HUTCHINSON, Kan. — After a four-year hiatus, Fly Hutch, the Hutchinson Regional Airport’s fly-in and open house, returns May 3 with a full day of activities, aircraft displays and family-friendly fun.
The event will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is free to the public, said Doug Bennett, a member of the airport’s advisory committee. Highlights include a wide variety of vintage and military aircraft, a classic car show, a pancake breakfast, food trucks, and Country 102.9 and My 93-1 will be there.
“We’re excited to bring Fly Hutch back,” Bennett said. “It’s a great opportunity for the community to get up close to historic planes and even take a flight.”
Aircraft scheduled to appear include a Douglas AC-47 "Spooky" gunship, a B-25 Mitchell bomber, and a P-51 Mustang Reno Air Racer. Several aircraft will offer rides for purchase, including a C-45 Expeditor and a UC-78 Bobcat.
Younger attendees can participate in free Young Eagle flights, offered for children ages 8 to 17 through the Experimental Aircraft Association. Registration will take place inside the hangar marked "Hutchinson."
Other activities include a weather balloon launch at 10:30 a.m. and two aerial firefighting water drop demonstrations by Tanker 95, a fire bomber based in Hutchinson. The drops are scheduled for late morning and early afternoon.
Food vendors will be on site, with six food trucks offering a variety of meals and snacks.
Bennett, a professional airline pilot who earned his private license at Hutchinson Regional Airport in 1996, said he hopes the event will inspire future aviators, especially as the aviation industry prepares for a wave of retirements starting in 2028.
"Flying has been a lifelong passion for me," he said. "We hope Fly Hutch shows young people what’s possible."
For more information and a full schedule of events, visit FlyHutchKS.com.