Flying Thunder Flight to the Wall

About the Flight
In 2008, Wings & Rotors Air Museum's four combat-certified, Vietnam era helicopters escorted over 300,000 motorcycle riders for the first time from California to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC on the annual Memorial Day Rolling Thunder’s “Ride to the Wall 2008.”

Every Memorial Day Weekend for 20 years, motorcycle riders from every corner of the country have converged on Washington, DC at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, better known as ‘The Wall.’ The numbers have risen, currently reaching many hundreds of thousands riders. Going forward, with your support, they will be joined along the route each year by Wings & Rotors Air Museum’s historic Vietnam era helicopters.

For the first time in the history of the ‘Ride,’ four restored, fully operational and combat-certified Vietnam era helicopters – three UH-1 “Hueys’ and an OH-58 Kiowa – flew along with the riders in 2008, making layovers along the way at Vietnam Memorials and other Veterans’ memorial sites. The ceremonial stops were made on both the eastern and western legs of the flight.

Departing California on May 14, the motorcycles riders and helicopters took several routes to Washington, DC, stopping in communities along the way that have either Vietnam Memorials or other Veteran remembrances. The cities host riders and provide housing, meals and fuel, in what has become a tradition over the years of ‘the Ride to the Wall.’ Communities also seek out local Vietnam veterans to attend these functions. The riders and helicopters arrive in Washington, DC for Memorial Day Weekend and the ceremonies at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the Mall.

The annual Rolling Thunder Ride to the Wall takes place to coincide with Memorial Day Weekend. Motorcycles riders from every corner of the country ride to support veterans and their families and to honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) from all wars. Most importantly, they ride to keep the issue of accounting for all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA) within the public’s continued awareness.