GAYLORD — With between 15 and 18 aircraft on display and an estimated 2,000 people coming through the gates, organizers are calling the second Air Fair at Gaylord Regional Airport a success and are already looking forward to next year.

“It was beyond what I expected. The best part was seeing the young kids out here viewing the airplanes. The ‘old kids’ get a kick out of seeing them too, but planting that seed of aviation interest is very important to me,” said Gaylord Regional Airport manager Scott Woody. “I’ve already received phone calls from people interested in next year.”

According to Woody, those numbers doubled last year’s event.

Saturday featured static displays, fly-bys of various aircraft and a rescue demonstration by the U.S. Coast Guard. Visitors were treated to everything from vintage aircraft like the Yankee Air Museum’s B-17 Flying Fortress Yankee Lady to a United States Navy F-18.

Sunday’s events included a fly-in breakfast and Young Eagles flights for youths ages 8 to 17.

For one veteran, Gaylord’s Frank McCune, the Air Fair presented an opportunity to fly in the B-17 for the first time since he served as a  B-17 pilot in World War II.

“I enjoyed the whole thing. (My favorite part) was riding in the B-17,” said McCune, 86. “I always wanted to fly in one again; it was a big plane.”

• Visitor Comments

No comments posted.