Long before the Wright Brothers took to the sky, the original aviators were witches with their broomsticks.
And this Halloween, local youngsters can join in the airborne black magic by getting an official Broomstick Pilot License from the Aviation Museum of N.H.
Broomstick Pilot Licenses will be issued on one day only, on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Aviation Museum, 27 Navigator Road, Londonderry, N.H.
Youngsters and the young at heart may obtain a license for free by visiting the museum in costume. Admission is free during the Haunted Halloween Hangar event.
“We’re delighted to give families a way to prepare for Halloween by visiting the regional bureau for official Broomstick Pilot Licenses,” said Jeff Rapsis, executive director of the non-profit Aviation Museum.
The Aviation Museum of N.H. is based in the 1937 art deco passenger terminal at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.
At the museum, Broomstick Pilot License applicants must first go through a brief “ground school” prior to getting a license.
Applicants will meet the ghosts of past aviation pioneers, who will describe their achievements and explain basic principles of flight.
Spirits on hand will include the ghosts of legendary aviators Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, and Alan Shepard, who will describe their exploits and achievements.
Each ghost will reward young broomstick pilots with Halloween treats after listening to a brief talk.
Broomstick Pilot Licenses are issued under the authority of Glenda the Witch, the Aviation Museum’s Official Broomstick Check Pilot, who will be on hand to greet applicants and supervise the licensing process.
Headshots will be taken of each applicant for their license, which will be awarded at the completion of ground school.
A typical visit to obtain a license will last 20 minutes, although visitors are welcome to stay at the museum longer.
Glenda the Witch recommends applicants come dressed in their Halloween costumes to improve chances of getting a license.
Each license, which will be valid on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, entitles the bearer to operate any broomstick or broomstick-like device for aviation purposes only.
“Just like regular pilots, anyone wishing to fly a broomstick or broomstick-like device must obtain an official license,” said Jeff Rapsis, the museum’s director.
“We’re honored to act as the official bureau for Broomstick Pilot Licenses in New Hampshire,” Rapsis said.
The Aviation Museum of N.H., located at 27 Navigator Road, Londonderry, N.H., is a non-profit 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization dedicated to celebrating New Hampshire’s role in aviation history and inspiring tomorrow’s pioneers, innovators and aerospace professionals.
Named ‘Best Place to Take Kids’ in southern New Hampshire the past six years in the HippoPress Readers Poll, the museum is open to the public Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 4 p.m.
Admission to the museum is $15 for adults, $7.50 for ages 6 to 12, kids 5 and under free, with discounts for seniors and veterans. All visitors will be admitted free during the “Haunted Halloween Hangar” on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For more info and photos from prior years, visit our Haunted Halloween Hangar web page. Follow the Aviation Museum on social media at www.facebook.com/nhahs.
