Fantasy of Flight has a doozy of an event on the flight plan!

The Central Florida attraction, home to over 40 rare and vintage aircraft, is celebrating Black History Month in February 2012 with a three-day limited engagement event featuring the Tuskegee Airmen, the nation's first African-American military aviators – and you’re invited.

They Dared to Fly soars into Polk City Feb. 9-11, 2012. The aviators will share their personal stories of what it was like to serve as a pilot in the military during segregated America. This is an amazing opportunity: Of the nearly 1,000 trained pilots and 15,000 ground personnel that made up the original group, only about 50 pilots and 200 ground crew are still alive today. You can meet, ask questions and snag autographs from several of them.

You can bet your rudders I’m not going to miss it! 

Fantasy of Flight is also hosting a student essay contest honoring the famed World War II heroes. Want to enter? If you’re a student in grades fourth to 12th, you’re invited to participate. You can check out the details here.

And there’s more uplifting news! Check out the fourth annual Legends & Legacies Symposium Series offerings for 2012:

• "They Dared to Fly: Featuring the Tuskegee Airmen" in honor of National Black History Month, Feb. 9-11
• "Breaking All Barriers: Amazing Women in American History," in honor of National Women's History Month, March 2-3
• "Unspoken Valor: The Bomber Crews of World War II," April 13-14
• "D-Day: The Invasion of Normandy," May 11-12
• "Reflections of Vietnam," June 8-9
• "Letters Home: Love, Courage & Survival," Oct. 12-13

Want more Sunshine State fun? Sneak a peek at my Facebook page. It features:

• Photos and videos
• Information about events
• Fun contests like "Guess the Beach" and "Write the Caption"
• Last-minute event updates and beach news
• The opportunity for you to ask questions, post your own photos or dish about your own Florida adventures