Pancakes for pilots
Published 9:42 pm Tuesday, June 21, 2011
When Bob Baird ogles photos of Dave Thompson’s P-51 Mustang aircraft, it gives him the itch to go flying.
“I would kill to take a ride in it,” said Baird, who leads Niles’ Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 865. “A lot of people will be excited to see it.”
A hand-crafted P-51 Thunder Mustang aircraft will be one of more than 100 featured at the annual Experimental Aircraft Association Fly-In Breakfast at Jerry Tyler Memorial Airport in Niles Sunday.
Hundreds of people will get a chance to check it out Sunday at the annual EEA Fly-In Breakfast at Jerry Tyler Memorial Airport in Niles.
Thompson’s homemade plane, which has a 650 horsepower V12 engine and can cruise at speeds more than 300 miles per hour, is one of more than 100 that will be on display at the hangar. The breakfast will run from 6:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Pilots from throughout the region will be flying their aircrafts to the airport to see each other’s planes, many of which are hand-built, and share breakfast. There will also be a an antique car and hot rod display from local car clubs and large-scale radio control airplanes on display.
Door prizes will include free biannual flight reviews for pilots and airplane rides for children and families.
Baird says the event usually draws between 400 and 500 pilots and aviation fans within a 150-mile radius.
For more information about the EAA Fly-In Breakfast, contact Baird at (574) 339-9991 or visit eaachapter865.org. The fall Salute to Veterans Fly-In Breakfast is slated for Sept. 10.
