All eyes on bright sky at Fly-In

Evann VanVleet's face was flushed and glistened with sweat as he watched the airplanes dive and loop through the bright blue sky.

"The best shade is under an airplane's wings," the 8-year-old from Everett said. "I've been drinking lots of water."

"It's not always hot around here."

As temperatures hit the high 90s at the 39th annual Arlington Fly-In, visitors hit the shade and reached for their water bottles in search of a reprieve from the heat.

A variety of planes were at Arlington Airport. Sturdy looking home-builts in blues and grays joined the bright red stunt planes flown in for the afternoon's air show.

The Fly-In began Wednesday and runs through Sunday. Organizers believed nearly 500 children showed up Wednesday for Kid's Day.

Thirst stations were scattered around the event and visitors lined up at food stands for water, sno-cones and other cool treats.

"We've got water out everywhere," said Barbara Tolbert, the Fly-In's executive director. "We told all the volunteers to keep an eye on people. The kids are much more resilient."

The heat was a "huge concern for parents," said Debbie McBrayer, a teacher at North Sound Christian School in Mill Creek.

The school's summer camp chose the Fly-In for a field trip. A note reminded parents to pack hats, sunscreen and bottled water for their children.

McBrayer also told parents to be ready to pick up their children early if the heat ended the trip sooner than planned.

"These kids have found the wing shadows everywhere we go," McBrayer said.

Other parents dumped water over their children and propped umbrellas on strollers to keep their children cool.

"It's too hot," Rebekah Henderson from Edmonds said. "My son, he's only 1 1/2, so it's kind of silly to be out here."

Volunteers at children's exhibits at the event also suffered the heat. Being inside white tents was just as hot as being outside them.

"I'm wishing we had a water fountain or sprinkler or something," volunteer Clinton Stellfox said.

Stellfox, 24, works for the Pacific Science Center in Seattle. The center's Science on the Go exhibit drew in many children with its array of science-related toys and projects.

But the heat in the tent didn't discourage children from building bridges or learning about lasers.

"They seem to be taking it much better than we are," Stellfox said.

Reporter Jasa Santos: 425-339-3465 or jsantos@ heraldnet.com.