EVERETT — An upcoming event at Paine Field will offer children the chance to fly for free with a licensed pilot, while giving everybody a close-up view of vintage aircraft.
General Aviation Day on May 15 is sponsored by Snohomish County and the Washington Pilots Association. The event is in its 15th year. Admission is free.
“It’s not an air show, but we do have demonstration flights,” said Les Smith, president of the Paine Field chapter of the Washington Pilots Association. “One of the things we’re proudest of is what we call the Young Eagles flights, which are free flights for kids ages 8 to 17.”
The 20-minute flights for are scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mostly, they will be on single-engine aircraft based at Paine Field or from nearby Harvey Field in Snohomish, Smith said. The idea is to get children interested in flying while seeing the relevance of the math and science they’re taught in school.
Other events that day include a firefighters 5k run at 8 a.m. to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. A firefighters pancake breakfast at 9 a.m. benefits the Northwest Burn Foundation.
Vintage warplanes will take to the sky at noon. The Taste of Mukilteo and Kiwanis barbecue will sell food, with proceeds going to charities.
On the same day, Paul Allen’s Flying Heritage Collection is having its first fly day and cutting admission price in half. John Sessions’ Historic Flight Foundation has planned a free open house starting at 2 p.m.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465, nhaglund@heraldnet.com.
General Aviation Day
Admission to General Aviation Day on May 15 at Paine Field is free. Go to 3407 109th Street SW, Everett, and follow the signs to the Flying Heritage Collection. For more information, call 425-353-2110, ext. 5, or go to www.wpaflys.org.
8 a.m.: Firefighters’ Fly Day 5K Run (a $20 to $25 entry fee benefits the Muscular Dystrophy Association; register at www.painefield.com)
9 a.m.: Paine Field firefighters pancake breakfast ($5 cost benefits the Northwest Burn Foundation)
9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Free Young Eagles flights for kids ages 8 to 17 (space may be limited)
Noon: Flights by aircraft from the Flying Heritage Collection and Historic Flight Foundation
2 to 7 p.m.: Historic Flight Foundation open house at the southwest corner of Paine Field
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