Fly-in Jan. 28 at Palatka Airport

: Palatka’s Municipal Airport is located on State Road 100 to the west of Palatka. The Kay Larkin Field is named for Putnam County’s first air casualty during World War II.

By MARCIA LANE

PALATKA — In Palatka Saturday (Jan. 28) people will be looking to the skies as the 7^th annual open house/fly-in takes place at Palatka Municipal Airport from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The free family-friendly event brings in exhibits from around the country and offers goers a chance to talk with pilots and touch planes that include warbirds as well as antique and modern aircraft. At 11:30 a free lunch is put on the airport.

John Youell, who heads up the airport, says the event has been growing through the years.

“We look forward to this as a way to show off our airport. This year we’ve gotten calls from as far away as Pennsylvania and Canada wanting to know if it was taking place.”

One call this year came from a Jacksonville Mustang club wanting to know how much display area they could have. Classic cars are another part of the airport open house and you can expect to see a variety of models.

Skydivers will be jumping throughout the day. Remote control airplane and drone demonstrations are planned and a variety of aviation-oriented displays are expected.

Community support, says Youell, is essential and area business have been generous. Sponsors include City of Palatka, Shell Aviation Fuels, Palatka Gas Authority, Seminole Electric Cooperative, Beck Auto Group, Georgia-Pacific, Neuco Distributors, Villa Farms Retirement Community, River Villas Retirement Community, Gullett Title Inc., Southern Air, Passero Associates Engineering and Synergy Construction Management.

Also, Harbor Community Bank, Douglas & Hedstron PA, Bates, Hewett & Floyd Insurance, Hampton Inn, Ameris Bank, Quality Ice, Holiday Inn Express, Palatka Men’s Golf Association and Boat House Marina.

For more, go to www.palatkakaylarkin.com or call 386-329-0149.