Wednesday, September 10, 2003

By Dave Budinger, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

At least 20 vintage and military aircraft will be winging their way to the Allegheny County Airport in West Mifflin this weekend as part of the 100 Years of Flight Air Fair to commemorate the 100th anniversary of powered flight.

When the Wright brothers did their thing at Kitty Hawk in 1903, not even they suspected that astronauts would be flying to the moon and circling the Earth in space shuttles before the end of the century.

	Bob Parnell, left, who works at Allegheny County Airport, and Jay Simpson, president of Airborne Promotions, fit a pole into the bottom of a banner celebrating 100 years of flight in preparation for this weekend's fair. The banners are being mounted on poles at the airport. (Tony Tye, Post-Gazette)

The air fair Saturday will celebrate Western Pennsylvania's rich history in aviation, and aircraft on display will range from an early Stinson and Stearman to the military's massive C-130 cargo carrier.

Although a space shuttle won't be part of the air fair, an astronaut will. Jay Apt, a Pittsburgh native, Carnegie-Mellon professor, pilot and former astronaut will be honored during the 11 a.m. opening ceremony Saturday for his contributions to flight.

Also honored will be Don Riggs, former WPXI-TV producer and talk show host, who is a pilot and noted aviation historian.

Both men will also serve as judges for an air fair highlight -- the paper airplane contest at noon when youngsters in grades K-12 will be invited to "let your imaginations take to the air on wings of paper," in the words of Kent George, executive director of the Allegheny County Airport Authority.

Paper airplanes made beforehand from a single sheet of 8.5-by-11-inch paper will be launched by their designers and judged in two categories -- the longest time aloft and the longest distance traveled. Prizes will be awarded in four age groups.

It's not too late to enter. To register, call Nancy Schuler at the authority offices, 412-472-5533. There is no registration fee.

In fact, the entire air fair is free.

There is no admission charge and visitors will able to view the displays, vintage and military airplanes, STAT MedEvac helicopter and Learjet from noon to 7 p.m.

E-mail this story   Print this story