Supporting Young Aviators

Who wants breakfast? I’m not talking about sniffing exhaust from the car ahead of you in anticipation of some egg flavored pancake coupled with cardboard they-tell-me-it’s-sausage crammed between halves of a soggy english muffin. I’m talking about sitting around a table with family, friends and neighbors, eating sausage and eggs and huckleberry pancakes, sipping on coffee and orange juice.

If you like the sound of that, Northern Air is the place to be! On the last Saturday of every month starting in May and running through September, Northern Air hosts a Fly-In Huckleberry Pancake Breakfast between 8am and 10:30am.

Norther Air, the airport in Bonners Ferry, is the same company we featured in our article about missionary planes a few months back. These good people are helping to send planes, as well as pilots and mechanics from their own workforce, into the field for missionary and aid work.

I digress. Let’s get back to breakfast.

Don’t let me lose you at “Fly-In.” The name is a bit misleading. Don’t have a plane? Don’t have a friend who has a plane? Have a friend with a plane but not sure you want to get in that plane with that friend? No problem. You can drive to the breakfast. Thoroughly confused?

Dave Parker, owner of Norther Air, told me more people drive to the Fly-In Huckleberry Breakfast than those who fly. That makes me think some of you aviators are missing out on a perfectly good excuse to get in the air on a Saturday morning! Still, all are welcome.

The Fly-In Huckleberry Breakfast was originally just that, a fly-in kind of shindig. It was a breakfast by pilots, for pilots, in support of young, aspiring pilots. Northern Air and the local Experimental Aircraft Association (experimental aircraft – not as scary as it sounds) conceived the event to gather local pilots and raise money for the scholarship fund.

Each year, young people ages 16 to 18 are encouraged to apply for ground school and flight training scholarships at Northern Air. These scholarships mean free training toward a pilot's license for some aspiring young person in the community. That is where the proceeds of the breakfast go. So you see, the breakfast is for a good cause. As such, donations are requested.

The Fly-In Huckleberry Breakfasts are growing, bringing positive attention to our local airport and aviation. Companies like Three Mile Store & Cafe, Safeway and Super 1 are sponsoring the meals. People are showing up in support. It is inspiring youth and strengthening community. Young aviation enthusiasts are even handling most of the work related to the breakfasts!

Don’t miss out! Tell your friends, tell your neighbors, tell the person next to you, the Fly-In Huckleberry Breakfast is the place to be from from 8am to 10:30am on the last Saturday of each month, May through September.

If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about the scholoarship opportunities, you can find out more at www.757.eaachapter.org/scholarship.htm. Too young for the scholarship? Not sure how you’ll feel once you get in the air? Check out the Young Eagles Flight Program for a chance to experience flight and see your hometown from the air.

#local #lifecommunity #events #entertainment #FamilyKids #FoodDrink