Largely clear, blue skies seemed to appeal to dozens of pilots who decided to land at the Sundre Airport on Sunday for the annual Mother’s Day Fly In Breakfast.
Michael Bellamy, a retired professional pilot, flew down from Villeneuve, near Edmonton, with his daughter Amanda, for their second time.
“We had to skirt around a big thunder cell” that was about 50 kilometres north of town, but upon listening to radio chatter heard the weather was clear for landing in Sundre, he said.
“I’m retired now, so I just fly for fun,” said Bellamy, who years ago used to work at the local airport when he was employed by the Alberta government.
Michael Bellamy, a pilot who flew sorties in Mogadishu, Somalia during a military operation retold by the movie Blackhawk Down, flew in from Villeneuve, near Edmonton, with his daughter Amanda to check out the fly in breakfast for their second year in a row. Simon Ducatel/MVP Staff
Last year was their first time attending the fly in breakfast, which they had heard about through word of mouth networking among other pilots.
“We had a good time,” he later added as they began preparing to depart.
“We love the mountains and the people here.”
Given the opportunity, they plan to return again next year, he said.
“I think this has become a new annual Mother’s Day stop,” said Amanda.
Aspen Muraski checks out with her son Levi, 2, a Bell helicopter, a model made famous by the television series MASH.
About 450 breakfasts were served up, said Bruce Goodwin, a volunteer with the Sundre Flying Club and a past president. There were about 20 classic cars on display, and more than 40 pilots signed a register. However, not all signed, and the organizer estimated that as many as 50 planes landed, plus another roughly 10 helicopters.
Rodeo royalty contestants Jesse Miller, left, and Jayden Calvert served with a smile many people who attended the breakfast.
“We’ve had as high as 70,” he said, but that was back in the ’80s.
“Things aren’t quite as lucrative as they used to be for this type of thing,” he said, adding he was nevertheless quite pleased not only with the turnout this year, but also the weather.
“It was great,” he said, adding organizers, pilots and the public could not have asked for much better conditions. Putting in all the work to prepare the event only to get a dump of snow or rainstorm can be disheartening, he said, expressing gratitude for everyone’s support.
The Bell helicopter, a model made famous by the television series MASH, drew many visitors, who in turn watched as aircraft landed and departed. Simon Ducatel/MVP Staff
Lisa McQuiston, who for the fourth year in a row came out with her son Owen, 4, and Cody Smith, said they enjoy being able to see the planes and especially helicopters up close and personal. They would recommend the event to anyone who has never attended, and hope to be able to come back again next year, she said.
Cody Smith, Lisa McQuiston and Owen, 4, who came out from near Caroline, watch as a plane taxis back to the runway. Simon Ducatel/MVP Staff
Len Schafer, who after many years away from the area decided to return to farm near Bergen where his grandfather homesteaded in 1907, said he enjoys air shows and had never before been to the fly in breakfast at the Sundre Airport.
Schafer said he enjoyed “with a little bit of envy” the opportunity to see the pilots arriving and departing, and wants to return in the future.
“It’s a small airport, as far as airports are concerned, but it has a lot to offer.”
A pilot tips his wing towards the crowd below upon taking off as the fly in breakfast slowly but surely started winding down. Simon Ducatel/MVP Staff
A row of vintage vehicles offered visitors the chance to check out some other impressive machines. Simon Ducatel/MVP Staff
