The first-ever fly-in at the Breezy Point Airport exceeded expectations as the clear, 80-degree Saturday morning, May 2, brought 51 planes - from crop dusters to a North Memorial Medical Center helicopter - to the runway.
"It was a fantastic weekend weather-wise, which is always a gamble when you plan something like this," airport manager Cliff Muller said. "I'm very happy ... it was wonderful."
Members of the Breezy Point Airport had been discussing hosting a fly-in on their runway for several years. After receiving the approval of the Breezy Point City Council this year, they decided to hold the event during the weekend before the fishing opener, in an effort to entice more people to attend.
Roughly 700 people flocked to Muller's hangar to see a variety of aircraft, socialize with the pilot and enjoy food and fellowship.
"It was a marvelous success," Mayor Tom Lillehei said during Monday's city council meeting. "I thought that was a huge benefit to the entire community. It brought a lot of attention ... and interest in the area. It was a really well-run event."
ADVERTISEMENT
Muller has said the airport now plans to host the event every year, and Lillehei expressed interest in the city being involved in some capacity.
Event-goers also had the chance to be educated on some of the finer points of flight from pilots and air traffic controllers.
"Whether they are the commander of an air shuttle or a pilot in charge of an airliner, they all start here," Muller said. "They take that lesson in a little place."
