Young and young at heart enjoy Cracker Fly-In

GAINESVILLE - Starey-eyed kids of all ages enjoyed the 34th Annual Cracker Fly-In at Gainesville's Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport Saturday.

Eric Beatty, 12, of Flowery Branch was all smiles as he walked the runway. He said he liked them all.

"They're all cool, and big, really neat and just cool to look at," Beatty said, his eyes as big as the plane he was admiring. "I think it's cool to have something like this that people can come and see."

Planes of all types and vintages - from warbirds to ultralights to homebuilt aircraft - were on display at the event, which was sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association.

Mick Hudson, one of the organizers of the 34th Annual Cracker Fly-In at Gainesville's Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport Saturday, said the event has come a long way.

"Thousands upon thousands of people have come to see the old planes over the years. There were only a few when we first started, but it's gorwn each year," Hudson said.

Hudson said the biggest challenge to a fly-in of vintage planes is time itself.

"Well, as the planes get older so do the parts. And it gets harder each year to find parts because they haven't manufactured parts for some of these planes for decades," Hudson said. "But, the vintage planes are the appeal and those who have them do a great job keeping them flying."

Jake Stargel, 11, who has come to the event before, said he was looking for something old.

"I like the classic and the vintage planes. It's real neat to see the older planes," Stargel said.

He took a ride last year in one of the old planes.

"It was exciting. We went to Banks County and back and I got to see my old house and all the stuff on the ground. It was very exciting," Stargel said.