about the local aviation pioneer the museum is named for and what it has on display.

On Sunday, longtime pilot and flight instructor Chester A. “Chet” West of Cortland will be inducted into the Ernie Hall Aviation Museum Hall of Fame during Wings-n-Wheels.

This will be the second year the event is being held at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport after starting at Griffin Sloas Airfield in Howland next to the museum.

“The (Western Reserve) Port Authority approached us about having it out there,” Griffin said. “We were a little apprehensive at first but the port authority and (Executive Director) Anthony Trevena have been great to work with.

“We moved Wings-n-Wheels from Sloas because it had gotten bigger than any of us ever thought. It was tying up traffic on North River Road, we were running out of places to park, and it had become a safety concern.”

One addition for 2023 is a shuttle that will be able to take attendees from the area where the vehicles are on display to the area where the private aircrafts can be seen.

“The one complaint we had last year was about how much walking there was (between the two areas), Griffin said. “People don’t understand the middle part (of the airport) has to stay operational.”

Wing-n-Wheels is the museum’s largest annual fundraiser. It helps cover operating costs for the museum in addition to funding scholarships and other charitable donations.

The museum’s other primary source of income is its airplane raffles. Tickets will be on sale at Wings-n-Wheels for $50 for a chance to win a Piper PA-12 valued at $70,000. No more than 4,500 tickets will be sold.

“Your odds are a lot better than the lottery,” Griffin said.

If you go …

WHAT: 9th Wings-n-Wheels

WHEN: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

WHERE: Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, 1453 Youngstown-Kingsville Road, Vienna

HOW MUCH: $10 at the gate (cash only) with free parking. For more information, go to.erniehallaviationmuseum.org.