Pancakes, planes will be part of fly-in breakfast on Saturday

Flying, food and fun are all scheduled for takeoff Saturday at the Poplar Bluff Municipal Airport during the annual fly-in pancake breakfast sponsored by SEMO Aviation Services.

“What we like to do is get the community involved with aviation and let them see what it is,” SEMO Aviation Services Owner Dustin Ramsey said. “We also want to let them see what their local airport is. By people knowing that this is their airport and finally getting to use it for something is kind of nice.”

The pancake breakfast will begin at 7 a.m. for the community at $5 per person. Children 10 and under are free. Proceeds will benefit a local scholarship.

Breakfast will be served rain or shine.

In addition to a delicious breakfast, the fly in will also feature hot air balloon, airplane and helicopter rides, all weather permitting.

Rides will begin at 9 a.m. at the cost of $15 per person for the hot air balloon rides, $20 per person for airplane rides and $35 per person for helicopter rides.

The Masonic Lodge will also be raffling a Smith & Wesson .38 Special Revolver. Tickets can be purchased at the fly in for $5 each or five for $20.

“They are only selling 350 tickets so you have fairly decent odds,” Ramsey said.

Proceeds from the event will go toward the Poplar Bluff Masonic Lodge Scholarship.

In the last three years of the event, Ramsey said the Masonic Lodge has been able to increase its scholarship from $500 to $1,000.

In past years, Ramsey said, about 2,500 to 3,000 people have visited the fly in.

“It’s a pretty good sized event,” he said.

Several groups will be in attendance to help keep the event on track, including Poplar Bluff JROTC, Divine Chapter Order of DeMolay, Poplar Bluff Assembly #115 Rainbow Girls, and Southeast Missouri Search and Rescue.

In addition to community members about 20 to 50 different aircraft are expected to stop in for breakfast from all over the state and even further.

“The kids love going around seeing all the aircraft that are there,” Ramsey said. “We usually have one in some part of tear down in the hanger.”

An inflatable bounce house will also be on hand for children to enjoy with the purchase of a pancake breakfast.

Ramsey, others from SEMO Aviation Services and airport personnel will be happy to answer any questions attendees and children may have regarding aircraft or flying.

“That’s what SEMO Aviation Services is, a maintenance shop and flight school,” Ramsey added.

Once breakfast wraps up around noon, a popcorn and drink booth will be available throughout the remainder of the afternoon.

Rides will begin at 9 a.m. weather permitting and fly until around 3 p.m.

For more information on the fly in, call SEMO Aviation Services at 573-714-6385.