Midland Huronia Fly-in

^{Written by: Phil Lightstone
Photos courtesy of Gus and Clara Corujo of Gusair Photography and Phil Lightstone}

With AirVenture 2024 just around the corner, COPA Flight 73 and the Huronia Regional Airport (CYEE) hosted a fly and drive in on Saturday July 13, 2024, from 10 am to 2 pm, called “2024 PLANES TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES NORTHERN REGIONAL FLY-IN”.

The weather could not have cooperated more with clear skies, unlimited visibility, light winds and temperatures in the mid 20’s C.  Runway 16-34 is 3,996 feet of good asphalt (75 feet wide).  Airport advisories were delivered over the Unicom frequency by the airport staff, helping guide pilots to the active runway.  When I flew into the area, the active runway was 16.  On short final, the airport staff decided to change the active runway to 34 due to a change in the prevailing winds.  This provided an excellent opportunity to practice a go-around procedure.  The design of the airport has a taxi way roughly halfway down the runway and access to the ramp from the button of runway 34 and the taxiway.  With a lot of aircraft expected to arrive, using runway 34 expedited aircraft exiting the runway.

Avgas was discounted to CAD $2.71 per litre (taxes in). Marshallers, guided aircraft to the self serve fuel pumps through the ramp area and to parking, ensuring that attendees were safe while aircraft were taxing. The organizers report (via Facebook): “a very successful Trains, Planes and Automobiles. 75 vintage cars, 50 plus aircraft, who knows how many attendees. Sorry to have run out of food.”

CYEE is home to the Zenair Aircraft Company (www.Zenair.net) and Zenith Aircraft Company who operates a manufacturing facility on the airport property.  Zenair design, engineer and develop kits and accessories for the CH series of light sport aircraft now manufactured and sold through Zenith Aircraft Co. Chris Heintz designed the Zenair aircraft and began manufacturing kits in 1978.  Chris’s son Nick provided a guided tour of the plant answering questions delivering an interactive experience.  Nick reported that the aircraft’s fuselage requires 600 hours to assemble with the full aircraft (interior, paint, avionics and power plant) takes approximately 1,000 hours to complete.  Between 900 and 1,500 kits have been completed to date.  Jeff Moore ordered his kit in 2016, took delivery in 2017 and finished his aircraft in 2018.  He was able to complete his aircraft relatively quickly by taking one year off of work (Jeff is an automotive instructor).

Sean Marshall and Denis Bergeron flew in for the fly in from Brockville ON.  Sean flies a Grumman Tiger and is building a VANs Aircraft RV9a, while Denis a 15,000 hour fixed wing and helicopter pilot flies an RV 7a.  Their mission was not only to attend the fly in, but also pickup an aircraft part from Zenair. The flight took them 1.5 hours as opposed to the five hour drive (each way) from the Kingston area.  Interestingly, Denis reports, that while he lives in the Kingston area, he hangars his aircraft in Brockville, for two reasons: hangarage costs are more than half as less; and more modern hangars. 

 

COPA Flight 73 offered a BBQ lunch, inclusive of hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages, chips and drinks. The volunteers were working hard to keep the food line short.  Tony Varga, who flew from Kitchener Waterloo (CYKF) in his Commander 112, toured the Zenair factory at 11:00 am.  Tony reports: “the tour was fascinating and an example of good old fashioned fabrication mixed with state of the art CNC machinery”.

Bill Snelgrove, President COPA Flight 73 reports: “we have a thriving municipally owned airport, which many of the city’s residents are not aware of.  The Fly and Drive In is an excellent way for the airport’s management, commission and our local COPA Flight to promote the airport and General Aviation to the community.  If we can get one or two people interested in aviaton and beginning their journey to flying an aircraft, mission accomplished.  While we had planned for 300 meals, by 2:00 pm we only had cold water left. With 15 volunteers working the hot ramp and the BBQ, many of which are older, we were concerned about them being in the sun for extended periods of time.  The great weather, BBQ, cool airplanes and vintage cars, brought out pilots and residents in record numbers.”

The airport has picnic tables under the trees, with the light winds, BBQ aroma wafting through the light breeze, which created a great environment for aviators to chat about aviation.  The airport keeps a propane BBQ in the picnic pavilion area for anyone to use.  In fact, some folks from the town of Midland will drive over for the afternoon to watch the aircraft and have a BBQ.  Everyone is welcome to fly into CYEE for a scenic BBQ. 

With over 50 aircraft, in attendance, attendees had ample opportunity to see cool aircraft and talk to their owners.  There many aircraft on the ramp including, a Beechcraft Stagger Wing, two Rockwell Commanders, a Cornell, a Pitts Special, a Waco biplane, a turbine Otter, a Cessna SkyMaster, a Lancair, a variety of homebuilt aircraft, Bonanza V-tails, Beechcraft Seneca, and many other aircraft types.  Lots of different types of aircraft to look at and chat with the owners.  There were many different classic cars, from British sports cars to American Muscle cars.

Local fly ins are excellent venues to share your aviaton experiences while learning from others while perusing cool aircraft.  The Huronia Airport has a crew car (an airport truck) which pilots can borrow (when not in use by the airport manager) to drive into the town of Midland to sample some local cuisine at one of the many restaurants.  Cawaja, Balm and Ardmore Beaches, on Georgian Bay, are a 10 minute drive from the airport.  With access to free transportation (as a courtesy, please fill up the truck), why not make the Huronia Airport a summer destination.