Over 100 airplanes from across Ontario are expected to 'fly-in' at Chris Hadfield Airport this weekend for the third annual Sarnia Ontario Aviation Rally (SOAR).
The fly-in will officially kick off on Friday, August 11 as pilots begin to arrive. The public event, however, will begin on Saturday at 9 a.m. and will run until 2 p.m.
The event will be one hour longer than it was last year.
COPA Flight 7 (Sarnia branch of the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association) President Bruce Bond said compared to last year, a few different aircraft will attend, including a P-51 Mustang that's based out of Chatham.
Attendees will also be able to check out Harvards, Chipmunks, Stearmans, Grummans, and assorted factory and homebuilt aircrafts.
The Canadian Aviation Museum will be on-site as well to offer flights in vintage Yellow Birds.
Bond said the event will include kids' activities, including a bouncy castle. "We have multiple food vendors, along with ice cream, coffee, and donut vendors coming in," he said. The fly-in event will also feature Sarnia's favourite astronaut. Col. Chris Hadfield will host a meet-and-greet and will sign books for fans. Bond said a specific time for the book signing has not been ironed out.
COPA 7 members are hoping the event will attract upwards of 2,000 people.
Bond said it's a great way to highlight Sarnia's airport and draw attention to its benefits.
"We need the airport for the city and the county for various reasons... police, emergency medical, military, agricultural spraying," he said. "There's just lots of things that happen at the airport."
Attendees can park near the airport's main terminal. Bond said there will also be shuttle buses available to take people to the general aviation ramp.
The SOAR fly-in is free to attend but donations will be collected, with proceeds going to Pathways Health Centre for Children.
Pilots attending the event will take off from Sarnia on Sunday following a "Cars and Coffee" event hosted by the Sarnia Street Machines. It will be held at the main terminal parking area from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m.