An annual event held on the second Sunday of July is back once again. The Fly-In Breakfast will be held this weekend.
The annual Fly-In Breakfast will be held Sunday from 8 a.m. to noon at the Chautauqua County Airport, Dunkirk.
The event started in 1963, according to Louis Nalbone who is president of Dunkirk Aviation. It was started by Nalbone's father.
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The Fly-In Breakfast will be held on Sunday, July 8. Airplanes similar to the one pictured will be on display during the event.
"In 1961, he moved our family business from the Wherle Airport to the Dunkirk Airport," Nalbone said. "In 1962, he undertook a real large air show and it was so much work. He realized he could never do that type of event without a service organization."
Another organization out of Hamburg helped with the event until 1973 when the event was became too big for them to handle. The Dunkirk Rotary took over the event at that time. Nalbone praised the organization for being "very organized."
"They started right away serving 1,000 breakfasts," said Nalbone.
The organization has been averaging 1,400 breakfasts the past several years. Individuals attending the breakfast will be able to view more than 50 airplanes on display. Trophies will be awarded for warbirds, antiques, home-built and long distance flyers. Plane rides will be available in the afternoon. Helicopter rides will be $40 per person and plane rides will be $20 per person.
This year, Nalbone expects more than 2,000 people to attend the breakfast. While this year's event has not even begun, Nalbone is already thinking about the future. Next year will be the 50th anniversary of the breakfast and will be the 40th anniversary of the Rotary sponsoring the event.
"(We're) planning a really big show next year ... more than just pancakes and a fly-in," he said.
Also featured at this year's event will be a craft show and sale and basket raffle. The event is sponsored by Jamestown Community College, Dunkirk Aviation and Lake Shore Savings.
Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children. The breakfast includes all you can eat pancakes, bacon, eggs, sausage, juice and coffee. Tickets are available through any Rotarian, available Sunday morning. For more information on the event, call the airport at 366-6938. All proceeds will benefit Rotary charities.
Parking is free on the airport grounds and designated handicapped parking will be available. The airport is located at 3389 Middle Road, Dunkirk.
Comments on this article may be sent to smcdonnell@observertoday.com.
