CHEROKEE CITY — Don and Lorrie Amos again hosted a fly-in at their home, west of Cherokee City, on Saturday, and a good number of their guests came by plane, landing on their private air field named the Cherokee Strip.

With clear skies and sunny weather, more than 50 planes dropped in, most coming from within a hundred-mile radius in the four-state area, though a few came from as far away as Hutchinson, Kan. They flew in before noon, landed on the farm’s air strip, enjoyed a good meal and fellowship with other flyers and then took off again, doing a flyby over the air strip before returning back to their home strips.

The event was called “The Fourth Annual Cherokee Strip Fly-In,” the privately-owned strip being named after nearby Cherokee City and bearing the well-known name of the 1893 land run.

Don said he and Lorrie decided to have a fly-in four years ago and had about 20 planes show up. The second year the numbers doubled.

Though weather conditions kept some away last year, attendance at the event was still good. This year, the field where Al Williams of Grove, Okla., parked the planes was full of a wide variety of winged craft.

Amos didn’t have anexact count on his guests but estimated at least 200 attended.

“We cooked 250 hamburgers,” Don said, “and served 200 or more. Farril Mefford, Bryan Wilkins and Jimmie Roberts kept busy at the grill which was provided by Lane Nichols of Spavinaw Stove Company to feed the crowds who came out for the event.

In addition, to beans, hamburgers and hot dogs with all the fixin’s, Lyle Arnold made 10 gallons of ice cream and served it to guests.

Don and other aviators kept plenty busy on the radio keeping track of planes coming and going, and the landing strip was a busy place, with a lot more traffic than many small public airfields.

In addition to those flying in, many came by car and truck to share in the meal and watch the aircraft landing and taking off again. The Gentry Fire Department sent a fire truck and emergency medical technicians to the farm, just in case they might be needed.

“It was truly a community get-together,” Don said.

“People from all over the area came out.”

The Amos family served hamburgers, hot-dogs, beans, and homemade pies and deserts prepared by the Wooden Spoon Restaurant and Marci Nichols.

T-shirts again promoted the Cherokee Strip event with the words “4th Annual Fly-In” on the front and “It’s wonderful to climb the liquid mountains of the sky, behind me and before me is God and I have no fears” on the back.

Why a fly-in at Cherokee City? “I enjoy flying,” Don said, and he enjoys seeing his fellow pilots.

Don had an interest in flying and learned to fly six years ago, taking lessons at the same time as his daughter Melanie. Father and daughter studied together and created a bond through their shared interest.

Don has built a grass air strip on his farm and has several planes to take him airborne.

And not only does Don attend other local fly-in events, he has flown to the air show in Oshkosh, Wis., numerous times. In July of 2006, Don and Melanie flew Don’s Cessna to the air show and Melanie landed the plane on the strip there.

Don said he was taken under the wing of other local flyers attending the event and has made many close friends through his love of flying.

Earlier this month, Don and Melanie went to another fly-in, at the Antique Air Field in Blakesburg, Iowa.

Don flew a 1940 Defender, and Melanie flew a Hatz biplane to the show which features antique planes and replicas of early aircraft.

Don’s love of flying and his visits to air shows and fly-ins have led to a lot ofnew friendships. That was again evident at Cherokee City on Saturday.

Melanie is a part of the Air National Guard and earlier this year served as a crew chief on a tour of duty in Afghanistan. She’s back again and was at the event Saturday.

Lorrie isn’t a licensed pilot yet but still loves to fly, Don said. She has learned to land and take off.

Don’s son-in-law Clint Osborne - married to Don’s daughter Amanda - is in the Air Force and started taking flying lessons as well. He is currently stationed in Italy and hopes to complete his lessons and obtain his license after he and Amanda return to the States.

What began as a small event in Cherokee City has grown into a big community event each year with more and more good food, good friends and flying at Cherokee Strip.

Don expressed his thanks to all who helped with the event, preparing food, parking planes and helping in so many ways with the fly-in.

“We couldn’t do it alone,” Don said. “We so appreciate all the help from friends and the community,” he said.

And, yes, Don and Lorrie are already planning for the Fifth Annual Cherokee Strip Fly-in, to be held about this time next year. But if it keeps growing, he’s wondering where he can park all the planes.

News, Pages 8 on 09/22/2010