Airplanes of all types land at Saturday fly-in

Right, Rob Smith, Dan Griffis, and Bob Lothspeich were on the grill for the Rotary pancake feed which served approximately 250 people at the fly-in.

Saturday morning's fly-in at the Colfax airport brought an estimated 45 to 50 airplanes from all over the area, according to organizer Barney Buckley. The airplanes filled the parking grid located next to Buckley's hangar at the west end of the airport, and a line of overflow parking was arranged along the taxiway on the west end of the airport.

Colfax Rotarians served breakfast to approximately 250 people from grills set up inside Buckley's hangar.

One special feature of the event was the arrival of three Cessna 195 business liners which came from Spokane, Deer Park and Kamiah, Idaho. Marc Lange, a 1980 graduate of Garfield High School, flew his 195 from Spokane. The three big Cessnas, all at least 60 years old, departed at the same time and flew over the airfield in formation.

The Blaine family from Roche Harbor received the award for flying the longest distance. The Peoples' Choice and Best Contemporary Airplane awards went to Ben Bowen, who flew his Cessna L-19 Bird Dog surveillance airplane over from Pullman.

Ryan Hone of West Richland won the Best Antique award with his early 1940s Aeronca, and Brock Hill of Palouse won the Best Classic award with a Piper Super Cub.

Ron Rea of Priest River won the trophy for the Best Experimental Airplane with his Lancair 360.

More Photos: See Weekly Pages: June 29