Hundreds of aviation enthusiasts are expected to flock to the Anoka County-Blaine airport this weekend for a regional fly-in.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the largest aviation association in the world, is hosting a regional event at the north metro airport Friday and Saturday.
Residents interested in learning more about piloting, owning an aircraft and aviation are invited to the event.
A Friday night dinner and aerobatic performance by air show performer John Klatt at nearby Surfside Seaplane Base in Lino Lakes will kick off the two-day festivities. The Lino Lakes seaplane base will host AOPA's first fly-in event to feature seaplanes or floatplanes.
"Floatplane rides are something that will be offered by Adventure Seaplanes — and that's going to be a real treat for pilots who haven't been exposed to that kind of flying," Mark Baker, AOPA president, said in a written statement.
Last year, the association transitioned from one major summit each year into a series of seven smaller regional events across the country. Attendance for each regional fly-in last year averaged about 2,500 people, 450 aircraft and 900 automobiles, according to AOPA's website.
Saturday's schedule includes a pancake breakfast, a lunch and a variety of aircraft displays, exhibits, and aviation safety seminars. The event will end with a "Pilot Town Hall" with Baker and an ice cream social.
Baker, who owns a hangar in Blaine, learned to fly at the airport while a student at the University of Minnesota in the late 1970s. "I've got a personal affinity for the place, but it's also a great location for this event in its own right," Baker said.
