Even though the day dawned a little sketchy weather-wise, Saturday turned out to be perfect for the fly-in at Watonga Regional Airport.
The cloudy overcast faired off early and gave way to blue skies. Plane after plane hummed into the area, banked to the east, traveled west and landed southbound. They were every color of the palette, white with red, red with white, solid yellow, and all shades and combinations of blue stripes.
The pilots and passengers joined the growing assembly of residents who had come out to greet them and eat with them. The breakfast put on was standard Saturday-holidayweekend fare; eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, coffee, juice, and as the sun turned up the heat, water, lots of water.
There were planes and visitors from Chickasha, Clinton, Edmond, Sundance, Guthrie and Pratt, Kan. There were probably others, but those were on the record. About 25 flew in, some just to touch down and touch base.
Inside, City Manager Karrie Little said there were more than 150 plates served. The cooks were from Watonga Fire Department predominantly, but there were a few law enforcement officers lending a hand as well.
Little, Mayor Bill Seitter, council members Tina Willis and Travis Bradt and Watonga Economic Development Authority director Kim Jenkins served the plates and chatted up the guests.
Discovery flights were offered, allowing participants to decide if they would like to learn to fly a private plane. The fuel for the flights was sponsored by Noe Aviation. Twenty-three people took advantge of the opportunity.
Because it was also the opening weekend for the Lookout at Roman Nose State Park, it is not unlikely several of the plane occupants traveled there to eat a second meal in town.
All in all, it was a lighthearted, fun outing for residents and visitors alike and an exemplary way to showcase the city and the county and what they have to offer.