Promoting GA At The Mason Aviation Day Fly-In

by Vickie Vandenbelt

MASON, MICH. – Mason Jewett Field (TEW) is a wonderful general aviation airport in mid-Michigan, located 15 miles south of the state capitol in Lansing. The 4000 foot paved runway and self-serve 100LL at a (usually) competitive price, attracts aviators from across the state and beyond.

Mason Jewett is also the home of EAA Chapter 55. With over 100 members, the chapter is very active promoting all facets of aviation. The chapter hosts its Dawn Patrol Pancake Breakfast in June, plus Young Eagles rallies in June, July and August. But the chapter’s most anticipated event is the Mason Aviation Day Fly-In.

In days gone by, the chapter hosted an air show and would host a B-17 Flying Fortress or B-25 Mitchell Bomber from the Yankee Air Force Museum. In recent years, however, the chapter has down-sized to host only a pancake breakfast and grilled steak lunch and it has worked well.

This year, August 17, 2013, dawned beautiful, clear skies. Volunteers arrived about 6:30 am ready to work. The planes and cars started arriving shortly thereafter.

In total, 90 aircraft flew in and 850 people were served. People were coming and going throughout the day.

Two Cessnas, a helicopter, and a Stearman biplane sold rides.

Announcer, Dan Schiffer, was busy all day informing attendees about aviation, and describing aircraft over the public address system.

Local Boy Scout troops assisted with auto parking and cafeteria duties. The Civil Air Patrol assisted field security volunteers.

The chapter’s mission is to grow participation in aviation, by inspiring people to fly, build, volunteer and outreach to promote aviation. There’s no better way to do this than to invite the general public and members of youth organizations to the airport to see the planes and talk to pilots, and the fly-in accomplished this.

This entry was posted in December 2013/January 2014, Fly-Ins & Air Shows, Sections. Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.