The weekend flew by in Washington

A young aviation enthusiast checks out Dale and Margie Yoder’s 1970 Piper Comanche plane. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)

Justin Miller brought the Toxic Stinker to breakfast in Washington. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)

Ashley Stover and Brian Wingler attentively kept their very excited Rowan from getting to close to planes coming in to park. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)

WASHINGTON — After a weekend full of activities celebrating the 75th Ridiculous Days, the community wrapped festivities with the traditional Fly-In breakfast at the Washington Municipal Airport Sunday morning.

Pilots flew in from Fairfield, Cedar Rapids, and even Ankeny to get their pancakes and sausage.

Justin Miller flew in with his eye-catching black and custom green airplane named Toxic Shock.

“I just got it certified last fall,” Miller said. “It took my grandfather and me 13 years to build it.”

Like many other pilots, Miller’s love for aviation and his particular airplanes was apparent.

That passion, however, is generally where the similarities end.

In stark contrast of Miller’s plane, Dale and Margie Yoder came soaring in from Iowa City in their 1970 Piper Comanche.

Dale says he has flown for 42 years and commonly fills up at Washington’s Municipal Airport as he and his wife take advantage of his aviation skills to frequently visit family.

According to Airport Commission Member Samantha Myer, the breakfast was well attended.

Children appeared to be equally amazed by the vintage crafts as they were the new shiny ones.

Rowan Wingler was certainly a fan of every airplane.

His mom Ashley Stover, and dad Brian Wingler gave him many reminders to stay in a safe space as new planes came in, but Rowan could not help but jump and wiggle in excitement.

While she may have originally thought there were fewer pilots than previous years, she was quickly corrected as many more flew in around 9:30 a.m.

There was a potential for poor weather which did not come to fruition, so Myer thought the pilots may have waited to take off in hopes of missing it.

Thankfully, the weather stayed beautiful for the whole duration of the event.

Proceeds will go toward airport improvements.

“We’re working towards putting in a few benches and patio-like areas to encourage the public to come out and watch the planes and interact with the incoming pilots,” Myer said.

The community is invited to get back out to the airport Saturday, June 25, for free airplane rides for children ages 8-17.

The Young Eagles Rally will run from 9 a.m.-12 p.m., and preregistration is encouraged due to limited spaces.

Preregister at yeday.org

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com