BETHALTO — The 26th annual Fly In is being held Sept. 24-25 at the St. Louis Regional Airport. Louis.
The two-day Fly-In is a family-friendly festival of wings, wheels, food and fun hosted by Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Local Chapter 864. The event includes guided plane tours by local pilots, military planes and sightseeing planes on the airport tarmac.
Also scheduled are the Speed Demons Car Show with the band City Heat, the visit of the Global War on Terror Wall of Remembrance, a Kid’s Zone sponsored by the Bethalto Chamber of Commerce, Bethalto’s Farmers Market and food trucks sponsored by Bethalto Spirit.
The World War on Terror Wall of Remembrance presented by the River Bend Patriots of Southwestern Illinois will be at the airport on Friday, September 23rd.
The traveling memorial lists the names of nearly 6,900 people lost in the war on terror. This wall aims to bring healing to those affected by America’s longest war; has traveled to nearly 100 cities in the US For more details visit https://wallofremembrance.org/..
The World War on Terror Wall of Remembrance will receive a police, fire and military escort north on Illinois 111 to the St. Louis Regional Airport. Louis. On September 23, a private ceremony will enshrine the name of Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, 20, who was killed in Afghanistan on August 27, 2021. His family from Wentzville, Missouri will be in attendance. The Alton VFW will provide a color guard for the ceremony.
The Wall of Remembrance of the World War on Terror will be open and can be visited 24 hours a day on Saturday, September 24.
At 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 24, the Alton VFW Color Guard will salute the wall and the National Anthem will be sung. The main entry day is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition to the tour planes, people can visit information booths from the branches of the military, West Star Aviation and the Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) aviation program.
The US Army Heritage Aviation Foundation will provide a Huey helicopter and a Cobra helicopter that will provide rides. EAA Local Chapter 864 will sell food and non-alcoholic beverages; there will be other food trucks on site.
The Bunker Hill Speed Demons Car Club will be showing off their love for “American Made Cars.” The club was started in 2015 by Mark Flieger, Chris Gosch and Roger Knoche and has grown to nearly 40 professional car enthusiasts with a passion for American-made muscle cars, hot rods and vintage cars. The Speed Demons regularly volunteer to help other car clubs and participate in many local fundraising efforts.
City Heat, a Chicago cover band, will perform from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the car show. The winners of the show will be announced at 3:30 p.m
The Bethalto Chamber of Commerce will sponsor a Kids Zone with bounce houses provided by Bounce Happy Houses, a children’s activity and craft tent and Barrel Car Rides provided by the Bethalto Spirit Group. Volunteers from the Battleship Division Missouri Sea Cadets, IL-286 East Alton Civil Air Patrol IL-205 Scott AFB, Bethalto Volunteer Firefighters, Bethalto Rotary and the Bethalto Chamber of Commerce will be there.
Entry continues from 9.30am to 2pm on Sunday 25 September. Young Eagle flights will be offered by EAA private pilots. Founded in 1992, the Young Eagles program is dedicated to providing youth ages 8-17 with the opportunity to fly in a general aviation aircraft for free. Attractions will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Sunday’s family fun includes the second day of the Bethalto Chamber of Commerce Kids Zone. The Bethalto Spirit Farmers Market will feature more than 25 vendors offering arts and crafts, face painting, goat yoga products, seasonal fall flowers, pumpkins and jewelry. There will be food trucks near the Children’s Zone.
Access to the flight will be at the main entrance of St. Louis Regional Airport. Louis on Airline Drive. Free parking will be available in the airport’s south lot facing Illinois 111.
