Family Event With Free Admission Gets People Close To The Aircraft

The City of Arcadia southeast of St. Petersburg in Florida is hosting its 3rd annual Aviation Day at Arcadia Municipal Airport (X06) on Saturday March 3rd from 0800-1400 EST. Organizers say this is a family friendly event, so be sure to bring the kids so they can enjoy seeing the airplanes up close. The event also features a pancake breakfast and lunch of hot dogs and burgers in a hangar, so visitors are invited to come early and stay late.

“We are pulling out all the stops so that the event will be bigger and better than ever," said Airport Director Judi Jankosky. "We will have both the biplane and helicopter rides like last year. We have added rides in a “light sport” airplane and will have Lance’s Classic Cars on site for the auto enthusiasts. And back by popular demand is the Skydiving Demo at high noon.”

Pilots and airplane builders will be on hand to educate visitors about what General Aviation has to offer, and answer any questions visitors may have. In addition to the aircraft displayed on the ramp there will be all types of wonderful airplanes doing “fly-bys,” and it's expected that gyrocopters, trikes, homebuilts, and experimentals will be on the field. Organizers anticipate all types of aircraft from small single place ultralights all the way up to and including very large War Birds like the T-6 & T- 28’s to make an appearance. Also available are sightseeing rides in a 1941 Waco Biplane or a Hiller Helicopter, as will be Discovery flights in an AeroTrek light sport aircraft.
 
Jankosky points out the benefits of the airport beyond takeoffs and landings. During emergencies your airport is the rallying point for airborne medical, law enforcement and disaster relief services. During Hurricane Charlie Arcadia Airport was a huge staging area for all types of services helping residents by allowing aircraft to quickly and efficiently supply aid to those in need. Best of all, she says the local airport is self sustaining. Over the next few years planned improvement projects include fencing and runway upgrades all made possible with no local tax dollars. Remember that a mile of highway takes you a mile but a mile of runway takes you anywhere!

Admission to Aviation Day is free.

FMI: www.ArcadiaAirport.com