27th Annual Wings-n-Wheels Fly-In Set for Sept. 30-Oct. 1

Various planes including military aircraft like this B25 Bomber will be available for the public to view and tour during the upcoming fly-in at St. Louis Regional Airport in East Alton.

The 27th Annual Fly-In will take place the weekend of September 30 – October 1 at the St. Louis Regional Airport. The two-day Fly-In is a family friendly festival of wings, wheels, food, and fun hosted by the St. Louis Regional Airport, in partnership with Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 864. The event is packed full of activities including tours of local pilot’s planes, military aircraft, and other visiting aircraft “behind the fence” on the airport tarmac. The Speed Demons Car Show with the band Cruise Control, a Kids Zone sponsored by the Bethalto Chamber of Commerce, the Bethalto’s Farmers Market and Food Trucks sponsored by the Bethalto Spirit round out the weekend. There is no admission charge to any of the venues at the Fly-In.Saturday, September 30 from 9am – 2pm is the main day of the Fly-In.

In addition to touring planes, the public can visit information booths provided by branches of the military, West Star Aviation, and the Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) Aviation Program. The Missouri Commemorative Air Force will have several “war bird” planes available for viewing including a B25 Bomber and a PT 17 Bi-Wing Open Cockpit Steerman. Rides can be purchased on the B25 Bomber and the PT 17 Steerman. The EAA Local 864 annual fundraiser will provide food and non-alcoholic beverage sales. For enthusiasts, the Bunker Hill Speed Demons car club will display their love of “cool American made cars.” The Speed Demons car club started in 2015 with founding members Mark Flieger, Chris Gosch and Roger Knoche in Mark’s garage and has grown to nearly 40 professional car enthusiasts with a passion for American made muscle cars, hot rods, and vintage cars. The Speed Demons routinely volunteer to help other car clubs and participate in many local fund-raising efforts. The band Cruize Control will be playing at the car show and prize winners for the show will be announced at 3:30 pm. The Bethalto Chamber of Commerce will sponsor a Kids Zone complete with Bounce Houses provided by Bounce Happy Houses, a Kids Activity/Craft tent,

and Barrel Car Rides provided by the Bethalto Spirit group. Everything in the Kids Zone is free to young attendees and is sponsored by local Bethalto businesses. Volunteers from the Battleship Missouri Division Sea Cadets, the IL Wing Civil Air Patrol IL-286 East Alton and IL-205 Scott AFB, Bethalto Volunteer Fire Fighters, Bethalto Rotary and Bethalto Chamber of Commerce will be available to make your Fly- In experience safe and enjoyable.

Family fun and activities continue on Sunday from 9am – 2pm. EAA local private pilots offer Young Eagle Flights. Founded in 1992, the Young Eagles program is dedicated to giving youth ages 8–17, an opportunity to go flying in a general aviation airplane. These flights are offered free of charge and are made possible through the generosity of EAA member volunteers.  Rides are offered on a first-come first-serve basis and the dedicated group of local EAA Chapter 864 members do not leave the airfield until all youth receive a ride. It’s the only program of its kind, with the sole mission to introduce and inspire kids in the world of aviation. The family fun continues with the second day of the Bethalto Chamber of Commerce Kids Zone and the Bethalto Spirit Farmers Market. Market vendors will include arts and crafts, face painting, produce, goat yoga, seasonal fall flowers and pumpkins, jewelry and much more from over 25 participating vendors. There will be food trucks near the Kids Zone for your enjoyment.

Access to the Fly In will be at the main St. Louis Regional Airport entrance on Airline Drive.  Free parking will be provided on the airport south lot facing Hwy 111.

Everyone is waiting to welcome you to the 27thAnnual Fly-In at St. Louis Regional Airport in the beautiful village of Bethalto. For more information call 618-259-2531 or visit www.bethaltochamber.com/eaa-fly–in