The spring birdsong in Sechelt skies will be accented with a mechanical harmony this weekend.
Saturday, June 7, the Elphinstone Aero Club is hosting its annual fly-in at the Sechelt Aerodrome.
“It's an event to give pilots a destination but, more importantly, to give the public a chance to see what general aviation is all about,” says Larry Dyke, membership contact for the club. “What's involved in getting a pilot's licence or buying a plane or whatever.”
Planes come from all over the region –– Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island, Powell River, and beyond. Often, the planes are built by the pilots themselves, says Dyke. “You get some quite unusual planes showing up.”
While the event is weather dependent, despite some “pretty grim” weather last year, seven planes showed up.
Two years ago, however, the fly-in brought 54 aircraft, including one that came from as far away as Canmore, Alta. It was a feat to manage the planes lined up all the way along the taxiway.
This year, if the weather is good, Dyke expects more than 50 planes.
The Texada Aviation Museum and Library is bringing its full fuselage flight simulator, which contains pilot and co-pilot seats and all the throttles and prop controls and gauges of control, as well as three computer screens to show the scenery. “It’s very sophisticated,” says Dyke.
The local Air Cadet Squadron 858 Skookumchuck, for 12-to 18-year-olds, will be on hand as well. “The Air Cadets use the airport quite a bit for field training exercises and also for going up for flights,” says Dyke, who is a civilian instructor with the Air Cadets. He takes the kids up in the skies for familiarization flights, “just to give the cadets some first-hand experience with actually flying a plane.”
The Elphinstone Flying Club, which today has about 35 flying and nonflying members, was established in 1951 and built the airport and runway, later donating it to the local government. Saturday, the club will have its aircraft out and members will be on-scene to answer questions about the club or aviation in general.
The 2025 fly-in runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 7 at the Sechelt Aerodrome in ts’ukw’um (Wilson Creek).
There will be a BBQ with hamburgers, hot dogs and drinks for sale.
For more information visit elphinstoneaero.club.
