Clear blue skies offered near-perfect flying conditions for dozens of pilots who touched down at the Sundre Airport for the annual Mother’s Day fly-in breakfast.
“It was excellent,” said Bruce Goodwin, Sundre Flying Club past president and current volunteer, about the event.
The weather makes a major difference on a pilot's decision to fly in and organizers never know quite what to expect until the actual day, he said.
“Wind is another factor that affects small airplanes — they don’t like to come out when it’s too windy.”
But despite a somewhat strong wind on the morning of Sunday, May 13, an average turnout of at least 50 aircraft came in for landing, including several helicopters and a float plane. There were likely a few more as some pilots occasionally forget to register, he said.
Of course the event is by no means exclusive to pilots, and anyone is welcome to drive in as well. The airport was a busy place, with plenty of people perusing the planes and choppers parked along the tarmac.
More than 600 breakfasts were served courtesy of contributions from the Sundre IGA, and the Sundre Rodeo and Race Association made available tables and chairs. Also helping to prepare pancakes and eggs were members of the Miss Rodeo Sundre royalty program, he said.
“They’re just great — they help every year. Boy, those girls work hard!” he said.
“They do a great job, and it’s nice to see their smiling faces.”
Organizers also continued with last year’s addition of welcoming motor vehicle enthusiasts to showcase their wheels, which included a variety of vintage as well as modern cars and trucks. Although there were numerous vehicles displayed, Goodwin was uncertain how many.
“I was so busy mixing pancakes that I didn’t get a chance to see everything. I felt like the Pillsbury doughboy!” he said with a chuckle.
The breakfast is the club’s main annual event for the community. Although the organization is doing fairly well, maintaining operational viability can sometimes be a struggle, he said.
“It’s something that’s an expensive hobby,” he said about recreational flying.
The Sundre Airport Commission, comprised largely of Sundre Flying Club members, looks after the airport, which was once under the administrative auspices of Mountain View County, he said.
Some of the annual maintenance tasks include jobs such as crack sealing the runway. This year, the club recently completed a project to set up a system to facilitate credit card payments at the pumps, he said.
“We just got that going this spring.”
Previously, fuel payments were largely done by an honour system in which pilots would fill up and follow up afterwards with a cheque. While people were typically honest with that approach, everybody uses credit cards these days so the new system simplifies the transaction for everyone involved, he said.
“This works better,” he said, adding hardly anyone uses cheques anymore anyway.
Another recent addition to the airport are security cameras to monitor the site, and efforts are underway to explore the possibility of introducing jet fuel as well, he said.
“We’re trying to keep the airport viable.”
Anyone who might be interested in getting involved with the club is welcome to contact Goodwin at 403-638-3215.
