Adam Johnson
Northern News Services
Friday, July 13, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - What flies, floats and only comes around to Yellowknife once every two years?

The answer will be on Back Bay all weekend, as the Midnight Sun Float Plane Fly-In makes its biennial return to the capital.

The 15th Field Artillery Regiment band (Andrew Voth, Rob Scheib, Ryan Crawford and Jim Tempest) rings in the 2005 Midnight Sun Float Plane Fly-In. Up to 30 planes will come in to Back Bay for a weekend of storytelling, memorials and flying. - NNSL file photo

Taking place at the Max Ward Float Plane Dock right across from the Wildcat, the event routinely brings in hundreds of participants and onlookers, according to organizer Yvonne Quick.

"We have 30 airplanes registered to come in," she said. "The furthest away would be (from) northern Ontario, and to the south it would be Oregon."

This year's festival will feature authors, storytellers and memorial breakfasts and BBQs to keep flight enthusiasts entertained.

Things officially start today with events stretching throughout the weekend.

On Saturday, highlights include a pancake breakfast in memory of pilot and entrepreneur Mike Piro, with rides available in a DC-3 aircraft. That evening, Fort Smith storyteller Jim Green will also bring some unique entertainment.

"A lot of history will be talked about at the storytelling," Quick said. "A lot of memories"

Sunday starts at 11 a.m., with a memorial service for bush pilots at Pilot's Monument in Old Town.

NWT MLAs will hold a BBQ at noon, followed by presentations from a series of authors.

The guest speaker this year is Bern Will Brown, from Colville Lake, who will sign copies of his book Arctic Journal.

He will be joined by authors Don Hamilton and June Lunny.

Quick said the once-every-two-years schedule is necessary for two reasons: First, it staggers the event with the Yellowknife Air Show.

The second is a bit more obvious. "You have an extra year to plan," she said.

Quick, a former pilot, said it's a love for flying that has kept her at the helm of the event since it began in 1995.

While she would only say she flew for a "long time," Quick said she is inspired by one upcoming visitor - Jan Wood, from Los Angeles.

"She is still a pilot, and she is 86 years old," she said with a laugh.