MANSFIELD — There’s no shortage of activities on Independence Day weekend.
On Saturday, July 2, the seventh annual Mansfield Airport Day will take place at Lahm Airport from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. This free event showcases the airport and its activities to inform, enlighten and entertain the public, as well as foster an interest in aviation.
“Children have the opportunity to have an airplane ride — maybe the first one of their lives — and that’s through the Young Eagles program,” said Bill Schmidt, chairman of the event.
Free Experimental Aircraft Association Young Eagles flights will be available for youngsters (age 8 to 17) with parental permission for the first 100 kids. Sign-up will begin at 11:30 a.m. behind the Subway, and flights will take place from noon to 2 p.m., weather permitting.
Galion Air, Inc. will again sell Cessna rides, weather permitting. Adult rides cost $35 and rides for children cost $25. Rides last about 20 minutes.
New to Airport Day are the T-6 rides by Nostalgic Flights. Cost for a 15-minute flight is $250 and a 30-minute flight is $415.
The event is expected to draw between 3,000 and 4,000 people, according to Schmidt.
“There’s a little something for everybody,” he said.
Attendees will have plenty of aircraft to see, including a C-130, Cessna 206, Cessna Caravan-EX, Lear 45 jet, Medflight 5’s helicopter, OSU and Purdue universities’ Cessnas and more.
Milliron Auto Parts is sponsoring the caw show, which will feature door prizes, oldies music, 50/50 drawing, raffle, hot wheel race competition, and trophies to the top 30 contestants.
Equipment from various agencies and organizations, including the 200th RED HORSE Squadron, the Mansfield police and fire departments, Mansfield Memorial Museum, InterCity Amateur Radio Club, Ohio Motorpool and Eagle Squadron RC Club, will be on display.
Also during the event, the Mansfield Aviation Club will announce its new flight training scholarship program, and representatives from OSU and Purdue universities will be present to talk about aviation careers.
Various food options will be available. The Mansfield Aviation Club will offer a pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. There will also be sandwiches provided the Ohio Special Response Team, popcorn and water by EAA Chapter 148, Nate’s Hot Dogs and Sophia’s Handmade Lemonade, snow-cones and homemade ice cream for dessert. Subway will be open all day as well.
Schmidt thanked the community for its support.
“We wouldn’t be able to do it without help from sponsors, and these are generally businesses or individuals who have a special interest in aviation,” he said.
The following day, Spitzer Motor Speedway is holding Freedom Fest beginning at 2 p.m. at the racetrack.
“It really doesn’t have a connection with what we’re doing, but what it does is it creates a very exciting weekend out at that part of town,” Schmidt said of Freedom Fest.
Freedom Fest will feature live music, a classic car show, stock car race and fireworks set to music. This is a free event.
