Colfax Fly-In a success

COLFAX - Local plane enthusiasts and families gathered to eat breakfast, view vintage planes and vote their favorite.

The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) 328 flew in vintage planes and hosted a breakfast for the ninth year in a row.

"We had slightly less than last year and that's good," said Organizer Barney Buckley.

Buckley said the event brought in 215 people for breakfast and approximately 45 planes flew in.

Groups of people could be seen viewing planes as new ones flew in.

At the end of the event winners of the fly-in awards were announced with Bralen Donovgh, 17, winning a second year in a row for Youngest Pilot Award.

"It was fairly windy, headwind unfortunate," Donovgh said in regard to how his flight went. "Otherwise pretty smooth."

Donovgh told the crowd that he flew 120 hours this year and is hoping to go to a 141 college next year.

Also winning for the second year in a row, taking the Oldest Pilot Award was Art Sager, 84.

"I got this last year," Sager said, relinquishing his award to the next oldest pilot.

The furthest flight went to Jason Carter, of Athena. "It was absolutely beautiful coming here," said Carter.

People's Choice Award went to the "Julie Anne" belonging to Tyler Donovgh, who flew in with his son. "My son and I Brayden thank you for putting it on," said Tyler, in regard to the event.

Buckley said the event featured two super cubs on floats and one of them was new to the event.

"The other one, the 'Tazmania,' was here a year or two ago with wheels," said Buckley, noting it came back with amphibian floats this year.

"It was a great assortment of planes, one that came in was a 'Mooney Mite'," said Buckley, noting Art Sager flies a Mooney.

"The Mooney Mite was really early. Single place retractable gear. 75 horsepower. Not that many of them around," he said, adding that it was the first time he had seen one.

Buckley said planes started flying out at approximately 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

"The hangar 180 (Flying museum in Lewiston, Idaho) made a show out of leaving," said Buckley. "Let people look at them again."

Buckley said overall the event had a variety of planes, a good breakfast and beautiful weather.