FAMILY DAY @ the Jetport 2024 Brings a Free Community Aviation Celebration

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SANFORD, N.C. — Family Day @ the Jetport, an annual community aviation celebration, returns to Raleigh Exec on Saturday, Oct. 5, with aircraft displays, special demonstrations, community group exhibits, food trucks and more.

The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is built around an extensive display of vintage airplanes, corporate jets and recreational aircraft. Central Electric Membership Corp. also will operate an activities center all day where youth can enjoy aviation-related games, have their photos taken as pilots and see an exhibit on how the local energy cooperative provides electrical service for homes and businesses.

“For many of us, this may be the highlight of our year,” said airport director Bob Heuts. “It’s a chance to give families a close look at aviation, which isn’t easy to do at a working airport. But this is the fourth straight year we’ve held Family Day and it’s always great to see folks climbing in and out of airplanes, learning everything that happens here at Raleigh Exec and, really, just having a great time.”

Family Day was created more than a decade ago primarily to introduce young people to aviation, but also to invite everyone out to see the rapidly expanding airport and thank the community for their support. It was so successful that Raleigh Exec began adding other educational events to the airport’s annual calendar.

Young Eagles Day, offered with EAA Chapter 1114 based in Apex, provides free discovery flights for youth, usually on one Saturday in the spring. The airport also offers Behind the Scenes at Raleigh Exec every three months, a free tour designed to introduce the facility and aviation to families and other members of the community. One of those quarterly tours will be offered at 11 a.m. on Family Day as part of this year’s festivities. Some youth organizations also use meeting rooms at the airport for aviation-related projects and special events.

Heuts said events like these are important for the airport’s ongoing mission. “Who knows, maybe some of the young people visiting for Family Day will get interested in a career in aviation. And then we often hear people say they had no idea that such a vibrant airport like Raleigh Exec is even here, right in their own community.”

More than 15 airplanes and helicopters are currently scheduled to be on display — with many more expected — and pilots are usually on hand to talk with guests and answer questions about the aircraft and flying experience.

Special events at Family Day 2024 include a flyover by the Bandits Flight Team, a firefighting “water drop” demonstration by the North Carolina Forest Service and warbird rides available for a fee from Capital Wing, Commemorative Air Force, a nonprofit that takes World War II planes to airports along the East Coast to share the legacy of aviation.

Family Day is offered free of charge with financial support from many area companies and organizations. They include gold sponsors Brad Womble Aviation, Campbell Oil Company, Carolina Commercial Contractors, Chatham EDC, Dickens RV Park, Elite Aircraft Services, Johnson Automotive, Mertek Solutions, Michael Baker International and Sanford Area Growth Alliance.

Also, silver sponsors Bankers Insurance, BellAir, M.R. Stoner Electric, RS&H, Sanford Contractors and Wings of Carolina Flying Club.

Bronze sponsors this year are Infranet and MAG Aerospace.

Because some aviation exhibitors must wait closer to any event to confirm their schedules and participation, additional aircraft will be on display — with some displays and events subject to change based on weather conditions and unexpected circumstances. For the latest updates on Family Day, follow Raleigh Exec on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn.

About Raleigh Exec

Billed as a premier corporate gateway to the Research Triangle, Raleigh Exec Jetport is a general aviation airport serving corporate and recreational flights in a region of central North Carolina that includes Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill, Sanford and the Research Triangle Park. Raleigh Exec operates on 700 acres off of U.S. 1, just 15 miles from the Raleigh Outer Beltline, and is home to corporate aircraft, the North Carolina Forest Service, many aviation-related businesses and one of the nation’s largest and most respected flying clubs. More information is available at raleighexec.com.

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Young visitors at Family Day 2023 got the chance to sit in some aircraft and learn from pilots how their planes worked. About 15 planes and helicopters are already confirmed for this year’s event, with many more expected to participate as pilots determine their final schedules and commitments for that day. (Photo by Chip Pate)

One popular stop at Family Day is the Central Electric Activities Center, where children enjoy informal aviation-related games and an exhibit on how the local energy cooperative provides electrical service for homes and businesses. (Photo by Chip Pate)

Visitors stop for photos during Family Day 2023, one of several free community events held at Raleigh Exec. Others include EAA Young Eagles Day, where youth enjoy free discovery flights, and Behind the Scenes at Raleigh Exec, a small-group airport tour offered on a Saturday morning every three months. (Photo by Chip Pate)

While young guests enjoy sitting in planes, pilots also enjoy Family Day because they get to share their love of aviation, answer questions about their aircraft and explain to potential future pilots what it’s like to fly. (Photo by Chip Pate)

The Bandit Flight Team, based at Raleigh Exec, flies over the airport during Family Day 2023. The Bandits return for another demonstration this year, though the actual time for their Family Day flyover has not yet been set. (Photo by Chip Pate)

Family Day features a wide variety of aircraft from vintage military planes to corporate jets and an ultralight helicopter. Because some pilots cannot confirm their participation until days before the event, activities and participating aircraft are being announced daily on Raleigh Exec social media. (Photo by Chip Pate)