By Marilyn Miller
It looked like Mother Nature might thumb her nose at the third annual “Wings & Wheels Fly-In and Car Show” Saturday, April 8, 2023, hosted by the Minden Airport.
But the rain stopped well before the 10 a.m. start of the car and aircraft show presented by AirRunners Aviation, and by noon, the sun was shining through blue and white peppered skies. The only thing better than the weather was free admittance to the family event featuring airplanes, muscle cars, vendors, flight competitions, food trucks, kids, dogs, and even one goat!
All proceeds from the day benefitted “Pilots for Patients,” a volunteer pilot organization that alleviates the burden of travel to and from medical appointments for patients all over the country.
“Despite the weather, the sun finally broke through and it was a beautiful day. We had a great crowd,” said Minden Airport maintenance supervisor Jerry Jacobs.
All types of aircraft were represented at the show, from a Cessna 150 to a Piper Malibu, helicopters from Alexandria Life Air and Pafford; over 25 privately-owned airplanes; planes from Louisiana Tech University, Down Home Aviation, Still Flying Aviation and more.
Cars ran the gamut, from muscle to classic models. “We had so many different cars this year,” said Molly Fowler, line service technician for the Minden Airport. Those included her grandfather, Steve Fowler’s 1931 Phaeton and Tommy Bourn’s fully-imported Rolls Royce.
“We had muscle cars, Mustangs, a Z01 Camaro, cars from the Louisiana Classics Car Club in Shreveport, the Minden Vintage Car Club, a Mustang Car Club…over 55 cars altogether,” Molly added.
Molly works part-time for the Minden Airport. She is presently a student at Louisiana Tech University, majoring in Aviation Management. As a member of show presenters, AirRunners Aviation, she has been involved in all three of the “Wings and Wheels” events. And, she said, this year’s show “stacked up pretty well” despite the weather.
She said that the first show involved only aircraft. Last year, the presenter added cars, and this year, the food trucks were included. “We decided to do this to get the public out here (to the airport), to get them involved in aviation, and for “Pilots for Patients.”
Sponsors of this year’s show were Harper Motors, Minden Athletic, Coca Cola Bottling Co., Titan Aviation, and KSA Aviation. Molly also extended “huge thanks” to Minden Airport Manager Stephen Burdeaux and to Johnnye Kennon of the Webster Parish Convention and Visitors Commission.
Photos by Marilyn Miller:
Tommy Bourn is all smiles driving his “fully imported” Rolls Royce at the “Wings & Wheels” Fly-in and Car Show Saturday at the Minden Airport.
A “great crowd” showed up at the four-hour “Wings & Wheels” show Saturday, despite early threats of bad weather.
There were lots of kids and dogs, and one goat, at the “Wings & Wheels” show. Joey, a four-week old goat, is being held by Landrie Still.
A rescue helicopter owned by Life Air of Alexandria was one of over 25 aircraft that flew into the Minden Airport Saturday for “Wings & Wheels.”
