About 10,000 people are expected to attend the upcoming open house at Falcon Field Airport.
The city of Mesa plans the event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 26. Most activities take place in Falcon Field Park and on the aircraft ramp, airport spokeswoman Dee Anne Thomas said. The park is at 4636 E. Fighter Aces Drive.
There’s no admission charge, but people are asked to bring non-perishable food to donate to the United Food Bank.
It’ll be a busy day, Thomas said, with all sorts of things on tap.
Flights in vintage aircraft will be sold by members of the Commemorative Air Force Airbase Arizona Aviation Museum, which is located at Falcon Field.
The museum has special hours during the open house, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Museum admission cost is reduced to $5 a person and $10 a family on that day.
Aircraft manufacturers whose plants are at Falcon Field also plan to sell flights in various types of aircraft, Thomas said.
People can walk around and look at aircraft, including Boeing’s Apache helicopter, a Cobra helicopter from the Vietnam War era, unmanned aerial vehicles, vintage war birds, experimental aircraft and general aviation planes. Several flyovers are planned, by the commemorative group and the Falcon Warbirds.
But, it’s not all aircraft, Thomas said. The Southwest Military Transportation Show takes place at the same time, at the museum. There’s a charge to attend that show.
Other non-aviation features include a classic car show, organized by Impala Bob’s, a business housed at Falcon Field. Impala Bob’s sells parts used in auto restoration, Thomas said. The car show held during the open house has become popular, she said. About 100 cars are expected to be on display.
Members of the Arizona Big Trains club are bringing their garden trains for display in a 60-by-16-foot area. Visitors get a chance to operate the trains, she said. They’re bigger than the typical model train, Thomas said.
Two flight simulators are expected, Thomas said. Sonic Boom Entertainment is bringing a 40-foot trailer that seats two. People experience the feel and movement associated with flight, including barrel rolls, and watch video screens of flights.
The Civil Air Patrol is also bringing a flight simulator.
Food vendors will set up, along with other vendors, some selling wares, and a disc jockey will spin tunes all day.
There’s plenty planned for children, she said, including inflatables, a little train they can ride around and face painting.
Falcon Field was built for use as a World War II pilot training base. It’s now owned by the city of Mesa and used as a general aviation airport, including serving as home to many aircraft businesses.
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