Whether airplanes are your thing, or you just want to have a bite to eat and support the local Air Cadets, the eighth-annual “Fly-in, Drive-in BBQ” at the Fort Frances Airport will be the place to be tomorrow (Sept. 8).
From 9 a.m. until about 3 p.m., the event will feature pilots from this area, as well as ones flying in from Thunder Bay and parts of Manitoba, along with antique cars, motorcycles, and radio-controlled planes for people to see.
Long-time organizer Bruce Caldwell he’s keeping his fingers crossed the weather will hold out since the “fly-in” demands at least partly clear skies for the pilots to come in.
“If there’s a few clouds, that’s no problem,” said Caldwell. “As long as it doesn’t rain.”
Notices of the event were distributed to all airports within a 300-mile radius of here, and in the past it’s drawn pilots from all over Northwestern Ontario and Manitoba.
“I’m also going to try and get the guys that have airplanes over there [at the airport] to pull them out of the hangar so people can have a look at them,” noted Caldwell.
He said it doesn’t look like he’ll be able to get a search-and-rescue plane in from Winnipeg like he wanted, but there’s “a good possibly” the OPP’s Pilatus PC 12/45 fixed-wing aircraft, which most recently was at the fly-in barbecue back in 2005, will be there.
Aside from actual airplanes, everyone is welcome to bring their cars, motorcycles, and radio-controlled airplanes to the fly-in barbecue (for those who need encouragement to show off their models, a People’s Choice plaque will be awarded to one entry in each of those categories).
“I think we’re going to have a fairly good contingent of radio-controlled airplanes. All the guys are talking about it,” said Caldwell. “We’ll have them flying around noon hour sometime.
“That’s good—people like to see them.”
Caldwell added those people who want to show off their cars and motorcycles can just show up Saturday.
He also noted a group of environmental cyclists, “The Otesha Project,” will be at the Clover Valley Farmers’ Market at 10 a.m. tomorrow, then are planning on riding out to the airport around.
Local cyclists are welcome to join them on the ride.
The “fly-in BBQ” also will feature a pancake breakfast, which will run from 9-11 a.m., followed by a barbecue from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.—both put on by the local 908 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron.
There will be a small fee for the food, with visiting pilots getting their meals for free. All proceeds will go to the Air Cadets.
Caldwell stressed everyone is encouraged to come out to the “Fly-in, Drive-in BBQ” (you do not need to be a pilot, part of the radio-controlled airplane club, or any other group).
The event is designed to showcase the local airport by having private pilots fly in here for the day, as well as supporting the local Air Cadets squadron.
For more info, call Caldwell at 274-3070.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
