Cal Brennan, 1, sits inside a helicopter during Paine Field Community Day on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Everett, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)

Cal Brennan, 1, sits inside a helicopter during Paine Field Community Day on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Everett, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)

Children explore world of aviation at Everett airport

The second annual Paine Field Community Day gave children the chance to see helicopters, airplanes and fire engines up close.

EVERETT — Snohomish County children got the chance to see airplanes, helicopters and a brand-new fire engine at the second annual Paine Field Community Day.

Visitors checked out old warplanes at the Flying Heritage and Combat Armor Museum at the same time youth got a chance to sit in the front of a helicopter.

One-year-old Cal Brennan sat in the front seat of a helicopter around 10 a.m. Saturday. He enjoyed pressing the buttons and moving the levers, but putting on a helmet was a little too much for him.

“I tried it. He didn’t love it,” Cal’s father, George Brennan, said.

Six-year-olds Theodore Lynch and Aarian Alchholz got to check out the Snohomish County Airport Fire Department’s new engine that day as well. The vehicle, which weighs nearly 80,000 pounds, isn’t set to go into service until June.

“I’m pretty excited,” said Capt. Peter Hereth, who has been with the department for more than two decades. “I helped inspect the vehicle, and it’s been a fun process.”

The event, hosted by the Snohomish County-owned airport, began in 2024.

Will Geschke: 425-339-3443; william.geschke@heraldnet.com; X: @willgeschke.

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