Southwest Regional Fly-In to showcase an estimated 600-800 airplanes

On a typical day in Texas, the busiest airports in the state are Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, with 2000 and 1200 flight operations (takeoffs plus landings) respectively per day. San Antonio International Airport, by comparison, averages 650 flight operations a day, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport averages 250, and Hobby Airport in Houston averages 400.

But on May 16-17, New Braunfels Municipal Airport will become the third-busiest airport in Texas thanks to the Experimental Aircraft Association's (EAA) Southwest Regional Fly-In, with an expected 800 flight operations occurring each of the two days. Organizers anticipate anywhere between 600 and 800 planes from across the nation - the majority of which have been built or restored by the pilots who fly them - will be exhibited at the two-day event.

"We're thrilled to bring the Fly-In to New Braunfels," said Judy Young, director of the New Braunfels Convention and Visitors Bureau. "If you're at all interested in aviation, this show is for you. Very rarely do you get the chance to see this many experimental, antique and classic planes, in one place, up close and personal."

The 39th annual Fly-In will feature a variety of planes available for viewing on the ground and in the air. Approximately half the planes in the Fly-In are in the homebuilt/experimental category, meaning the planes are either built from a pre-assembled kit or from scratch using a set of plans, according to Stan Shannon, one of the principal organizers for the show. Another third of the show is a combination of true antique planes (before 1940) and "classic" planes from the '50s and '60s, totally restored by the owners. The show also includes a contemporary airplanes category and a warbirds category, featuring military planes ranging from Piper Cubs (used by the Army for observation) to fighter jets.

Participants in the show will take turns displaying their planes in the air as well as on the ground. Air traffic controllers from San Antonio International Airport will volunteer their services to regulate the flights coming in and out of the airport.

The Southwest Regional Fly-In has been part of the EAA's family of showcases since  1965. It most recently was based in Abilene, after outgrowing its longtime home in Kerrville. The EAA's premier showcase, the AirVenture Fly-In in Oshkosh, Wis., just celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2002.

Admission to the event for adult non-EAA members is $8 for one day and $15 for a two-day pass; adult EAA members can buy one-day tickets for $5 and two-day passes for $10. Discounted tickets are available for kids. New Braunfels Municipal Airport is located four miles east of downtown New Braunfels on FM 758, which can be reached via Highway 46. ANN's Juan Jimenez will be covering this event for us...

FMI: http://www.swrfi.org/fly_in.htm