Published: June 12, 2009 10:52 am      

Fly-in slated for this weekend

Airplane enthusiasts set your alarm clocks tonight for the 47th Annual Fly-In of The Texas Chapter of the Antique Airplane Association tomorrow.

Planes fly in to the Gainesville Municipal Airport today and Saturday morning for the event, which is expected to bring in at least 200 airplanes.

The hamburger cookout is Friday night at 6 p.m.

The biggest public day is Saturday, June 13 and the aircraft show is open from 7 a.m. until dark.

Heather Warren, Gainesville Kiwanis Club president said the traditional Saturday pancake breakfast hosted by the local Kiwanis Club has been canceled this year, due to poor attendance in previous years. Lunch is at noon, Happy Hour is scheduled for 4 p.m. and the banquet starting at 5 p.m. is open to the public at a cost of $12. The meal includes door prizes and an awards ceremony.

Many types of airplanes are scheduled to be on display including Cessnas, Fairchilds, Porterfields, Parakeets, N3N-3’s, Davis D1W’s, Superswifts and a Meyers OTW.

Pilots and aircraft enthusiasts plan to be on hand to share their excitement and knowledge about their airplanes, the hobby of flying and the history of their planes.

Members of the association will judge the aircraft based on authenticity and the general condition of the plane. The classes are antique, classic, experimental and military.

The event also includes vendors, a fly market, buddy rides and hangar flying.

The Antique Airplane Association’s web site says the group pioneered the concept to “save our kind of aviation heritage” 47 years ago to “keep the antiques flying” and provide an actual flying, historical aircraft museum.

The event is an on-the-ground display of aircraft and is free to the public.

The association also accepts donations.

Pilots arriving for the event are requested to use runways 17/35 and 12/30. The grass runway is 17R/35L at midfield. Monitor 118.375 for wind and runway information.

For more information about the 47th Annual Fly-In visit the Texas Chapter of the Antique Airplane Association web site at www.texasaantiqueaairplane.org or call the Gainesville Municipal Airport at 940-668-4565.