The Sundre Flying Club is keeping alive the decades-long tradition of hosting a fly in breakfast on Mother’s Day.
Community members are invited to visit the Sundre Airport Sunday, May 12, when a variety of aircraft — including planes and helicopters — will be flown in. Local vintage vehicle aficionados will also have an opportunity to showcase their prized possessions, said Myron Bignold, a flying club board member.
“We usually invite anyone who wants to bring a classic car to put on display,” said Bignold, adding the showcase of planes ties in well with the inclusion of cars.
Breakfast, which features pancakes, eggs and sausages with either coffee or juice, starts at 8 a.m. and will be winding down by noon. Attendees can remain longer to continue checking out the cars and aircraft until the pilots and drivers decide to depart, he said.
While people are welcome to peruse the planes, choppers and classic cars free of charge, the breakfast is available at a cost of $8 for adults and $4 for children, said Bruce Goodwin, also a board member as well as a past president.
Launched in 1987, the event was held on the Labour Day weekend for the first few years. Organizers eventually decided to reschedule the fly in breakfast for Mother’s Day to avoid scheduling conflicts with other fly ins. The date change also offered an earlier opportunity for pilots keen to take off in the spring after the winter lull. The Sundre Flying Club’s fly in breakfast is one of the first of the season and appeals to pilots eager to fly, said Goodwin.
“If it would ever quit snowing,” he added.
The club receives support from the municipality, the local IGA, as well as volunteer assistance from Miss Rodeo Sundre royalty, who help serve breakfast, he said.
Goodwin said he is glad the event remains after so many years a staple of the community.
“It’s good for the airport, the town and the county,” he said, encouraging everyone to drop by to enjoy some breakfast and check out the planes, choppers and cars.
Of course, as with any outdoor affair, the fly in breakfast depends largely on good weather. While organizers always plan to proceed come rain or snow, poor conditions have in the past been known to hamper the turnout, said Bignold.
“Not too many people show up if it’s miserable. If the weather cooperates, it’ll be nice,” he said.
“Hopefully, we don’t have snow.”
The club is working on completing the Sundre Airport’s upgrade to make a new jet fuel delivery system available. While that might not be operational in time for this year’s fly in, Bignold said it will definitely be online come next year.
