Barnstorm aviation offers raffle tickets, gears up for annual fly-in

The Texas Barnstorm Museum is giving away a free airplane! Citizens in Hallettsville can have a chance to win a 1946 J-3 Cub airplane in a national raffle. Raffle tickets are $50.

“We’re selling 3,500 tickets. We’ve been doing airplane raffles for the past three years,” Texas Barnstorm Director Jim Baker said. “This is more of a nationwide raffle. People can get a chance to win an airplane or $25,000 cash. The raffle is pretty important, it fund what we do all year long.”

As of the end of July, Barnstorm Museum has sold roughly around 1,050 tickets and have been selling for the last two months. The raffle should be ending by December.

The J-3 Cub has less than 300 hours on the restoration, which include an engine overhaul (new cylinders) and new propeller.

Restoration on the airplane included new sealed lift struts (eliminates the pesky inspection requirements) as well as Cleveland wheels and disc brakes, which allows the use of modern (and more reasonably priced) tires.

In 2021, Barnstorm gave away a beautiful new Vans RV12 and last year, a gorgeous 1965 Mustang Convertible.

Barnstorm Museum is an organization that identifies local kids with an interest in aviation and offers flying lessons for future pilots.

“I teach an aviation course at Hallettsville high school, this is our first year for that,” Baker said.

Other events coming up from the Barnstorm organization includes their ninth annual fly in on October 7th.

“It’s a big aviation and local get-together at the Hallettsville airport,” Baker said. “Last year we sold a little over a thousand meals and had about 1,300 people. 150 airplanes were displayed as well.”

Baker then sent out a quick thank you to all the directors and volunteers who helped make that event possible.

Those interested in getting a raffle ticket can do so at https://www.whereolddogsfly.org/. Scholarship opportunities for the youth is also made available on the website.