source: http://www.courant.com/community/plainville/hc-plainville-wings-wheels-0515-20130514,0,3789406.story

 

Plainville Festival To Feature Airplanes And Antique Cars

PLAINVILLE—

 

A family-oriented festival featuring airplanes and antique cars will be held June 2 at the town-owned Robertson Airport, a small general aviation facility that is the state's oldest airfield.

 

Plainville Wings and Wheels had its debut last year. This year the event is expected to draw hundreds of visitors and will raise money for the Plainville Food Pantry, the Petit Family Foundation and the Wounded Warrior Project.

 

Dozens of antique and classic cars will be on display, and rides in small airplanes and a helicopter will be available for a modest cost. In addition to food vendors and exhibits by local groups and businesses, the event will include carnival rides for children.

 

Admission to the event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m, is $5 for adults, $2 for children age 5 to 11, and free for children under age 5.

 

"We're trying to make it a town event, with things to interest everyone," event co-chairman Scott Saunders said Tuesday.

 

Robertson Airport, which dates back to 1911 and was bought by the town several years ago, will have small planes landing and taking off on the runway during the day. Saunders said the town has notified airfields all over New England about the festival and invited pilots to fly their small planes to Plainville during the event.

 

Rides lasting at least 15 minutes will be available for $20 per person in a small plane, $45 per person in a helicopter and $50 per person in an antique plane. Organizers expect the number of people who will want to take a flight to be large.

 

"Last year, we had some people waiting as long as four hours for a flight," Saunders said. The wait should be shorter this year.

 

Robert E. Lee, the town manager, said in an email that the festival committee is expecting more than 500 classic cars to be on exhibit.

 

"This is a great community event for local charities that it is intended to be fun for all of the family and bring people to the town-owned Robertson Airport," Lee said.

 

The rain date is the following Sunday, June 9. For details, go to the Plainville Wings and Wheels web page at http://www.plainvillewingsandwheels.com.