Organizers promise aerial action

The 2011 Porterville Air Faire will be Friday and Saturday, June 10-11, at the Porterville Municipal Airport.

This year’s show marks the fourth anniversary of the renewal of the legendary event with a new title but the same home-town atmosphere that has brought back attendees year after year.

Air Faire chairman Dave Nenna and the committee have put together an exciting array of antique and classic automobiles to be displayed with vintage aircraft of the same era as well as additional vehicles and motorcycles of interest. Display plans will be eligible for awards.

The fun kicks off on Friday, June 10, with a sunset sky dive by the Just in Time team.

A meet the acrobats spaghetti dinner, served by the Porterville Exchange Club, provides an opportunity to visit with the performers of this year’s event: Margi Stivers and Hartlery Folstad of the Silver Wings wing-walking team, Seamus McCaughley, Eddie Andreini, The Red Star Yak formation team and The Just In Time Skydiving crew. The dinner is $10 and the Porterville Eagles Club will be on hand with beverage service. Committee member and balloon pilot Troy MacWhirter has planned a balloon glow to accompany the meal.

Live entertainment is also on the evening’s menu. Saturday’s program gets started at dawn with a five balloon lift off, weather permitting.

At 7 a.m. a pancake breakfast by the Exchange Club sets the tone for a full day of events including a flour bomb drop contest, car, motorcycle and aircraft displays, a children’s zone, vintage aircraft and helicopter rides and a wide array of food, beverage and souvenir vendors.

The air show is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. with the Just in Time Sky Diver unit floating to the runway with the nation’s flag during the Star Spangled Banner. The Patriot Guard Motorcycle Team will escort the jumper and the flag off the runway.

New this year are the Air Drags — an opportunity for pilots to test their skills in a timed speed run during the program. Full details and entry forms are available at www.portervilleairfaire.com.

The dawn-to-dark Air Faire continues with country band Bloodline providing dancing in the moonlight on the tarmac. Beverage services will be provided by the Porterville Eagles Lodge.

Gates open Saturday at 6 a.m., general admission is $10, with seniors and children 6 to 12 years old admitted for $5. Youngsters under 6 are free. For additional information, visit the website at www.portervilleairfaire.com.

The next Air Faire committee meeting will be 8 a.m. on Wednesday, April 27, at the Porterville Airport office east of the restaurant. Volunteers for the event are needed.

For more information or to volunteer call 782-7540.