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Henning fly-in breakfast is Saturday [UPDATED]
Published 7:46am Tuesday, July 24, 2012 Updated 11:57am Tuesday, July 24, 2012The Henning Fly-In and Drive-In Breakfast will take place from 7 a.m. to noon on Saturday at the airport. It will depend on the weather, but airport manager John Thalmann said he expects a turnout of around 300, with 70 airplanes flying in.
In the 1980s, the event came complete with an acrobatic air show, but because of insurance purposes, the stunts and skydiving had to be discontinued. Although there is no longer a show, aviation enthusiasts still enjoy getting together in Henning once a year to chat and eat pancakes, eggs and sausage.
Airplane rides will be offered for a $30 donation, and drawings for door prizes will be going on all morning. There is no gate fee, but breakfast is $7 for adults and $3 for children eight and under. Proceeds will benefit the airport.
The Henning Municipal Airport is different from most in the area because it has a grass runway. There are only around 20 municipal airports in Minnesota that are grass-only, Thalmann said.
“There is a group of guys with Warbirds who fly here to practice landings because the grass runway is wider and more forgiving,” he said. “If there’s a lot of wind, you can land a little diagonal, and it’s easier on the tires.”
The Henning Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 1065 will sponsor Saturday’s Fly-In and Drive-In Breakfast. The local chapter has around 25 members. Only about half the members fly. The other half just like aviation, said Thalmann.
“The EAA is huge,” he said. “It started out with people wanting to build their own aircraft.
People started selling plans and parts. Now you can buy kits that can be put together in six weeks.”
While a new plane can cost around $450,000, kits can be purchased for as little as $40,000. Several of these locally constructed planes will be on display Saturday.
Fly-In events are often held in the morning for a number of reasons.
Weather is typically better in the morning and cooler temperatures are better for flying. Pilots are generally an early morning crowd, Thalmann said.
