DC-3 Mainliner to Appear at Wings Over Camarillo During 90th Anniversary Celebration of the Douglas DC-3
The DC-3 Mainliner will travel to Camarillo Airport on August 15-16 as part of the 2026 Wings Over Camarillo air show, where this year’s theme celebrates “90 Years of the DC-3 – A Legend That Changed the World.”
The annual event brings together aviation enthusiasts, families, historic aircraft, military and civilian displays, aerial performances, classic cars, and hands-on STEM experiences, all centered around the aircraft that helped transform commercial aviation.
Throughout the weekend, visitors will have the opportunity to see the DC-3 Mainliner on static display, learn about its remarkable history, and tour the aircraft for a small donation.
Honoring the Legacy of Clay Lacy
A special highlight of the weekend will be a tribute flight honoring aviation legend Clay Lacy.
The DC-3 Mainliner will fly alongside Vicky Benzing‘s iconic P-51 Mustang, Plum Crazy, bringing together two aircraft that were owned and flown by Clay for many years. Together, they represent different chapters of his extraordinary aviation career and celebrate a legacy of preservation, innovation, and a lifelong passion for flight.
Clay began his 41-year airline career flying DC-3s for United Airlines before becoming one of the most accomplished aviators in history. His career spanned airline operations, military flying, air racing, corporate aviation, and motion picture aviation. Decades later, he acquired and restored the aircraft now known as the DC-3 Mainliner, preserving an important piece of airline history for future generations.
Today, the DC-3 Mainliner continues that mission under the care of owner Matt Johnston and is operated by California Aeronautical University, where it serves as a flying ambassador for aviation history and education.
Meet the DC-3 Mainliner
This Douglas DC-3 emerged from post-war surplus and went on to become part of American aviation history. Among its most notable chapters, this aircraft served the American Embassy in Peru, the automotive industry through Rockwell Standard Steel Spring Company, and the State of Georgia during a period when President Jimmy Carter served as Governor of Georgia.
The Douglas DC-3 is widely regarded as one of the most important aircraft ever built. Introduced in the 1930s, it revolutionized commercial air travel and helped usher in the Golden Age of Aviation. Its reliability, range, and passenger comfort laid the foundation for the modern airline industry, and for many Americans, the DC-3 represented their very first airline flight.
A defining chapter in this aircraft’s story began when Clay Lacy acquired and restored it with an authentic 1950s United Airlines fleet livery. Clay started his 41-year airline career flying DC-3s for United Airlines, making this aircraft a personal connection to the beginning of his remarkable aviation journey. Following an extensive restoration, he christened the aircraft Mainliner O’Connor, preserving a piece of airline history that remains flying today.
More than 80 years after it was built, the DC-3 Mainliner continues to fly, educate, and inspire as a living tribute to the pioneers of commercial aviation and to Clay Lacy’s enduring legacy.
To learn more about the aircraft, visit our About Page and History Page.
Visit the DC-3 Mainliner
Before the tribute flight, attendees can visit the aircraft throughout the weekend on static display.
Guests will have the opportunity to:
- View the aircraft up close
- Learn about its unique history
- Tour the cabin for a small donation
- Experience a living piece of aviation history
- Shop the DC-3 Mainliner store
Interested in bringing the aircraft to your own event? Learn more about booking the DC-3 Mainliner for airshows, static displays, educational programs, media productions, and future flight experiences.
Event Information
Wings Over Camarillo
August 15-16, 2026
Camarillo Airport (KCMA)
Theme: “Celebrating 90 Years of the DC-3 – A Legend That Changed the World”
For event details, visit the wingsovercamarillo.com.
We look forward to celebrating the legacy of the Douglas DC-3, honoring Clay Lacy’s contributions to aviation, and sharing the DC-3 Mainliner with aviation enthusiasts, families, and future aviators throughout the weekend