Plane Fun

I so wanted to do this event last year. We even made it out to the little airport last year (thinking it was free since it is just a small event) and then sat in the parking lot debating on whether it was worth the admission to walk a two year old around when the weather wasn't looking very promising. Craig ended up deciding against it and we drove home feeling very disappointed for wasting the drive given all the effort it takes to get a 2 year old and a 2 month old loaded up and out of the house.


So this year, I told Craig he wasn't going to talk me out of it. ;) I marked it on the calendar months ago - I'm pretty sure it's always on Father's Day weekend - and asked Craig to invite his dad to go along with us. My father-in-law has (had?) a pilot's license and his own little plane (three, actually) back in the day and I knew he would not only enjoy this, but also make it far more interesting for us (and Will) because he could tell us about everything. I also called the contact person listed online to check that the event was still taking place given that the airport was right in the middle (though mostly untouched) of the tornado damage along S.R. 795. I think they lost one of the larger airplane hangers, but they also had over 100 volunteers come out last weekend to clean up and the event was still on! Woo hoo!

On the drive there, Will was asking his Papa all kinds of random questions and Papa did such a nice job answering them so patiently and thoroughly. I think he was a teacher in another life. He explains things to Will so intelligently and yet so basically, and he talks to him/treats him with so much respect and not like just a little kid. Have I mentioned how very much I love the relationship between the two of them? It just makes me so happy to witness.

Okay, moving on. Metcalf Field is pretty small with very little commercial flying. So the majority of planes there were small, private planes along with a couple bigger, military planes. And it was not an air show (just to be clear) - more like a car show, but with planes. After parking and paying at the gate, we hopped on a trailer and hitched a ride out to the main area.

Love this one.

This one was Papa and daddy's favorite: a Globe Swift.

Happy Father's Day, Tom & Craig!

Several planes were taking off and landing during the event so that was fun to watch. They were also offering rides in both the airplanes and a helicopter.

I'm sure I'm doing a terrible job of explaining this stuff because I just don't know much about it. But with that said, this is a B-25D "Mitchell" Bomber that was restored to complete authenticity after fighting in the war.

Will and Craig took a brief tour inside to check it out.

See Will in the window?

Papa had a plane very similar to this and was chatting up the owner about it.

Except Papa's was a Cherokee 140.

I know I'm posting an excess of plane pictures that most people aren't going to appreciate. But I also know that my grandpa will be reading this post and he is a pilot, so I thought he'd appreciate a few extra pictures of our visit.

Another Air Force plane that we were able to tour.

Someone was selling these pop can airplanes and Will was pretty intrigued by them.

A plane that looks like a shark!

Before leaving, Tom and Craig checked out and discussed some of the plane engines.

I am certain Craig would not have enjoyed this nearly as much without his dad there.

I never actually saw this in action, but it appeared to be a "train" of little barrel planes that the kids could ride in.

And that was our visit to Plane Fun at Metcalf Field.

On the way home, Papa spotted a bunch of baby ducks with their mother in a ditch bank so of course we had to stop and check them out (from a distance, of course). So cute!