ARLINGTON — Pilots are ready to take to the skies while spectators claim spots on the airfield below during the 47th annual Arlington Fly-In.
The Fly-In is the city’s largest event of the year. It relies on hundreds of volunteers to plan, set up, run and clean up the celebration, which draws thousands of people to the Arlington Municipal Airport on Highway 531 just east of I-5.
This year’s aviation festival starts Thursday and continues through Saturday.
Pilots are expected to fly in this week from all over the country and park their planes for the three-day event. They can camp for free “under the wing,” according to event listings.
The first day of the event, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, is kids day. Children get free admission and can look forward to hands-on exhibits, making airplanes out of candy, testing their skills in flight simulators, face painting, bouncy toys and an airshow at 2 p.m.
On Friday evening, an “Afterwork Airshow” caters to those who can’t make it to the daytime exhibits. A food court and beer garden are planned. The after-work event starts around 6:30 p.m. and continues until 9:30 p.m.
There are movies each night at the Runway Theater, set up specifically for the Fly-In. Thursday’s feature is the animated film “Minions.” On Friday and Saturday, the movies are “The Martian” and “Interstellar.”
Judges examine and rank registered aircraft throughout the Fly-In, with an awards ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. If someone has won an award in a specific category in the past, they cannot claim the same award again, though they can place higher in the category.
There’s more than plane displays on the schedule. Camp Adams is returning this year on Friday and Saturday to showcase military vehicles, equipment and history.
Admission is $17 at the gate for people arriving by car, $10 for people arriving by plane and free for anyone under 15. There is no additional cost for parking. Pets are not allowed into the event unless they are service animals.
For more information, including a full list of airshows and times, go online to arlingtonflyin.org.
Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.
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