The historic Candler Field Museum will host its annual Benefit Dinner Saturday. Surrounded by vintage aircraft, old cars and memorabilia of a bygone era inside the museum, the evening will begin at 6 p.m. with a social hour, followed by dinner at 7 p.m.

The guest speaker for the event is Griffin resident Col. William Leachman, who will share with the audience stories about his years as commanding officer of the Field Maintenance Squadron in charge of Air Force One from 1975 to 1978.

Leachman’s presentation, “Take a Trip on Air Force One,” includes pictures and candid stories about the plane and the presidents who flew with them.

The annual Benefit Dinner is a fund-raiser for the Candler Field Museum, with proceeds going toward the continued efforts to re-create the original Atlanta Airport from the 1920s. According to Candler Field Museum Director Ron Alexander, the second building of the original airport — the Doug Davis hangar — is about 80 percent completed.

“There were seven total buildings originally,” he said. “It’s a long-term project.”

Alexander said as an active grass runway airport, Candler Field brings in small-aircraft pilots from around the country who love vintage aircraft.

“We want to house and exhibit aircraft and old cars that create an important historic tourism attraction in this part of the state,” he said.

Tickets to the Benefit Dinner are $50 per person and include a catered meal and cash bar, provided by the museum’s on-site restaurant Barnstormer’s Grill. Local business sponsors have provided items to be raffled off as door prizes.

“We’d like to get 200 people (to the benefit dinner) if we can,” said Alexander when asked about his hopes for the turnout.

Tickets are available from Candler Field Museum by calling 770-467-9490 or visiting www.peachstateaero.com. In addition, donations can be made and tickets can be purchased at Barnstormer’s Grill or at Gigi’s Antique Griffin at 113 E. Taylor St. in Griffin. Tables for eight may be reserved in advance by phone.