Airport birthday bash planned for Saturday

Steve Craig, a local pilot and aircraft collector, will offer five rides today in his antique Beech Staggerwing, pictured above.

The Lawrence Municipal Airport is celebrating its 80th anniversary from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday on airport grounds north of the Kansas Turnpike.

The public is invited to attend a hot-air balloon launch at 7 a.m. to start the celebration.

Other events include a ceremonial Flag Drop at 8:30 a.m. by remote-controlled airplanes from the RC Model Airplane Club.

At 10 a.m., selected winners will tour Lawrence in Hawkeye helicopters.

Children and adults will compete in a paper airplane contest hosted by The World Company at 11 a.m. The competition will have two categories for both the child and adult division: distance and decoration.

The RC Model Airplane Club will return with a model airplane demonstration at noon, followed by the airport dedication at 1 p.m.

A ceremonial flyover by Al Stuber’s Red Hawk Squadron will end the official anniversary celebration at 2 p.m.

The Aviation Advisory Board has organized a series of displays and fundraisers to run throughout the day.

Displays include Life Star Medical Helicopters, new aircraft vendors and the Kansas University department of aerospace engineering’s flight simulator. The displays last from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., KU’s Chi Omega sorority will host Wings for Wishes, a fundraiser for the Kansas Chapter of the Make a Wish Foundation. Fifteen local pilots will fly people around Lawrence for 30 minutes. Rides cost $40 each.

Steve Craig, a local pilot and aircraft collector, will also offer five rides for the foundation in his antique Beech Staggerwing. A ride in Craig’s plane will cost $120.

Chris’ Cakes will sell pancakes from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Proceeds from the pancake feed will also benefit the Make a Wish Foundation.

Back Yard Burgers and Snow Balls will provide lunch and sno cones from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.