Published: May 20, 2009 07:36 am      

Airport hosting Memorial Day fly-in

The Tri-State Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 1115 has moved its Memorial Day Fly-In back to Woodward.

The annual fly-in, which originated in Woodward 10 or s0 years ago, has been held in Gage for the last several years, according to EAA chapter member Jim Mitchell, who also serves as a lineman at Woodward Regional Airport.

The event has been moved back to Woodward this year due to deterioration of the runway at the Gage airport, he said.

The highlight of the Memorial Day Fly-In are the “Young Eagle” flights, which are free plane rides offered to children aged eight to 18, Mitchell said, noting the free flights will be available from 8 a.m. to noon on Memorial Day, May 25.

As part of the “Young Eagle” flights, children will get to experience an approximately 20-minute ride during which they will see a bird’s-eye view of Woodward, he said.

“We’ll have six, seven, eight aircraft flying kids,” he said, noting “a lot of times we fly as many as 40 to 60 kids in a day.”

“We like to have as many people as can to come out and bring their kids so we can give them a ride,” Mitchell said. “A lot of kids may not get to ride in an airplane until they’re older. We want to try to introduce as many young kids to flight as we can.”

Beyond just families, he said the EAA chapter is extending “an open invitation to anyone who wants to come walk the ramp and see the airplanes.”

Mitchell noted “quite a variety of aircraft” are expected to fly in for the event, from older model planes to ultralights to home-built planes.

“There might be a World War II P51 fighter here,” he said.

Other possible aircraft that could be on display at the fly in includes a helicopter and maybe even a hot air balloon, Mitchell said.

“It’s all depending on the weather of course,” he said. “But with good weather we’ve had as many as 60 to 70 aircraft show up in the past.”

While most of the pilots fly in from the Tri-State area, Mitchell said that there have been times that pilots have flown in from the coasts to participate in the event.

“We have had them from Oregon and Florida. Normally they don’t come that far but it happens from time to time,” he said.

For more information about the Memorial Day Fly In contact the Woodward Regional Airport at (580) 256-8286.

Mitchell said the fly in is a great event for “people who are interested in flying any at all.”