The Vero Beach Municipal Airport has announced that Feb. 28 will be its annual Aviation Day, an open house event with displays of aircraft of all kinds for an up close and personal look by anyone interested in aviation. Residents and visitors to our area are encouraged to come by and discover the love of flight.
The members of the Experimental Aircraft Association, Indian River Chapter 99, will have a treasured piece of history, the B-17 bomber on display. It will be available for rides for an additional fee. This classic aircraft played a big role in World War I and has been meticulously restored. Through the “Keep ‘em Flying” initiative, revenues from the flight tours help cover the costs associated with maintenance and restoration of the aircraft. Rides are available from Feb 27 – March 1st with discounts available to those reserving in advance. Visit B-17.org or call 1-800-359-6217.
Admission for Aviation Day, held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., is $5 per person or $10 per family. “The EAA team prices it this way to encourage people to bring the whole family. “Our goal is to inspire young people to pursue an interest and/or career in aviation,” said Eric Menger, Vero Beach Municipal airport dDirector. “It is truly fun for the whole family. There will be demonstrations, displays, food and souvenir vendors and more, in addition to bi-plane and helicopter rides.”
The airport is a pivotal factor in the strength of the Indian River County economy, contributing over $468 million a year both directly and indirectly. The airport has three runways, six approaches, and an FAA control tower facilitating over 200,000 flight operations, annually.
For current details about both the B-17 rides and Vero Beach Municipal Airport Aviation Day, log on to: www.eaa99.org