The 20th annual Kenai Peninsula Air Fair returns to the Kenai Municipal Airport Saturday June, 10th. The event allows participants to see planes in arms reach, enjoy live music, airport equipment, and cars.
Kenai Municipal Airport Manager Eland Conway spoke to KSRM on the return of the event;
“This is going to be a great free event for the community. It gives us the opportunity to, you know, open the doors for everyone to come in and see what it’s like on the air side and put you essentially within arms reach of all the aircraft and. The opportunity to visit with all of our sponsors and learn more about aviation and what more critical of a time to really do that than than now? The aviation industry continues to grow. And as you might have heard with the pilot shortage, the demand for those jobs hasn’t grown at the same pace and I think it’s an important time for airports and the aviation industry to really open the doors to what it takes and what it is to to be a part of such a critical piece of the transportation system, and this is just one way that we can do that.”
This years Air Fair will feature a pancake breakfast, the annual Poker Run, live music, kids activities, static displays and aircraft demonstrations.
Conway highlights the events that salute our military;
“This is just another opportunity for us to and the community to honor and really support the military and show appreciation for them. So we’ll have the Air Force band down here, and we’ll have some military static displays here as well, and we’ll show our support for our Armed Forces.”
The event is sponsored by the Soldotna and Kenai airports as well as the local Experimental Aircraft Association and serves as a way to support them and raise funds to support their young eagles flights, which according to Conway, is just another opportunity for outreach and get people and kids at a young age interested in aviation.
Conway describes the Poker Run for 2023;
“If you’re a pilot, or if you just want to be a passenger track down a pilot, register for the poker run. It gives you an opportunity to visit several of the airports here on the Peninsula. This year we’re adding Merrill Field to the Poker run circuit. Hopefully, we’ll be able to draw some people down from Anchorage, and it actually just gives us a fifth paved runway for those guys that are flying, who don’t fly off airport and have to have a paved surface so they can get a full hand and participate in the poker run where there will be some great prizes.”
Schedule of Events – Saturday June 10th, 2023
8:00 – 10:00
PANCAKE BREAKFAST
Drive-In or Fly-In! At the Soldotna Airport in the MARC Hangar (595 Funny River Road; Soldotna, AK, 99669). A $7.00 donation is your ticket to all-you-can-eat pancakes sponsored by the EAA Chapter 975, and Missionary Aviation Repair Center.
8:00 – 2:00
POKER RUN
Gather up your friends and family and fly to 7 of the Peninsula’s premier airports to collect your tickets to a winning hand. Are you starting in Anchorage? Collect your first ticket at Stoddards Aircraft Parts Center. All participants must Register.
Noon – 4:00
KENAI PENINSULA AIR FAIR
- Hot off the Grill! Hamburger or Hotdog, and a side – $10 /plate (Additional refreshments available for purchase.)
- Live Music – 11th Airborne Division Band and the Suicidal Bunnies
- Car Show
- Static Aircraft and Aircraft Demonstrations
- Kenai Aviation Fun Flights – $50
- Kids Activities
