Superintendent Pons has asked that I share this exciting information with
our school community:

The airFest is an annual event put on by Experimental Aircraft Association
Chapter 445 at Tallahassee Regional Airport. This will be our 5th year to
conduct the event at the Airport. Last year we entertained around 5,000 fly-
in and drive-in guests with displays of new and vintage aircraft, airplane
and helicopter rides, demonstration flights, and good food. This year we
have expanded the event to include WW II vehicles, weapons, and re-
enactors, new and vintage Mustang automobiles, a B-25 bomber, motorcycles,
new Light Sport aircraft, and exhibits by the FSU WW II museum, NOAA, and
The Challenger Center. As always, we will be providing free plane rides for
children ages 8-17 in our Young Eagles program. Saturday from 10:00 am to
3:00 pm and maybe Sunday (if he's up to it) Col. Gene Greenwood USAF (Ret.)
will be recounting his experiences as a B-17 and B-25 pilot in WW II. This
is an excellent opportunity for young and old, alike to experience a part
of our history that is fast fading from our awareness.

This AirFest will be  special  in that we will be celebrating the City of
Tallahassee's 80 year commitment to aviation. The City purchased land for
what was to become Dale Mabry Field, our first airport, in 1928. Our
chapter will be presenting a plaque to the City during our opening ceremony
Saturday, May 17th, at 12 noon to commemorate  this event. There will also
be recognition by the Experimental Aircraft Association itself. EAA is an
international organization of primarily pilots with more than 170,000
members and 1,000 chapters. Headquarters are in Oshkosh, WI. Victoria
Maleszewski with Airport Administration is working on a time line for the
airport and plans to have it for display at the AirFest. Also we plan to
recognize residents that trained, or worked at Dale Mabry Field during WW
II. Dale Mabry field was an important fighter training base and had a major
impact, not only on the War, but on the City of Tallahassee. We see this as
a very positive event for the Airport and it has captured the interest of
the Tallahassee Democrat and television news.

Through our Young Eagles program our member pilots give children 8-17 their
first ride in a light plane. We do this to get children  interested in
aviation, and to show them that there is a practical application for all
the math, language, and science they study in school.  The funds raised by
this event are used to pay fuel costs for our pilots that fly Young Eagles
(children become "Young Eagles" after their first flight), and to award
scholarships to three, or four Young Eagles to fully pay for tuition and
airfare to Oshkosh, WI to attend a week long Air Academy.


Admission tickets for the event are $5. Children under 12 and active duty
military are admitted free of charge. For more information regarding
AirFest 2008 go to www.airfest2008.com. If you would like to publicize the
event in the schools we will be glad to provide posters. Call me if you
have questions.

Kelley Phillips, Co-chairman
AirFest 2008
850-552-0642
[log in to unmask]
www.eaa445.org
www.eaa.org


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