Fly-in held at Cherokee Strip

Don and Lorrie Amos hosted a noon meal and most guests came by air rather than by land

— A day that started off overcast and with the threat of rain showers couldn't have turned out to be a much prettier day for Saturday lunch at the Don and Lorrie Amos farm just west of Cherokee City.

They had hundreds of friends over, but most didn't come in the usual way. They came by air, with nearly 50 planes, coming from about a hundred-mile radius in the four-state area. All-in-all, lunch was served to more than 300, Don Amos said.

Pilots, along with family members and friends, landed on the Amos farm air strip before noon and enjoyed a good meal and fellowship with other fliers.

Following the noon meal, visits with good friends and perhaps picking up a T-shirt to commemorate the event, they took to the air again, with many doing a flyby over the air strip before returning back to their home air fields.

The event was called "The Fifth 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.

Why a fly-in at Cherokee City?

"I enjoy flying," said Don Amos, and he enjoys seeing his fellow pilots and friends.

Don had an interest in flying and learned to fly seven years ago, taking lessons at the same time as his daughter Melanie. He built a grass air strip on his farm and has a number of planes to take him airborne. Melanie has a plane, too.

Don and his family attend other local fly-in events and have made many good friends through their love for aviation. He has also flown to the air show in Oshkosh, Wis., numerous times and made friends there too.

Once again, it all came together at the Cherokee Strip on what turned out to be a beautiful and sunny day. Friends came by land and by air to enjoy goodfood, good friends and the love of flying! And once again, the Amos family looks forward to doing it all over again next year.

News, Pages 20 on 09/14/2011