Florida Tech Doubles Number of Planes at Aviation Day Oct. 17; Eau Gallie High Grad to Arrive in Air Force Jet

admin October 5, 2009

MELBOURNE, FLA.—Aviation Day 2009 at Florida Institute of Technology’s Buehler Center for Aviation Training and Research will have double the planes on display and in action compared to last year.

Part of annual homecoming activities, the event is presented by the university’s College of Aeronautics, FIT Aviation and Army R.O.T.C. on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 9 to 4 p.m. The location is the Emil Buehler Center for Aviation Training and Research at the Melbourne International Airport. Admission is free.

Brian McMillin, a 1996 graduate of Eau Gallie High School as well as an alumnus of Brevard Community College and the University of Central Florida, will fly in a T-1 Air Force jet trainer from Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Okla. Two other Vance pilots, in a T-6 and a T-38 jet trainer, will join him for the day.

“We will have about 25 aircraft in addition to the Florida Tech’s fleet planes,” said Walt Houghton, assistant professor, College of Aeronautics. “As well as the jet trainers, we’ll have military jets from Pensacola, Fla., and Cecil Field in Jacksonville and a 1943 DC-3 Turbo from Ft. Pierce.” There also will be several civilian planes, such as a Cessna 310, Cessna 414 and King Air C-90; EC-135 (First Flight helicopter); CH47 Chinook helicopter; H-57 helicopter; homebuilt aircraft; and the Florida Tech Piper Warriors and Remos aircraft.

Aviation Day offers something for all family members with many static aviation displays, a landing competition and representation by several aviation businesses and organizations.

The day will include a kid’s balsawood airplane flying contest, simulator in operation, airplane rides, raffles, auction, food vendors and more.

To get to the Emil Buehler Center, turn onto Woody Burke Road—a continuation of Dairy Road—at Hibiscus Boulevard. Cross NASA Boulevard onto Grumman Place and turn right onto Tower Access Road. The next right turn leads to the Buehler Center.

For more information contact Ryan Tenny, Florida Tech College of Aeronautics, at (321) 674-7369. Visit http://aviation-day.com.