In air or on ground, plenty to do at Airport Appreciation Days

Monday, August 30, 2010
Greencastle Mayor Sue Murray signs a proclamation declaring Sept. 6 through 12 as Young Eagle Week in Greencastle. Pictured are, from left, John Layne, Jack Sutton, Mayor Murray and Duane Skoog. Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN

GREENCASTLE -- Inside, outside, up in the sky and on the ground, a variety of activities and events await the public at the 2010 version of Putnam County Airport Appreciation Days.

The annual weekend of activity is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 11 and 12 at the Putnam County Airport, located off State Road 240 at Ballard Lane on Greencastle's east side.

Admission to the airport grounds is free but there are fees for food and some activities. Opening ceremonies will be conducted by the Greencastle Fire Department at 8 a.m. on Sept. 11.

On both days, Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 1374 will offer free Young Eagle airplane rides for children ages 8 to 17. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Dixie Chopper Air will offer airplane rides for adults and children under the age of 8 at a nominal fee, while helicopter rides will be available at a cost of $30 for adults and $20 for children under 12.

The Final Approach Restaurant inside the Dixie Chopper Business Center will be open for purchasing breakfast, lunch and dinner on both days of the event.

Display booths in the airport hangar both days will feature such topics as "Ghost Airfields," documenting the history of airfields in Indiana; flight training and woodcrafts.

Static displays of aircraft will include World War II military trainers, YAK military trainers, experimental homebuilt aircraft, med-flight helicopters and general aviation examples.

Meanwhile, the Commemorative Air Force PX will be on site selling War Bird memorabilia both days.

A special attraction this year is the new "Dixie Chopper Radio Hour" fundraising dinner on Saturday.

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with a two-entree dinner buffet starting at 6 and the Radio Hour show going live at 7.

Tickets for the radio dinner fundraiser are available at the Dixie Chopper Business Center, 102 Ballard Lane, Greencastle, or by contacting Duane Skoog at 363-2093. Advance tickets are $15 per adult, $5 per child under 12. On the day of the show, tickets will be $17 for adults and $7 for each child under age 12.

Net proceeds from the evening will be divided between the EAA Chapter 1374 Young Eagles Program and the USO for its ongoing efforts to entertain our troops.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: