Free flights offered at Fly-in Breakfast

DESERT AIRE — If you’ve ever wanted to view the South County area from the sky, then you might want to attend this year’s Desert Aire Airport Fly-in Breakfast on June 18.

Visitors will have three chances to win such flights without cost. Except for the cost of breakfast, of course. A $5 or more donation to the cause is recommended.

The cause is the upkeep of the airport, a vital link to the outside world, particularly in times of emergency. It was recently upgraded to one of the finest small airports in the country, and airport manager Karl Gruber wants to keep it that way.

The annual Fly-in Breakfast is held on the Saturday before Father’s Day. It’s the lone fundraiser of the year.

“Last year we served 550 breakfasts to Desert Aire residents and friends,” organizer Melinda Skogerson said. “We had planes fly in from as far away as Alaska.”

Pilots from all over the Northwest, and even outside of the Northwest fly in with a wide array of planes. They enjoy a breakfast and chat with the attendees.

The Fly-in is not for private planes only. They have included medical emergency and military units. There is usually a surprise or two each year.

This year will include five special raffle drawings between 9-11 a.m. Three will be for South County fly-overs valued at $250 each. The other two will be two rounds of golf and a riding cart. Each of those packages is valued at $105.

Volunteers will start serving breakfast at 7 a.m. It will include pancakes, eggs, sausage, milk, juice and coffee.

Breakfast will be held in Harang’s Hanger. To get there, follow the signs from the Sagebrush Senior Center.