ARLINGTON — After being postponed from this spring, the annual Arlington Airport Appreciation Day will finally return to the Arlington Airport offices, located at 18204 59th Ave. NE, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28.
Arlington Municipal Airport Coordinator Tim Mensonides estimated that last year’s Airport Appreciation Day was the most well-attended one in Arlington to date.
“For many of them, it was their first airplane ride in a small aircraft,” Mensonides said.
The day’s main activity will be the free airplane rides for children aged 8-17 years old, which will be provided by local pilots through the EAA Young Eagles Program, but Biringer Farms will also provide tractor rides to Arlington Flight Services, where the Flying Gizmos show is set to take place at noon.
The Flying Gizmos show is an assembly-style program, designed to help participants discover the science and history of flight, through the use of a collection of flying toys and models, including a flapping-winged bird, kites, parachutes, gliders, stomp-rockets and many others.
Upon completion of the Flying Gizmo show, Arlington Flight Services will be offering a free barbecue lunch, while inflatables and free face-painting will be available throughout the day.
The day’s other activities include tours of the helicopters used by Airlift Northwest and Snohomish County Search and Rescue, while the Historic Flight Foundation’s World War II B-25 Bomber will be available for rides.
The Washington State Department of Transportation’s Aviation Division will host the popular paint-an-airplane booth, and will be joined on site by the Arlington Fire and Police departments’ vehicles.
The Arlington Runners Club will even be hosting a 5K/10K, kicking off at 8 a.m. on the airport trail, to benefit Snohomish County Search and Rescue.
The Taco Time traveler will also be making an appearance, to distribute free food.
Arlington Mayor Barbara Tolbert agreed with Mensonides that the Airport Appreciation Day has continued to grow with each year, for which she thanked the participating pilots and Mensonides himself.
“Tim is a pilot, and he’s been so enthusiastic about really reaching out to more businesses and venues,” Tolbert said.
For more information regarding the Airport Appreciation Day, please visit the city of Arlington’s website at www.arlingtonwa.gov or call 360-403-3471.
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