Sisters Airport to host July 4 fly-in

Planes from across the region will land at Sisters Airport on the Fourth of July, where hot rods and trail runners will also converge in the annual Sisters Airport Fourth of July Fly-in.

One of the most popular programs offered at Sisters High School is the Flight Science program. Benny and Julie Benson, owners of Sisters Eagle Airport and Outlaw Aviation, are key sponsors of the program. The Fourth of July Fly-in at the Sisters Airport is a fundraiser for flight scholarships, as well as a popular community event. This year's theme is "Sound of Speed."

Festivities will begin at 7 a.m. with the Sisters Rotary flipping pancakes, the buzz of arriving planes for the fly-in, and the rumble of classic cars for the hotrod show. An aerial Parachute Flag Ceremony presented by Skydive Awesome will begin at 7:30 a.m. The 5K Walk or Run will start at 8 a.m., and runners can pre-register online at http://sistersairport.com/july4flyin.php.

The Sisters Fly-in signature event, the Great Rubber Chicken Drop, will take place at 10 a.m. This unique raffle-type event is performed aviation-style. Participants can purchase two-by-two-foot numbered squares which are chalked on the runway for $5 each. A plane flies over the matrix, and rubber chickens are flung out. Each chicken represents a specific prize. The person who purchased the square that each rubber chicken lands on wins that prize. Prizes are donated by Sisters-area businesses, and range in value from $50 to $400.

A 50/50 raffle, helicopter rides, and tandem skydiving will add to the entertainment. The Sisters chapter of Band of Brothers Veterans will also be supporting the event.

At 11:15 a.m. the runway will be closed to aircraft and taken over by hotrods. Drag races down the runway pits unlikely pairs of dragsters, such as the hot-of-the-line 2017 Tesla against a 1963 Corvette. The pancake grill will be taken over by burgers for lunch at 12:30 p.m.

All proceeds from the event directly fund flight scholarships for students enrolled in the SHS Flight Science program, which has grown to two full classes for next year. The unique combination of coursework completed at SHS, and flight training in the Outlaw Aviation Cessna 172 at the Sisters Airport, provides students with the opportunity to earn their private pilot certificate while in high school.

Admission is free. More information can be found at www.sistersairport.com, and Facebook page "Sisters Eagle Airport."