It’s time for touchdowns in Gainesville—and not at Ben Hill Griffith Stadium.
The University Air Center and Gainesville Regional Airport will welcome aircraft of all shapes and sizes to the Gator Fly-In and Armed Services Appreciation Day on Saturday.
The fly-in will feature military and civilian aircraft on static display, plus rides in the sky from a Beech T-34 Mentor, Robinson 44 helicopter and Cessna 172 (rides cost). The event will also include a classic car display by HorsePower Ranch and Gainesville Street Rods, a kids’ corner with face painting and toy airplanes, talks from Military Gator Aviators, aircraft contests and live music from The Treetop Flyers.
The Military Gator Aviators, all UF alum, will speak on an open mic about their memories of attending UF, their decision to join the military and how they currently serve.
The fly-in is free and lands on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parking is available through the General Aviation Entrance to the airport off Waldo Road (4701 NE 40th Terrace, Gainesville).
Aircraft are expected to include a Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk, T6-B Texan II, McDonnell Douglas T-45 Goshawk, Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion and more.
We also expect aircraft manufacturers, privately owned aircraft and law enforcement aircraft, including a ShandsCair helicopter.
The airport announced that some anticipated aircraft had to withdraw because of maintenance and deployment to Operation Epic Fury in Iran but confirmed the arrival of the Commemorative Air Force (Tampa Bay Wing) Fairchild PT-19 and a yellow Extra 300L flown by Patty Wagstaff, a social media aviatrix with more than 100,000 followers on Instagram.
The schedule for the fly-in is as follows:
- 9 am – aircraft arrive and park; all aircraft parked by 9:30 am
- 10 am – Public arrive; helicopter and airplane rides begin
- 11 am – Opening Ceremony with University of Florida Billy Mitchell Drill Team and Buchholz High School Color Guard
- 11:15 am – Flown West Ceremony
- 11:20 am – Speakers begin – “Open Mic” for participating Military Gator Aviators
- Noon– Live Music, food trucks
- 2 pm – People’s Choice and Best of Show Airplane Contest Announced
- 3 pm – Final thank you and prep for departures