By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
HOULTON — Airplane and automobile enthusiasts will once again converge on Houlton’s International Airport Saturday for the third annual Wings and Wheels event.
Throughout the day, vendors will be selling a variety of items, including handmade crafts to an assortment of concessions.
“The first year, we didn’t know what to expect,” said Jane Torres, executive director for the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce. “Houlton International Airport is truly a hidden treasure that has a great historical past, which will be highlighted throughout the day with presentations by representatives of the Aroostook County Historical and Art Museum. Many of our older folks remember the days when the airport was used by the Air Force as a camp for German prisoners of war.”
At one time there were 4,000 people at the Air Force base and planes were towed across the border to Canada to aid the war effort.
Last year, about 2,500 people came out for the event.
Since private planes like to arrive early, organizers will be offering a breakfast buffet from 7-10 a.m. The buffet is open to anyone in the community who would like to join the pilots. After breakfast, the opening ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. with a color guard and skydiving exhibition.
Also on tap are aerobatic demonstrations by the Jim Parker Airshows at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Jerry Wilcox will have a massive airplane engine on display and will be firing it up at various times throughout the day, Torres said.
The United States Customs and Border Protection will have an X-ray machine on hand to show how they search for contraband. The Maine Forestry Service will also do a helicopter water drop, displaying how they combat forest fires.
New this year will be a group of World War II re-enactors, who will set up authentic camps, complete with tanks, trucks and weapons displays.
The idea for a “fly-in” formed when Torres, former Town Manager Eugene Conlogue and former Economic and Community Development Director Lori Weston were brainstorming new ideas to draw people to the town.
“We would love to get to the point where we have 30-40 people flying in with their planes for the day,” Torres said.
Vacationland Skydiving will once again offer opportunities for tandem jumps out of an airplane. The event was so popular last year, that a second day of jumps set for Sunday has been added this year. Acadia Airtours will also offer bi-plane rides for those interested in flying in an open-cockpit style plane.
A candy drop for the children will be held in the afternoon. In addition, North Country Cruisers will host a cruise-in for antique automobiles throughout the day. Last year, more than 100 vehicles participated.
Advance tickets can be purchased for $8 for those age 16 and older ($10 on the day of the event) or $4 for children ages 6-15 ($5 on the day of the event). Children 5 and younger are free.
Tickets are available at the Chamber of Commerce or by calling 532-4216 until Friday.
