A happy mistake at the 2024 Thomasville Fly-In

By MARTIN STEINER

Hurricane Milton was churning toward Florida. If it made landfall in the panhandle, it could have put it right over Thomasville, Georgia, where the 57th annual fly-in was slated for Oct. 11-13, 2024.

But as fate would have it, the hurricane veered away from Thomasville, and the days of the fly-in saw crystal clear blue skies and not a drop of rain.

While Merritt Island, Florida, suffered significant hurricane damage from Hurricane Milton, Dwayne Waters’ Piper escaped to Thomasville.

Milton’s path across Florida did keep a few usual attendees away from the fly-in, but “we also had a lot of first-time attendees who were flying out of Florida just to get out and found us by happy mistake,” said Jaclyn Donovan, board member and public relations director for the Thomasville Aviation Club, which organizes the fly-in.

Friday arrivals at Thomasville Regional Airport (KTVI) were steady, keeping volunteers busy. By Saturday, the usual peak day of the fly-in, approximately 150 aircraft were parked on the grass between the taxiway and runway.

Visitors viewed the flightlines from the comfort of a comfy, but bumpy, ride.

There was no order to the parking except the arrival sequence. One exception was a planned Ercoupe group to the side that didn’t materialize. Three quite different Ercoupes were parked away from the main gathering. The other expected Ercoupes were from Florida airfields that were either flooded or had no power to pump fuel.

Stephen Henry reminded us that the Ercoupe design was used for military purposes during World War II.

Classics were scattered about, including various Aeronca, Beechcraft, Luscombe, and Piper models. Homebuilts were everywhere, with some seldom encountered examples.

Clyde Harrell’s Aeronca calls Bainbridge, Georgia home.

This classic 1955 V-tail Beechcraft Bonanza made the short trip from Bainbridge, Georgia.

Many Tri-Pacers have been reconfigured to tailwheels. This one is also equipped for backcountry flying with tundra tires.

While most visiting aircraft came from Georgia and adjacent states, one regular attendee, Paul Neely, flew his Glasair from New Hampshire to visit with friends in the Thomasville Aviation Club. Another long distance participant brought a Cirrus from Maryland, returning a second time after enjoying last year’s visit.

Thrush turbine-powered ag planes are built in nearby Albany, Georgia. Thomasville is in the heart of agricultural country.

This was a good old-fashioned fly-in: There were no flight demonstrations planned or executed. Pilots and their passengers could simply take a flight around the area if so moved.

John Hampton from Panama City, Florida, flew his Christen Eagle II to the fly-in.

Watching John Hampton and his Christen Eagle II arrive at the fly-in. (All Photos by Martin Steiner)

Planning has already begun for the 2025 fly-in, which is slated for Oct. 10-12.

For more information: ThomasvilleAviationClub.com

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