Аэропорт Кукинг-Лейк отмечает 100-летие: в Эдмонтоне пройдет фестиваль авиации

Cooking Lake Airport celebrates 100 years of aviation history Article content Cooking Lake Airport will celebrate a century of flight on Sept. 12 with a public aviation festival and evening gala marking 100 years of aviation history in the Edmonton region. The airport, located east of Edmonton in Strathcona County, is recognized by organizers as Canada’s oldest operating public airport. Today, it is home to about 200 aircraft and 100 hangars, records more than 30,000 aircraft movements annually, and remains entirely volunteer-operated. Recommended Videos “It’s a chance for us to open our doors and let others have a peek in,” said Kim Fraser, chair of the airport’s 100th Anniversary Steering Committee. “I just want people to come and have a great time and be exposed to new things and say, ‘Wow, now I get what the fuss is about. Cooking Lake is important.'” The free daytime celebration will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and feature static aircraft displays, antique and vintage vehicles, aviation exhibits, a historic photo gallery, a barbecue, birthday cake, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the airport’s newly repaved runway. Representatives from flight schools, aviation organizations, search-and-rescue groups, Edmonton Police Service Flight Operations, and RCMP Flight Services are also expected to attend. Fraser said the anniversary offers an opportunity to highlight the continuing importance of general aviation, which often receives less public attention than commercial airlines. “I think we can take air travel a little bit for granted because it’s been so long,” she said. “When people think aviation, they think of the big jets. But there’s lots of stuff happening outside of big commercial travel.” The airport supports a wide range of activity, including flight training, business aviation, recreation, medical transport, and volunteer search-and-rescue operations. Organizers say one-third of airport activity is related to flight training, one-third to business use, and one-third to recreational flying. It also serves as a Canada Border Services Agency port of entry for international arrivals. Researching the airport’s history for her newly released book Wind Beneath Their Wings gave Fraser a deeper appreciation for how aviation has evolved. “Part of a theme throughout my book is illustrating some of the things that stayed the same, like the thrill of flight,” she said. “What’s really advanced, of course, is technology. But there’s still the guy or gal flying the plane.” The celebrations will continue with a ticketed 1920s-themed gala at the Alberta Aviation Museum. Guests are encouraged to dress in 1920s attire. Buffalo Airways personality Mikey McBryan will be the guest speaker, and local broadcaster Shane Blakely will emcee the evening. The event also includes live and silent auctions and music by the Black Board Jungle. [email protected]