VERO BEACH — The Vero Beach Municipal Airport is pleased to announce Feb. 28, will be the date for its open house event, known as Aviation Day. This is not the airshow that was presented last year; this is an open house event with numerous static displays of aircraft of all kinds for an up close and personal look by anyone interested in aviation. Residents and visitors to the area are encouraged to come by and discover the love of flight shared by so many in Vero Beach.
The members of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Indian River Chapter 99, Vero Beach, will have a treasured piece of history, the B-17 bomber on display. It will be available for rides for an additional fee. This classic aircraft played a big role in WWII and has been meticulously restored. Through the “Keep ‘em Flying” initiative, revenues from the flight tours help cover the costs associated with maintenance and restoration of the aircraft. Rides are available from Feb. 27 – March 1 with discounts available to those reserving in advance. Visit B-17.org or call 1-800-359-6217.
Aviation Day 2015 will be held on Feb. 28, 2015, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Vero Beach Airport. Admission is $5 per person or $10 per family. “The EAA team prices it this way to encourage people to bring the whole family. Aviation Day is a fun and educational experience. Our goal is to inspire young people to pursue an interest and/or career in aviation,” said Eric Menger, Vero Beach Municipal Airport Director. He continued, “It is truly fun for the whole family. There will be demonstrations, displays, food and souvenir vendors and more, in addition to bi-plane and helicopter rides.”
The airport is a pivotal factor in the strength of our local economy, contributing more than $468 million a year both directly and indirectly to our local economy. The airport has three runways, six approaches, and an FAA control tower facilitating more than 200,000 flight operations, annually.
For current details about both the B-17 rides and Vero Beach Municipal Airport Aviation Day, log on to: www.eaa99.org.