The Pilsen daily news: Hercules plane will fly over Pilsen during Liberation Festival

On Thursday, May 6, Liberation Festival starts in Pilsen, as last year due to coronavirus restrictions limited for mass meetings. However, the program of the celebrations of the 76th anniversary of the end of World War lasting until Sunday, will offer online studio and some displays in real environment.

“The highlight will be the M4 Sherman tank, besides classic jeeps, GMC trucks, Greyhound armored vehicles, Halftracks and more may be seen close to the city center. The vehicles of the Czechoslovak Independent Armored Brigade will be on display in front of the West Bohemian Museum. “Of course, we would like to invite visitors not only to watch the online program but to come to see the outdoor one. At the same time, however, we ask them to respect the current restriction measures – it means the masks and social distancing, “Jana Komišová from the Pilsen Department of Presentation and Marketing appeals to visitors.

One of the highlights of the program will be the Sunday flight of historic and contemporary aircraft. Historians will present two Harvards from the Classic Trainers Líně and Točná club plus Lockheed Electra from the airport in Točná.

However, the planned Spitfire will not appear in the Pilsen sky. “Unfortunately, the fighter did not get here from England in time,” remarked Jan Engler on behalf of the organizers. The Spitfire will be represented by a 1:1 scale replica exhibited on Republic Square. The modernCzech Air Force will be represented by Gripen, Alca, CASA C – 295 and Sokol planes. The US Air Force Hercules will fly over Pilsen as well,” mentioned Engler to the participation of one of the legends of aviation history. The rich program will then be brought to the online studio for four days, with the background in Měšťanská beseda. It offers a variety of guests and musical performances. On the first day, the Pilsen Philharmonic Orchestra prepared a performance of General Patton’s March by Otakar Pihrt, Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin, and Symphony No. 9 “New World” by Antonín Dvořák. In the following days, for example, Ondřej Havelka with Melody Makers, Jaroslav Samson Lenk and The Dixie Hot Licks will play. With the face of the celebrations, the actor Lukáš Langmajer, spectators will visit places associated with the American army. Not only in Pilsen, but also in Chodsko or Nepomuk. “Filming with Lukáš was very interesting, during the demonstration of the JTF Raiders club he came up with an idea that surprised us all, a spectacular scene was shot,” Engler invited to watch the documentary series.

The Festivities also received a short video invitation from the Alfa Theater in Pilsen, the accompanying program includes exhibitions and the Road to Freedom trail through places associated to the end of the war. The Patton Memorial Museum will also be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday through Sunday.You may watch the online program on Facebook Slavnosti svobody, Plzeň.eu, Plzen.2015, on YouTube and www.slavnostisvobody.cz source: Pilsen daily