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Idaho Transportation
Department

Public Affairs Office
P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID 83707
208.334.8005
Fax: 208.334.8563
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Fly-in to feature biplane rides, poker run

A flying poker run for pilots, rides in a vintage biplane, as well as social events and safety seminars add unique touches to the annual McCall Family Fly-In, Aug. 12-14.

Pilots, aviation enthusiasts and families will converge at the McCall Airport for the weekend event, sponsored by the Idaho Transportation Department’s Division of Aeronautics, the city of McCall and the McCall Airport.

Event highlights include:

  • Flying poker run: Nearby airports deal a playing card to each participating pilot. Three pilots with the best poker hands win prizes. The poker run is Saturday (Aug. 13), 8 a.m. to noon. A $10 entry fee is required.
  • Vintage biplane rides: Ride in a classic 1928 Travel Air open-cockpit plane. The plane seats two passengers side-by-side in a front cockpit while the pilot flies from the rear cockpit. Rides are available Friday through Sunday (Aug. 12-14). Rates begin at $125 per person.
  • Hangar party: C.W. “Butch” Welch (also known as Cee Dub on public television cooking shows) will cook a Dutch oven menu of chicken wings, BBQ beef brisket, corn on the cob, biscuits and more. Welch is the host of a popular television cooking program and has written several cookbooks. The party is Saturday (Aug. 13), 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and features live music. Tickets are $15 per person. Beverages will be available for purchase from McCall Brewing Company.
  • Safety seminars: Backcountry survival, aerodynamics and emergency maneuvering are among the seminar topics offered. Two Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-sponsored pilot and aircraft safety programs, Wings and PACE (Pilot and Aircraft Courtesy Evaluation), also are planned. All seminars will be on Friday and Saturday.

“Pilots and their families from around the country are drawn to Idaho because of the unique access to the backcountry,” says Frank Lester, Division of Aeronautics. “McCall is the gateway to Idaho’s wilderness, and the community provides an ideal destination point.”

Aircraft displays, military fly-bys, children’s activities, a pancake breakfast, lake tours and tours of the smoke jumper base also are on the weekend agenda. Free airplane flights will be offered to children ages 8-17 through the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles program.

Cee Dub, an Idaho native, returns to the Fly-In to lead his popular Dutch oven cooking classes. Dutch oven cooking appeals to campers and especially to pilots who fly into the backcountry. Welch’s stories and recipes come from years in the backcountry as part of river and hunting trips, and as a conservation officer for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

The McCall Family Fly-In is open to the public. Fees may apply for some activities. For program details and to register, visit www.itd.idaho.gov/aero or call the Idaho Division of Aeronautics at (208) 334-8775 or (800) 426-4587 (toll-free in Idaho only). For lodging, call In!Idaho at (800) 844-3246 or visit www.inidaho.com .

The Fly-In is organized by the Idaho Division of Aeronautics, the city of McCall, the McCall Airport, the McCall Area Chamber of Commerce, McCall Aviation, the McCall chapter of the Idaho Aviation Association and numerous volunteers. Sponsors include Tamarack Resort, McCall Air and Appleton Air Sports.