Airplanes and breakfast at Desert Aire

DESERT AIRE - Desert Aire Airport is the place to be on June 14 if you like airplanes with your sausage and eggs. That is the date set for the annual Desert Aire Fly-in and Breakfast.

"Pilots from all over the area will be flying in to experience a hardy sausage, pancake and eggs breakfast," airport administrative assistant Suzi Gruber said. "It's an annual Father's Day weekend event. Bring your family and enjoy."

Everyone in the surrounding communities is invited to have breakfast and enjoy the many fly-ins and fly-overs. There are bound to be a surprise plane or two in the mix, and the celebration of aviation seems to grow every year.

Breakfast will be served from 7-11 a.m. It will include hot coffee and ice cold orange juice. It will be served in the large hangar (m-94). A $5 donation is asked and appreciated. Proceeds will be used to maintain the airport runway, taxiways and apron areas.

Among the units committed to fly in are two military helicopters. There will be other vintage and military planes.

"After breakfast, you have got to see the brand new state of the art boat launch and the new public 3.5-mile paved walkway along the beautiful Columbia River," Gruber said. "You must see the perfectly manicured 18-hole Desert Aire championship golf course surrounding the airport and overlooking the river and mountains."

If you'd like to stay for lunch, Gruber added, Desert Aire has two restaurants from which to choose - Tumbleweeds and R-place.