Wellington Airport to hold open house

It will be a day for families to check out airplanes, talk to pilots and spark an interest in aviation in children.

The Wellington Airport, 441 N. West Road, is holding its second annual open house from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14.

There will be a handful of small single engine four to six-seater airplanes – such planes as World War II trainers, some homebuilts and Cessnas and Pipers. Pilots will give free rides to kids ages 8 to 17. Parents and guardians will be required to sign their children up for the rides and fill out a form. These introductory flights for children, tweens and teens will be provided by volunteers with the Young Eagles EAA program. Wellington’s chapter, which is only about a year old, is the EAA Chisholm Trail 1631.

“It’ll give young kids a chance to interact with aviators, get an airplane ride and get excited about aviation,” airport manager Matt Wiebe said.

Young people with an interest in aviation can join the Young Eagles club, Wiebe said.

Church said, “It’s kind of to plant a seed of interest. Most kids have never been in an airplane.”