Pilots from as far away as Nevada landed at the Colusa County Airport on Saturday for a quick breakfast and some socializing before they wheeled back into the sky ahead of the heat.
About 40 planes, along with some classic cars, were the center of attention at the 27th annual Old Time Fly-in, hosted by the Colusa County Aviation Association.
The association served about 175 people a breakfast of pancakes, sausage, and eggs.
The fly-in was started nearly three decades ago by the late Harry Krug, Colusa County agricultural commissioner, as a way to bring pilots together and raise awareness and support for keeping the local airport viable for future generations, organizers said.
“We are trying to get young people interested in aviation and keep the community involved with the airport,” said Sherman MacPherson, of Sacramento River Aviation, who hosts the breakfast inside his hangar every year.
Saturday was warm, but the early morning event was an opportunity for area pilots and the public to get a look at a variety of aircraft, from warcraft to experimental.
Most pilots were back in the air just after awards were announced at 9 AM.
The Best Appearing plane was a 1946 Aeronca Chief, owned by pilot Bob Barnes, of Chico.
The People’s Favorite was also a 1946 Aeronca Champ, an economical postwar rival to the Piper Cub. The Aeronca Champ is owned by Fred Young, of Yuba City.
Steven Schulte’s 1937 Fairchild F-24 was the oldest plane at the show. The F-24, a popular and easy-to-fly touring aircraft of the 1930s, was designed by the same man that created the Coca-Cola vending machine and the Greyhound bus. The F-24s were used during World War II for patrol and rescue missions, but were also fitted with 2,100-lb bombs and used successfully against German U-boats spotted off the east coast of the US early in the war.
Pilot Mark Foster, of Carson City, came the farthest distance in his 1979 Cessna 182 Skylane.
Had there been an award for the youngest pilot, 12-year-old Ian Robertson might have taken the prize.
Under the guidance of his father, Eric Robertson, of Sacramento, Ian helped pilot his dad’s “flying boat” on their journey to Colusa.
“He’s good; he’s really good,” Robertson said. “He flew about half way here.”
The Robertsons have been at the event several times. Ian has been flying with his dad since before he can remember – and got the aviation bug when his dad flew a Luscombe aircraft.
But the past few years, Robertson and son have enjoyed a SeaRey amphibious aircraft.
“It’s not a super fast airplane – about 95 mph at best – but with just me in the plane, I can get off the ground after I throttle forward in six to seven seconds. It’s a real performer.”
Robertson said he bought the aircraft to land on water, and does so on lakes and rivers whenever he can.
“It’s my get around adventure machine,” Robertson said. “I can land on a lake and drop the gear and then taxi up a ramp.”
Organizers of the fly-in said getting children interested in flying is integral to the future of local aviation and the airport.
Children who attended Saturday’s event got toy airplane gliders to assemble and throw. Many were allowed to climb into the cockpit of Gene Muir’s 1969 Nanchang basic trainer and talk on the intercom.
“I have a soft spot for children,” Muir said.
Muir, who lives in Colusa, said there is no civilian aviation of any kind in China and his plane was built only to train military pilots.
China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force began using the Nanchang basic 2-seat-trainer aircraft when it was first designed in 1958.
Muir’s plane has been a longtime favorite at the Old Time Fly-in, which is held with help from volunteers from Hold My Beer Flying Club.
The flying club also hosts an annual fly-in with a lunch provided to the pilots and public. ■