Kenai resident Bob Macintosh looks into the cockpit of an autogyro, an experimental aircraft owned by Ian Reid of Homer during the Kenai Air Fair on Saturday, June 11 at the Kenai Airport.

Kenai resident Bob Macintosh looks into the cockpit of an autogyro, an experimental aircraft owned by Ian Reid of Homer during the Kenai Air Fair on Saturday, June 11 at the Kenai Airport.

Kenai Peninsula Air Fair flies through town

The Kenai and Soldotna airports partnered to host the 16th annual Kenai Peninsula Air Fair on Saturday.

Following a breakfast and poker run at the Soldotna Airport, several pilots landed their planes for an afternoon exhibition at the Kenai Airport’s Operation Center.

There they talked to visitors, ate grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, and attended to events including a 21-gun salute to veterans and the presentation of an FAA Master Pilot Award to local pilot Dale Moore.

The aircraft on display ranged from private single-engine planes to a Coast Guard MH-64d “Dolphin” helicopter.

The Alaska Air National Guard C-130 cargo plane that has made an appearance at past Kenai Air Fairs was absent this year.

Without it, the show’s two largest planes were both owned by Everts Air Fuel — a four-engine Douglas DC-6 and a Curtis C-46 “Commando,” built as a military transport during World War II.

The C-46’s pilot, Terry Galyean, stood inside the cargo door to welcome visitors.

Galyean, who has been using the C-46 for six years to ferry fuel to interior Alaska, said flying the old machine was “no harder than any other plane, just different.” Although it still has original controls and instrumentation, it has also been modernized with devices such as GPS.

Following the war, C-46s became a common vehicle in civilian airlines.

According to Galyean, they were often seen in Alaska landing on beaches to haul away a catch of fish.

Now, they more rare. Everts owns only four.

On the other side of the exhibition area sat a much newer aircraft: Homer resident Ian Reid’s autogyro — a small aircraft with both vertically- and horizontally-oriented rotors.

Reid said he bought his autogyro in July 2015.

He described the experience of flying it as being like “a motorcycle in the sky.”

Reid now plans to start a business selling autogyros and training autogyro pilots in Homer.

Although invented in 1926, the autogyro hasn’t seen the commercial development or popularity of the helicopter.

Reid said it’s most common in Europe — his is a Calidus, a German model — partly due to a Federal Aviation Administration policy which requires them to have an experimental aircraft flight worthiness certification.

The Air Fair’s traditional helicopter — the Coast Guard Dolphin — flew up from its station at the Coast Guard’s Kodiak Air Station.

Airport manager Mary Bondurant said the coast guard helicopter was a regular at previous Kenai Peninsula Air Fairs, but stopped coming due to federal budget cuts that limited public appearances of government-owned aircraft.

Bondurant said the Dolphin made its first appearance since the federal government began its sequestration cost-cutting measures at last year’s Air Fair.

One of the Dolphin’s crew members was Coast Guard Lieutenant Daniel Lavinder. Lavinder said he represented the Coast Guard at air shows in other states, but that Alaska, with its large population of aviators and aircraft workers, was a slightly different experience, “a lot more engaging.”

“The level of interest in the missions we do is much higher,” he said. “People were interested in the specific capabilities of the helicopter, the training required to operate it, and personal stories of search and rescue cases.”

 

Reach Ben Boettger at ben.boettger@peninsulaclarion.com.

A trio of World War II era military training planes flies in formation during the Kenai Air Fare on Saturday, June 11 above the Kenai Airport.

A trio of World War II era military training planes flies in formation during the Kenai Air Fare on Saturday, June 11 above the Kenai Airport.

A DC-47 cargo plane - built in 1946 and used as a fuel tanker by Everts Air Fuel - attracts onlookers at the Kenai Peninsul Air Fair on Saturday, June 11 in Kenai, Alaska.

A DC-47 cargo plane – built in 1946 and used as a fuel tanker by Everts Air Fuel – attracts onlookers at the Kenai Peninsul Air Fair on Saturday, June 11 in Kenai, Alaska.

More in News

tease
Voznesenka School graduates 4

A commencement ceremony was held at Land’s End on Monday.

Graduates celebrate at the end of the Kenai Central High School commencement ceremony in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
‘Fight as the generation who will stand tall’

Kenai Central High School graduates 113.

Guest speaker Donica Nash gave out candy matching each student, including this package of JOYRIDE to Gideon Pankratz, at the River City Academy graduation ceremony Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at Skyview Middle School just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
River City Academy graduates 9

The school serves students in seventh through 12th grade and has an enrollment of about 80

Nikiski graduates view their slideshow during a commencement ceremony at Nikiski/Middle High School in Nikiski, Alaska, on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
‘We need to change the world’

Nikiski Middle/High School graduates 31 on Monday.

State Sen. Lyman Hoffman (D-Bethel) exits the Senate Chambers after the Senate on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, adjourns until next January. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Alaska Legislature adjourns a day early in ‘smoothest ending in 20 years’ following months of budget battles

Lawmakers speed through final votes on veto override on education funding bill, budget with $1,000 PFD.

The Homer Chamber of Commerce’s float in the Fourth of July parade on Thursday, July 4, 2024, celebrates their 75th anniversary in Homer, Alaska, in the spirit of the parade’s theme, “Historical Homer.” A measure that would have increased special event fees for those looking to host gatherings in city-maintained spaces was voted down during a May 12, 2025, meeting of the Homer City Council. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Rep. Andi Story (D-Juneau), Rep. Rebecca Himschoot (I-Sitka), and Rep. Sarah Vance (R-Homer) watch the vote tally during a veto override joint session on an education bill Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Education funding boost stands as lawmakers successfully override Dunleavy veto

Three of the peninsula’s legislators voted to override the veto.

Jeff Dolifka and his children perform the ceremonial ribbon-cutting for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Kenai Peninsula’s Royce and Melba Roberts Campus in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
‘So proud of what we accomplished’

New Boys and Girls Clubs campus dedicated Saturday with a ribbon-cutting and donor recognition.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters about his decision to veto an education funding bill earlier this session at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 17, 2025. He vetoed a second such bill on Monday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Dunleavy vetoes 2nd bill increasing education funding; override vote by legislators likely Tuesday

Bill passed by 48-11 vote — eight more than needed — but same count for override not certain.

Most Read