KINGSFORD, Mich. (WZMQ) – Over the weekend, aviation enthusiasts and families alike flocked to the Ford Airport to partake in the grand celebration of the airport’s 20th annual Ford Airport Day.
The event featured an impressive array of aircraft displays, with highlights including the venerable T-6 Texan WWII trainer and exhibits from the airport’s own aviation museum.
For the younger attendees, there were bounce houses, a kiddie train, opportunities for free airplane rides, and engaging conversations with members of the Civil Air Patrol. Tom Sullivan, President of the local chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), emphasized that the event aimed to bring aviation closer to families:
“You can actually come out and be immersed in aviation,” he stated. “You know, usually you’re peering through the fence; it’s a locked community. So, when we do this, you can get out. You can talk to the pilots. We have the Young Eagle flights; the kids are getting rides. You can actually get a real close look at aviation.”
Another interesting display was the showcasing of a minibike turbocharged with a jet engine. This year, the airport added an exciting twist by merging the aircraft displays with a car show, courtesy of the Just Cruizin’ Car Club. Sullivan, who has been a part of the event since its inception, said this year, the format for the displays has changed.
“The cars, they’re mixed in with the planes instead of segregated. It’s been a real popular change, so they feel like they’re part of the show,” he stated, adding that the kiddie train has only been around the last two years, when it was donated by a member of the EAA. The kiddie train runs for the entire event for the past two years, and this year’s Ford Airport Day was no different.
The event has been a resounding success for the past two decades, and the funds raised during this time have been dedicated to the construction of the airport’s new hangar. Once completed, this hangar will play host to a youth program, furthering the airport’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of aviation enthusiasts.
For more information about the local chapter of the EAA, visit:
https://chapters.eaa.org/eaa439
For more information about the Ford Airport, visit:
