Father, son fly WWII fighter planes at Paine Field

EVERETT — It being Father’s Day weekend, the air-show crowd included a lot of dads of all ages.

More than 2,200 people attended the free Fly Day Saturday at the Flying Heritage Collection at Paine Field to watch father-and-son pilots Bud Granley of Bellevue and Ross Granley of Mill Creek at the controls of the collection’s World War II fighter airplanes, among them a North American P-51D Mustang and a Republic P-47D Thunderbolt.

With the Olympic Mountains as a backdrop, Bud Granley, 76, in the P-51, and Ross Granley, 49, in the P-47, took to the sunny skies to show off what these old warbirds can do.

Ross Granley let his dad take the lead as they climbed to 2,000 feet. Longtime airline pilots and air show enthusiasts, the Granleys have flying in their blood and they anticipate each other’s moves.

As a finale, the Granleys made sideways belly passes and “banana” passes low and close in front of the cheering crowd, displaying the undersides and topsides of the planes.

Bob Whitley of Mill Creek came to the show with his daughters, Jasmine, 9, and Emma, 8.

“I’ve always been into airplanes and we recently became members of the Flying Heritage Collection museum,” Whitley said. “It’s fun to come out with the kids.”

After the show, the Granleys left their flight suits on and sat down inside the collection’s main hangar to autograph free postcards of the airplanes. People who had traveled from throughout Snohomish County and as far away as Vancouver, B.C., and Portland, Ore., for the show gushed about the father-son duo’s talents.

The Granleys made it clear that it’s a privilege and an honor to fly some of the planes in Paul Allen’s Flying Heritage Collection. The collection has nine pilots who lend their talents to help keep the vintage planes in flying shape.

Ross Granley is a third-generation Canadian pilot. His grandfather was the first pilot in the family’s town in Alberta and his dad learned to fly at age 9.

Like his father, Ross Granley served in the Royal Canadian Air Force and, also like his dad, he’s had a career as a pilot for United Airlines.

“I grew up watching my dad and my uncles on both sides having a lot of fun flying planes,” Ross Granley said. “I’ve been terribly fortunate to be a pilot. I wouldn’t know what else to do. I might be able to dig ditches.”

Bud Granley shares the same attitude.

“When I was a boy, I prayed, ‘Dear Lord, make me the best pilot in the world.’ That’s how serious it’s been for me,” the older pilot said. “Now Ross and I get to play together at Paine Field in Everett, which is becoming a major destination for people who love airplanes.”

Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.

More flights ahead

The Flying Heritage Collection includes iconic 20th century military flying machines restored to their original working condition. Earlier this year, the collection opened a second hangar and added new exhibits.

The remainder of the free Fly Days this summer include, tentatively, Pacific Legends Day on June 29, Allied Aces Day on July 20, Luftwaffe Day on Aug. 17, the Battle of Britain Day on Sept. 7 and Air War Over Russia Day on Sept. 21. The free air shows start about noon. The collection is housed at 3407 109th St. SW, Everett.

For more information about the museum and its events and admission prices, go to www.flyingheritage.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum will welcome new CEO in June

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Kelli Littlejohn, who was 11 when her older sister Melissa Lee was murdered, speaks to a group of investigators and deputies to thank them for bringing closure to her family after over 30 years on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘She can rest in peace’: Jury convicts Bothell man in 1993 killing

Even after police arrested Alan Dean in 2020, it was unclear if he would stand trial. He was convicted Thursday in the murder of Melissa Lee, 15.

Ariel Garcia, 4, was last seen Wednesday morning in an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Dr. (Photo provided by Everett Police)
Everett police searching for missing child, 4

Ariel Garcia was last seen Wednesday at an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Drive. The child was missing under “suspicious circumstances.”

The rezoned property, seen here from the Hillside Vista luxury development, is surrounded on two sides by modern neighborhoods Monday, March 25, 2024, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Despite petition, Lake Stevens OKs rezone for new 96-home development

The change faced resistance from some residents, who worried about the effects of more density in the neighborhood.

Rep. Suzan DelBene, left, introduces Xichitl Torres Small, center, Undersecretary for Rural Development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture during a talk at Thomas Family Farms on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Under new federal program, Washingtonians can file taxes for free

At a press conference Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene called the Direct File program safe, easy and secure.

Former Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy Jeremie Zeller appears in court for sentencing on multiple counts of misdemeanor theft Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ex-sheriff’s deputy sentenced to 1 week of jail time for hardware theft

Jeremie Zeller, 47, stole merchandise from Home Depot in south Everett, where he worked overtime as a security guard.

Everett
11 months later, Lake Stevens man charged in fatal Casino Road shooting

Malik Fulson is accused of shooting Joseph Haderlie to death in the parking lot at the Crystal Springs Apartments last April.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.