EAA offering chance for people to spread their wings

May 10--EAA Chapter 95 is offering people the opportunity to "live the dream" this Saturday.

People can see historical and new planes, and even take free plane rides, when EAA Chapter 95 holds an open house at the Morris Municipal Airport.

This is the seventh annual open house held by the local Experimental Aircraft Association chapter, and it's the second year it has been held as a local "Learn to Fly Day," said Pete DeCraene, Chapter 95 president. "Learn to Fly Day" was created by the EAA and Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

"It's an opportunity for people who have been curious to get that first flight," he said.

The open house at the Morris airport will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 12. The airport is located at 9980 N. Illinois 47 in Morris. The event is free and open to all. Lunch will be available for a donation.

"We hope to have 30 planes flying in or staying there for the whole day," DeCraene said.

The planes on site will include an old Stearman Biplane used for training during World War II, a Grumman Avenger, other war birds and home built aircraft, said Al Franowsky, chairman of the open house committee. In addition, every year a row of antique and custom cars show up.

"I hope they'll get out of it a tremendous sense of love for aviation," Franowsky said. "They'll see the planes close up, see aviation for what it is, unlike what you see at a commercial airport. It's more grassroots."

People will learn more about the local EAA chapter as well, he said. Chapter 95 members build airplanes, fly airplanes and are very family-oriented, he said.

Unless it storms all day, the event will be held, rain or shine. Last year, the open house had about 250 people attend.

Members of Chapter 95, along with Blue Sky Aero flying school instructors, will be on hand at the event with their planes to talk about aviation, the planes and learning how to fly so others can "live the dream" of personal flight, according to the press release.

EAA's 176,000 members and 1,000 local chapters enjoy the fun and camaraderie of sharing their passion for flying, building and restoring recreational aircraft, according to the release. For those who take rides at the open house, they will receive a free six-month membership to the EAA, which includes free entrance to the EAA museum in Oshkosh, Wis.

Chapter 95 is selling $5 raffle tickets for a pedal plane to help raise money to send two kids to a summer camp in Oshkosh.

"Airports are kind of thought of as off-limits because of the gates," DeCraene said. "People aren't comfortable just walking up to one. This is a time the gates are open. So it's an opportunity for people to get out to the airport and see all the good stuff that goes on out there,"

The local chapter also annually holds a Young Eagles Flight Rally, and this year it will be June 9. Children ages eight to 17 are invited to the Morris airport that day to get a free flight. The goal is to increase interest in aviation in young people who will then, in turn, become pilots.

For more information on the local EAA Chapter 95, visit 95.eaachapter.org.

Copyright 2012 - Morris Daily Herald, Ill.