Father's Day Fly-in
A Fly-In on Father’s Day by Kathryn Sibley
The Father’s Day Fly-In is a very enjoyable aviation family event. Held every year on Father's Day Weekend at Columbia Airport, in Columbia, the event boasted all sorts of airplanes and anything aviation-related.
Here is a story of the event by Kathryn Sibley for the 2090 Fly-In
From 12PM to 3PM on both days, the runway was closed to regular airport traffic so that aviators could show their stuff. Fly-bys and demonstrations ruled the air and runway during this time. A knowledgeable announcer kept the audience informed with a running commentary about what they were seeing.
The aerial program started with model airplanes and helicopters being flown around. They are bigger than you’d think and require some skill to operate. They are quite impressive and could be seen up close (and non-flying) at a nearby booth.
Cal Fire also provided some demonstrations. First in line was an OV-10, a fire spotter plane. Shortly after came two tanker planes, S-2’s, that actually dropped pink fire retardant on the runway!
Also quite interesting was the MEDI-VAC helicopter demonstration. The announcer was able to convey to the audience the challenges of piloting a helicopter as opposed to an airplane. Getting a helicopter to hover is much more difficult than it looks, especially in windy conditions.
Three P-51 Mustangs also flew during this time. Just the rumbling and roaring of those beasts made everyone take notice! Many times they flew by in various formations and were quite impressive.
A special treat for all were two fly-bys on Saturday by a Coast Guard C-130, a first for the Fly-In.
Airplane rides were also available for purchase. Also available were rides in a Beech-18, which took up to six passengers at a time, turning twin 8-cylinder radials. It even did a few fly-bys—what a treat for the passengers! Rides in a P-51 Mustang where also available, a very rare airplane.
The demonstrations were topped off by four Pitts Specials and an air show. Simply watching a plane do tricks and stunts made my head spin and my stomach groan. My favorite one is when a pilot stalls the engine in midair (in other words, it STOPS flying), the plane freefalls for a few moments, and then the pilot starts the airplane flying again and flies off to do the next maneuver.
Along with the eye candy in the sky, there were plenty of parked airplanes and aviation paraphernalia to look at. Planes varied from a 2007 Light Sport aircraft to a Ryan PT-22. There were booths selling toy airplanes, raffle tickets, t-shirts, hats, and of course food. Also on display were military jeeps and classic cars. The Father’s Day Fly-In was a joy for aviation enthusiasts and everyday people alike!