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Last year the Watonga airport was hopping with planes coming in so that the pilots and passengers could have a nice breakfast. This year’s flyin, isscheduled for May 8-10 a.m. May 25. Everyone is welcome to the event, whether they fly, walk, bike, drive or skatboard to the airport.
There will be a fly-in and free breakfast on May 25 at the Watonga airport. For those who are unfamiliar with the term, a flyin invites pilots from all over to come and land at a particular airport and familiarize themselves with it and the area or revisit a favorite location.
The event begins about 8 a.m. and runs until 10 or when the food runs out. Fire Chief Robert Daugherty will serve as chef for the day. Breakfast will be offered free of charge, but donations are accepted and appreciated.
“Everyone is welcome,” said airport manager Jena Ohman. “Everyone can walk around and look at the planes, talk to the pilots and look at the improvements.”
Those improvements include a runway revamp that cost more than a million dollars, courtesy of a Federal Aviation Administration grant, and a plan to add taxiways, more hangars and eventually a new, grant-funded terminal as well.
You don’t have to have an airplane to enjoy the day. Ohman said residents are welcome to drive out and have a free breakfast, cooked in-house with pancakes, sausage, bacon, coffee, muffins, pastries and juice.
Anyone who is interested in learning to fly is invited to take a free discovery flight. The fuel for these flights is sponsored by Noe Aviation of Oklahoma. There will also be entertainment offered for children.
Pilots, passengers and other visitors are encouraged to come out, spend the day enjoying the sights and tastes of Watonga and make some great early summer memories.
There is a class reunion planned for that day in Watonga as well, and hopes are that those attendees will arrive early enough to take part in the festivities at the airport.
Last year, there were planes and visitors from Chickasha, Clinton, Edmond, Sundance, Guthrie and Pratt, Kan. There were probably others, but those were on the record. About 25 flew in, some just to touch down and touch base. Inside, City Manager Karrie Little said there were more than 100 plates served.
Anyone with questions may contact Ohman, airport director, at 580-6237350.