Annual Moontown Airport Old Fashioned Grass Field Fly-in
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The sky above Moontown will be abuzz with classic, vintage, war bird and experimental airplanes on September 17-18, 2011 when the airport welcomes some 100 aircraft for the annual grass field-fly in. This free, family-friendly event is a unique opportunity for the public to rub elbows with amateur and professional pilots and explore up close a variety of light aircraft in a fun, laid-back environment. For those driving in, parking and admission are free. Bring your lawn chairs. For pilots flying in, tie-down and camping at Moontown is free. There are both men's and women's restrooms in the FBO (no shower though), free Wi-Fi, on-site courtesy car, and access to food and supplies are available. The Microtel Inn and Suites is just a few miles away and offers a very reasonable rate. There are many other hotel options further into Huntsville.
Children ages of 8 through 17, with parent's written permission, can enjoy the thrill of flight at no cost through the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles program. The aim of the Young Eagles program is to inspire children to follow their dreams and introduce kids to a passion for flight that might last a lifetime. Flights will be offered on a first-come first served basis and kids and parents can sign-up at the information booth the morning of the event. No advance registration will be offered. For more information on the Young Eagles Program, click on the "Young Eagles" tab at the top of this page.
Children ages of 8 through 17, with parent's written permission, can enjoy the thrill of flight at no cost through the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles program. The aim of the Young Eagles program is to inspire children to follow their dreams and introduce kids to a passion for flight that might last a lifetime. Flights will be offered on a first-come first served basis and kids and parents can sign-up at the information booth the morning of the event. No advance registration will be offered. For more information on the Young Eagles Program, click on the "Young Eagles" tab at the top of this page.
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The Annual Moontown Grass Field Fly-In offers a wonderful opportunity for FREE family entertainment. In addition to the many aircraft that will fly into the event and the Young Eagle flights, there will be static displays by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, the North Alabama Radio Control Association (NARCA), the Huntsville Veteran's Memorial Museum among others. The Huntsville Soaring Club typically will also be conducting glider operations. Periodically during the day, several war birds will take to the skies and demonstrate formation flying.
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Acro Air will, for a nominal fee, offer rides in the World War 2 era Stearman Bi-plane pictured below. A breakfast ($6/adults, $4/children) of scrambled eggs, pancakes, sausage, gravy, biscuits, grits, coffee and juice will be served Saturday and Sunday from 7:30-10 AM by the Buckhorn High School Band Boosters. Lunch, drinks and snacks will be available for purchase from food booths from 11 am until 4 pm by the Madison County High School Band Boosters. Both Band Booster programs use funds from the breakfast and lunch sales to offset cost of band instruments and uniforms.
 | Saturday Banquet Guest Speaker - Lt. Colonel (Ret.) Leo K. Thorsness
It was April 19, 1967, when then-U.S. Air Force Lt. Leo Thorsness and his wingman attempted to knock out a surface-to-air missile site in North Vietnam. Flying an F-105 "Wild Weasel," Thorsness attacked and silenced one site with air-to-ground missiles and then used bombs to destroy a second surface-to-air missile site. In a second attack, Thorsness' wingman was shot down and the two crewmembers bailed out. Thorsness was running low on fuel, but he returned to the site of the abandoned aircraft to defend his crew members against hostile MIG aircraft circling overhead, destroying one MIG that had taken aim on the parachuting crew. Only 10 days later, Thorsness was shot down and imprisoned in the infamous "Hanoi Hilton" in North Vietnam. "I had been in prison about two years and was using a secret tap code to communicate to other prisoners of war between cells," Thorsness remembers. "One day, I got a message through the wall saying: 'Lieutenant, did you know that you have been nominated for the Medal of Honor?'" Thorsness, who retired as a colonel and now lives in Madison, AL, spent six years as a prisoner of war before he was released. Almost seven years had passed by the time he received his Medal of Honor. Thorsness has written a book, "Surviving Hell," recounting his six years in captivity. For Banquet tickets ($20/person), call (256) 852-9781. There will be a social beginning at 6 pm with dinner beginning at 7pm. The Banquet will be held at Moontown Airport in George Myer's large hangar. |
Moontown Airport is located approximately 7 miles east of Huntsville, just off of Highway 72, at 200 Airport Drive, Brownsboro, AL.
2010 Annual Fly-in Photo Gallery
