Mission's first ever Fly-in takes off

ST. IGNATIUS — About 40 airplanes arrived at the St. Ignatius airport on a clear Sunday morning to touch down on the runway for the town's first ever Fly-In.

Steve Allard cooked up a breakfast of ham and eggs for participants and spectators.

"We want to introduce people to the airport and let people know that we are here," said Allard, who has been flying for more than 20 years.

After breakfast the pilots stood in line to each get their 10 gallons of free gas to commemorate the event. Local Stuart Morton donated the gas.

"We have the cheapest gas by choice. We could mark it up but, like everything here, we want to keep it friendly," Allard said,

Complete with a lounge and a courtesy car, the airport is the only stop before pilots reach Missoula.

The fog has grounded many pilots to the area, Allard said.

"This is a natural stop if people can't get to Missoula," he said.

Volunteers from the Mission Mountain Flyers Club built the airport in 1950. The buildings along with the eight acres of land were then purchased by the city of St. Ignatius. Local tax dollars now support the airport along with grant money from the Montana Aeronautics Division.

Pilots from all over flew in planes of all shapes and sizes and functions.

"They used to use this plane to fly into the backcountry," Hank Galpin said of the one he restored.

The Travel Air 6000 was built in Wichita in 1928 and went on a bumpy adventure before winding up in the hands of Galpin, a pilot from Kalispell.

"The design of the airplane makes it possible for it to land in a more remote area. It has large wings and a lot of horsepower, a 450 engine. It has a nice, soft landing with its huge tires," he said.

After being commissioned for smoke jumpers and then used to transport gas and cement the plane crashed in Alaska in 1965 and in 1992 Galpin purchased the plane as a wreck for $2,500. He then hired a trucker to move it so that the plane could be restored.

"It took 10 years to rebuild it," he said. "I've rebuilt other planes but nothing as derelict as this."

One of the unique things about the orange and black airplane is that the shell is all fabric. Another interesting accessory that Galpin added were enormous headlights, which weren't needed that day he took off on the pristine afternoon.

One of the issues that the airport is facing is the increase in residents on the surrounding areas of the airport.

"Every airport has its issues but in general airports are a positive asset to the community," airport director Michael Kuefler said.

An airplane is a worthwhile investment, Kuefler said, and he wants to draw more attention to the airport with the hopes that more people realize the joys of flying.

"Aviation is one of America's greatest symbols of freedom," he said.

The airport has a shorter runway than its bigger city counterparts but it has proven to be adequate for firefighters, Life Flight, search and rescue missions and helicopter training, among many uses.

The airport board is hoping to have more events, and fly-ins, at the airport so that folks will see the airport as a community resource.