Pilots came in by the dozens - a big crowd turning up for breakfast and another crowd coming in for the pig roast lunch. A total of 54 planes of all types and sizes flew in throughout the day to Lakes of the North fifteenth annual fly-in and pig roast.

Some parked their planes along the side of the runway for people to check out, others came and went giving people plane rides. The event is sponsored by the Lakes of the North Airport Committee, whose theme this year was, "Drugs don't fly with me.Ó

"We think it's an important message to get to the kids,"said Mark Lulfs, an airport committee board member, who gave plane rides throughout the day on his Piper Cherokee 6.

But the event isn't just about planes; it is a complete community day. Besides the breakfast and lunch, locals enjoyed antique car exhibits. Stands sold baked goods all day, and an ice cream social cooled everyone down in middle of the afternoon heat when the temperature reached 81 degrees. People could bid on a number of items from a barbecue utensil set to a certificate for a free plane ride in the silent auction.

As one local pointed out, "For us up here in Lakes of the North, this is a great day.Ó

Though another previously roasted pig was consumed by the public Saturday, a 125 lb. hog sweltered in the heat of a large oven all day. The pig was put on at 8 a.m. and people would come get a glance throughout the day. Volunteer Rick Sloan was roasting the pig and predicted it would be 4 p.m. before it would be done and ready to eat. Sloan said the thermometer of the pig must read between 170 and 183 degrees.

The Airport Committee puts on this annual event to raise money for the local airport because right now they have no other source of money, not acquiring any state or federal funding.

The money raised from the day will go toward airport improvements at the 40-year-old facility because as Lulfs commented, "It needs some help."

The committee is also hoping to make the airport a general utility facility - right now it has basic utility status.

The difference between general and basic utility is mostly the size of certain parts of the airport, like the length of the runway and the width of the state approach surface. A general utility designation also requires runway lighting from sunset to sunrise daily.

A general utility airport must offer services like an administration or terminal building with sanitary facilities available to the public, a telephone available to the public 24 hours daily and formally adopted emergency service plan and airport rules and regulations.

Hadley Robinson can be reached at hrobinson@michigannewspapers.com or by calling 231-533-8523.