Fly-in promotes aviation, community, city airport

WORLAND — The first-ever fly-in at Worland Municipal Airport, at least in recent history, will be this Saturday hosted by the Worland Flying Club and sponsored by the City of Worland and Sky Aviation.

Bill Pennington, president of the club, said a Fly-In serves several purposes — to promote Worland, promote the Worland Municipal Airport and aviation commerce.

It is also a community activity for the club.

What is a Fly-In? General aviators from around the area are invited to fly in to Worland airport and socialize with other aviators and enjoy a free pancake breakfast (with sausage as long as the sausage lasts).

Pennington said the event will run from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. with pancakes ready about 7:30 a.m. on the southside of Sky Aviation.

“We are planning on 300 but I’m not sure we will get that many this first year,” Pennington said.

The public is also invited to the fly-in to visit with Flying Club members, learn more about aviation and enjoy a pancake.

Pennington and fellow club member Carter Rasmussen will be offering discovery or introductory flights for anyone interested in joining the club.

There will also be a FAAST Wings Seminar from 10 a.m. to noon for general aviators. Typically after a pilot receives his pilot license he has to complete one hour of flight instruction every two years to keep the license.

For those who fly a lot that might be OK, but Pennington said many general aviators get their license, fly a lot in the beginning and then flight time drops off so one hour every two years is not enough.

There is a FAAST (Federal Aviation Administration Safety Team) Wings program offered through the Federal Aviation Administration. According to the FAA website, “The objective of the WINGS Program is to address the primary accident causal factors that continue to plague the general aviation community. By focusing on this objective, we hope to reduce the number of accidents we see each year for the same causes. As you will see, it is not a simple “Award” program but is instead a true proficiency program, designed to help improve skills and knowledge as pilots.

“The WINGS - Pilot Proficiency Program is based on the premise that pilots who maintain currency and proficiency in the basics of flight will enjoy a safer and more stress-free flying experience.”

Tom Van Kleen of Casper will be conducting the seminar and he is working with the FAA to have the seminar qualify as a WINGS certified safety seminar.

The focus of the seminar is weight and balance and performance and density altitude, “all good things when flying a bug smasher,” Pennington said.

He added, “You don’t have to be a WINGS member to come to the seminar.”

There will be some vendors there including Rocky Mountain Framing and Fence Post Prints.

“This is a ground breaker for us. Next year we would like to see an aerobatics demonstration,” noting there is a pilot from Powell who could do the demonstration.

They may also look at a flour bombing contest, where pilots drop flour from a plane at a target, nearest the target wins. Pennington said they have also discussed short field landing and take off competition.

The Worland Flying Club has 29 members, 20 of whom are active. They own two airplanes.

For more information on the club visit their Facebook page or contact Pennington at 406-671-0958 or Rasmussen at 307-388-2030.

He said the bylaws have them capped at 35 members.

“Our mission is to increase aviation opportunities in the Big Horn Basin. There is no reason not to fly in Worland. We have great weather,” Pennington said, adding that they have to go to Thermopolis for crosswind training but there is rarely a crosswind at the Worland airport.