Alva Review-Courier -

The Wings Over the Prairie Air Show and the Air Race Classic to be held in Alva in June are big community events requiring a lot of volunteers to keep everything running. A good number of people turned out for a meeting Monday at 5:30 p.m. at the Alva Regional Airport to explain what will be happening during the events and the opportunities for volunteers. Although organizers were pleased with the turnout, they say they could use plenty more volunteers.

There is a need for volunteers as parking attendants on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Vans from churches are to be used as shuttles with drivers needed for those. Other volunteers are needed to hand out goodie bags, serve food and provide information for visitors.

Please contact April Mills with Vantage Plane Plastics at 580-327-1565 or email her at [email protected] or Paul Kinzie at Kinzie Industries 580-327-1597 to volunteer. This is a community effort, not just for those related to the airport. Volunteers will receive event T-shirts that are color-coded to designate their responsibilities.

Tuesday, Race Day

The events will kick off with the Air Race Classic featuring more than 50 airplanes with race teams of at least two female pilots per plane. It starts in Sweetwater, Texas, on Tuesday, June 19. Alva is the first stop along the route. Planes are expected to start arriving about 9:30 a.m. through about noon.

The Air Race Classic is the epicenter of women’s air racing with pilots ranging in age from 17 to 90. They come from a wide range of backgrounds including students, teachers, doctors, airline pilots, business owners, professionals and air traffic controllers. The pilots must fly VFR (visual flight rules) during daylight hours and have only four days to land at the terminus in Fryburg, Maine.

Local organizers April Mills and Paul Kinzie told the potential volunteers the Alva race timers must be in place by 8 a.m. on June 19. Race participants will be spaced thirty seconds apart. Besides fueling their planes, the pilots will be provided with restroom facilities, a free light lunch including sack lunches for those wanting to conserve time, and goodie bags organized by the Alva Chamber.

A free breakfast for volunteers will be served at the airport from 7 to 8 a.m. Because of the close spacing of the planes and the need for speed, volunteers should be prepared for an intense two hours of effort starting about 9:30 a.m.

Thursday, Young Eagles

Thursday, June 21, will be Wonder of Flight Youth Day presented by the Young Eagles program. Founded in 1992, the Young Eagles have spent 25 years giving youth ages 8-17 their first free ride in an airplane. It’s the only program of its kind and has a mission to introduce and help inspire kids in the world of aviation.

Parents bringing their children to the event are asked to stop at the Alva Regional Airport terminal building to sign up. This event is dependent on the weather being safe for flying.

Friday, Air Show Start

Many visitors are expected to arrive airport starting on Friday. Food trucks will be parked north of the terminal building starting at 11 a.m. and will be open until 4 p.m.

Camping for early airplane arrivals will be available at the north end of the airport with showers available for those settling in for the night. There will be tours during the afternoon including Plane Plastics from noon to 4 p.m. and the Kinzie Museum. Vendor exhibits will be open from noon to 5 p.m. in the building north of Plane Plastics.

An airplane scavenger hunt (for pilots only) will be from 2 to 4 p.m. at the terminal building. A kids zone with youth activities will be in the round top at the north end of the airport.

Evening events start with a community barbecue from 6 to 8 p.m. or when food runs out (bring your own chair). The Texas T-Cart air show will be at 6:30 p.m. Movies under the Stars will be projected outdoors starting at 9:30 p.m. at the north end of the airport.

Saturday, Air Show

Saturday, June 23, begins early with food trucks open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. north of the terminal building. Vintage airplane rides will be available north of the terminal from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The kids zone will be open from 9 a.m. to noon in the north round top building.

Vendor exhibits will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the building north of Plane Plastics. There will be more tours of Plane Plastics and the Kinzie Museum.

The Texas T-Carts will perform their air show at 10:30 a.m. The new turf runway at the Alva airport will be dedicated at 1 p.m. Aircraft awards in 23 categories will handed out at 2 p.m. at the terminal building.

Besides all the other events, visitors will have a chance to see a lot of different aircraft parked on display and possibly visit with some of the pilots.