Skip to content

Up, up and away!

There may be no Airport Appreciation Day this year, but Qualicum Beach aviators are still very much primed for takeoff
13899parksvilleFrontplane
The flying is fine: Roger York pilots his T-28 trainer onto the tarmac during Saturday’s fly-in at the Qualicum Beach Municipal airport. The event was a feast of all things aerial. More pictures on page A5.

There may be no Airport Appreciation Day in Qualicum Beach this year, but that doesn’t mean local aviators are all relaxing in their armchairs, dreaming about the day they’ll once again take to the skies.

Far from it.

This weekend, the Parksville-Qualicum Aero Club hosted a special fly-in event at the airport to not only show off some rather remarkable aircraft to local residents, but also to show off the airport facility to visiting fliers.

Aero Club spokesperson Fred Evoy said the club holds the event on alternate years to the Airport Day festivities.

The day’s activities kicked off with a pancake breakfast, followed by fly-pasts by a variety of aircraft.

Residents were able to take in a variety of static displays and, for those with a more adventurous bent, could buy a raffle ticket for the chance to go for a ride in Roger York’s T-28 Trojan warbird or go for a spin in a Glasair homebuilt.

Although there were aircraft flying in and flying out throughout the day, many members, their guests and fly-in crews made a point to stick around and enjoy a salmon barbecue and dance to the music of Big Twang Theory, from 5 p.m. to midnight.

The action wasn’t all in the sky or the runway, either. Just like at the Airport Day event, there was a car show held on the airport grounds for those with a love for machines that are not prone to fly.

Evoy said he was pleased with the turnout and, more importantly, the weather.