The Batavia Rotary Fly-In Breakfast was back at the Genesee County Airport this morning, serving about 900 breakfasts, said Pancake Breakfast Committee Co-Chair Mark Snyder.
As pilots landed at the airport for the event and started taking off around 10:30 or 11 a.m., the Rotarians served up meals and raised money for local charitable projects the club does.
“I thought we had a very well-done event today. We had a lot of Rotarians as well as a lot of scouts … helping out,” said Pancake Breakfast Committee Co-Chair Paul Marchese said. “We couldn’t have done it without all that help. We’re glad to provide this breakfast as a service to our community.”
Marchese noted all the money raised stays in the community.
Last year, the Rotary Club didn’t have the breakfast due to COVID restrictions, he said.
“The year before, we had a drive-thru breakfast. We actually did an entirely-free drive-thru at Northgate Free Methodist Church on Bank Street,” Marchese said. “Before that, we’ve been here for a long time.”
Among those who flew into and out of the airport today were Jerry Chapman and his son, Dr. Jeremy Chapman, both of Niagara Falls. They estimated their arrival at about 9:30. They flew out a little after 11 a.m. in their Cessna.
“We’ve come here now for a few years,” Jeremy Chapman said. He said he and his dad know the Bosharts, who run the aircraft and supply store, Boshart Enterprises & Aircraft Services, Inc., at the airport.
The Chapmans said they’ve also flown to the airport for maintenance and to refuel.
Jerry Chapman, a retired lieutenant colonel who served in the Air Force for 28 years, said most of his hours were in the Phantom jet fighter. Jeremy Chapman, who earned a doctorate in aerospace engineering at the University at Buffalo, said he got his pilot’s license at age 16 and private pilot’s license at 17.
“We’ve owned several aircraft throughout the years. We love flying, so we thought we’d come out and see the fly-in, hang out together for the day, since it’s Father’s Day,” Jeremy said. “We have another plane, a Piper Saratoga and it’s getting some work done, so we’re going to fly over to Royalton and check in on that … then fly back to Niagara after that.”
Jeremy Chapman said they were going to have dinner with his sister today.
“It’s a pretty fun-filled day, for the most part,” he said.