LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Bowman Field airport in Louisville was busy not just with planes but people, as thousands were expected to attend BowmanFest. 

The festival shows off planes, offers rides and other kinds of family fun. There were planes new and old, including a replica of a 1929 Waco Taperwing.

“It was good; it was fast," said Nick Coleman, pilot. "For a biplane, it was one of the fastest biplanes out there." 

Coleman, an experienced pilot, has been flying most of his life for different organizations such as the U.S. Air Force and now UPS. Flying an older plane is different, he said. 

“A lot of times, I can kind of come in to slip sideways," he said. "But for the most part, I’m kind of blind-landing, so it's hard." 

Coleman’s plane was one of 40 different kinds of planes, old and new, on display at the seventh BowmanFest.

“I love BowmanFest because it's Bowman's kind of unusual … most airports like this are out away from town, versus Bowman's right here in the middle of Louisville," Coleman said. "I think it's great for everybody that lives around here can come out and see the airplanes touch the airplanes." 

Bowman Field was established in 1919, making it one of the longest continually operated airports in the country. This festival is just one way people can experience it for themselves.

“It used to be, you could come out and walk around, see the planes," said Pat MacDonald, event organizer. "It's not so much that way anymore, and this is a community airport. People are welcome out here to come out and experience and touch and taste and see and smell what goes on inside the fences." 

It’s estimated around 7,000 people came inside the fences on Sunday alone. Coleman said he plans on attending next year's event. 

The airport is busy year-round, with more than 100,000 takeoffs and landings in 2022.