Pemberton Fly-In is a show and shine for plane buffs, August 7
Randy Elkins wanted to be a pilot for as long as he can remember, and he made it happen, “as soon as my finances let me.”
Now the proud owner of a Cessna 210, which he hangars out at Pemberton Airport with Pemberton Soaring, Elkins estimates that he has flown in and out of 124 airports across Canada and around North America. But he reckons that the Pemberton Airport is one of the prettiest airports in the world to fly in to. “The terrain is just beautiful. The mountains. It’s just very pretty.”
For the last four years, members of the Pemberton Flying Club and other local aviation enthusiasts have organised the Pemberton Fly-In. The Pemberton Lions Club has provided food sales and helped make the Fly-In a success.
An invitation to fly in for the Fly-In goes out to pilots, plane clubs and aviation networks, to attend what is essentially a Show ‘n Shine for wing-men and women.
Small planes, either owner-built or certified aircraft, fly in from all around BC, from towns like Prince George, Williams Lake, the Gulf Islands, Vancouver Island, and Revelstoke, to show off their planes, hang out and connect with fellow aviation buffs.
This year, the Pemberton Fly-In will give an award – a certificate along with some local Pemberton produce – to the Most Unusual Plane and the Farthest Distance Travelled.
This group of aviation keeners are about to reveal one of Pemberton’s best kept secrets: one of the best untapped picnic spots in the entire Sea to Sky corridor is the Pemberton Airport. And the Pemberton Fly-In on Saturday August 7 2010 is the best chance to check it out.
Families can roll out picnics, or feast at the Lions BBQ. Get up close and personal with a range of small planes, some of whom will even let kids climb into the cockpit of their craft.
Pemberton Soaring and Whistler Skydiving will both be running operations during the Fly-In – making it easy to watch the gliders take-off and land, and listen to the sweet sounds of skydivers screaming down from the heavens!
Visitors can check the weather at the airport via the webcam, before heading out for a free day of family fun, at the 4th annual Pemberton Fly-In, Saturday August 7, 11am – 3pm.
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