Posted: 8/20/03

Airport event gives kids a chance to fly

Joe Drennan
Staff Writer

The Forest Lake Airport and Daniel A. DePonti Field were buzzing Saturday as the airport featured its annual open house.

The event allowed kids the chance to take an airplane ride, people young and old to get a close look at all sorts of small aircraft, including a Minnesota National Guard Huey Helicopter, and the Forest Lake Lions Club was on hand to make sure nobody went hungry.

Gregg Hyster was admiring the National Guard helicopter with Gage Johnson. Hyster said just being able to admire the complex machinery of the air craft is what brought him out, but added the thrill of speed and flight helped.

Charles Werham, an airport network support volunteer, was sitting on a concrete barrier watching the planes take off and land. Werham took up flying in 1993 only after contemplating for years if he should. ìI always thought I couldnít fly because of my eye sight,î he said. It wasnít until a flight school instructor told him otherwise that he decided to take the plunge.

ìI think itís great for Forest Lake to have this kind of activity at the airport,î Werham said. ìItís good for the airport and the town.î

ìI think what they are doing today with the flights for the kids is wonderful,î Werham said. ìWho knows, it might get some of them to take up flying.î

Kids got a taste of what it is like to fly in a small plane as a part of Young Eagles flights. The flights are for kids 8-18 with parental permission. The program was so successful that 86 kids were able to look down on Forest Lake in a way they may have never expected on Saturday, but so successful that 21 kids were not able to get their flights in.

Adam Zank was one of the lucky ones.

ìIt was awesome. When youíre in the air itís a lot different because it is bumpier and when you get done you have to get used to the ground again,î Zank said.

Zank enjoyed the flight so much that he said he wants to maybe fly an ultra light plane one day because it can go anywhere he wants it to go.

The main reason for the open house was so the community could come out and see what the airport has to offer, the added benefit though was that everyone had a good time and went home with a smile on their face, talking about all the different aircraft they were able to see.

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