8th annual Colfax Fly-In slated for next weekend

COLFAX — The Experimental Aircraft Association is hosting its 8th annual Colfax Fly-In and Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Port of Whitman Business Air Center, Airport Access Road.

The event, sponsored by the Port of Whitman County, will have a $10 pancake, sausage, and egg breakfast provided by the Colfax Rotary Club from 8-10 a.m.

Coordinator Barney Buckley said that this year, airplane rides will be back. “We haven’t had those for a number of years,” Buckley said.

This year, local pilot Lyle Drader will provide plane rides for 30 minutes over the Palouse at $50 per person.

Buckley said that the event started in 2019 with the crop dusters that would put on what they called a safe clinic. “Dusters would bring in their plane, and people from a certifying agency would check the calibration and the like,” Buckley said, noting that there was a big lunch provided. “People just came in and watched the crop dusters,” Buckley said, adding that the event fueled the idea for the fly-in, which officially started in 2014.

Buckley confirmed that over 280 planes and helicopters have shown up for the event since its inception. The Port of Whitman County said in its press release Tuesday, Sept. 11, that 1,575 attendees have also turned out for the event since it started.

Buckley said that the event has brought in many vintage planes, including a WWII amphibian called Grumman Goose, adding that it will probably show up at this year’s event.

“There are a lot of homebuilders out here who build a lot of really beautiful planes,” Buckley said, noting that many people who bring planes bring ones they built, as well as antiques and classics.

Buckley added that they are expecting at least 40 airplanes to show, “We might get a few more than that,” he said, noting that people fly in.

Attendees can vote on their favorite aircraft before award presentations at 10:30 a.m. “There are awards for the largest distance flown in, for the the most senior and junior pilots,” Buckley said, noting that the oldest has been 80, and the youngest was 18.

Buckley said that the Port of Whitman County had made massive improvements to the Air Center, noting that everything has been rebuilt, including the runway and taxiways.

He noted that the Center used to have four buildings when the Port took over, and the 4th was torn down. “We’re up to about 14 new buildings,” Buckley said, adding that that doesn’t include the Industrial Park.

Buckley encourages everyone to attend the family event to see the improved Air Center and the planes. “Families bring the whole family, and we love having them,” Buckley said.