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Sexsmith Airport, Ontario - COPA Flight 177 Fly-ins

By Kevin Moore, Contributing Editor & Photographer
Watford, Ontario, Canada

You never know what you're going to see when you head to a fly-in. From assorted Cessna aircraft to Aeronca's to the occasional World War II era aircraft, there's always a wide variety that flies in. Here, a Zenair CH701 sits on the grass awaiting the return of its pilot.

Across North America aviators flock to fly-ins at various airports as soon as the weather warms up, the snow has gone, and/or grass strips are dry. Any excuse to get the bird out of the nest, stretch the wings and get it back into the air again.

A Cessna 180 overhead preparing to enter the circuit at mid-downwind, left.
The same 180 just after touching down on the wet grass, right.

Depending on where you live and how quickly your weather turns, fly-ins will go late into the fall and, in places where there is snow, some groups of aviators will mount their aircraft with skis and head out to frozen lakes, maybe for some ice fishing.

A visiting L-16 (Champ), left, lands long so the aircraft behind can safely land.
A beautiful little Hatz CB-1 biplane taxies past after landing, right.

For those who still prefer flying in warmer weather, fly-ins are a great social event for the aviation community and whether it's a spring or summer fly-in breakfast or a late summer or fall corn roast, fly-ins are a great opportunity to spend time with other like-minded people and enjoy some seasonal farmers delights such as locally grown sweet corn.

Members and visitors to Sexsmith Airport mingle and enjoy some food and stories, left. Parking was at a minimum so airplanes were marshaled in between hangars and parked, right.

Such fly-ins takes place with COPA (Canadian Owners & Pilots Association) Flight 177 in Exeter who operate from the Sexsmith Field (CSX7) just 1 nautical mile northwest of the town. In the spring they host an annual fly-in breakfast and then, in August, a fly-in corn roast which is always a big hit.

A common aircraft at the fly-ins was the Wagaero Wag-a-bond Traveler, left, one of 3 at the spring fly-in. If you like slow flight in a fun little aeroplane the Piper J3, right, is an ideal aircraft for you.

Both were a great success with over 60 aircraft making the trip to Sexsmith for the breakfast and over 30 aircraft making it for the corn roast despite the not-so-nice weather. Pilots and passengers enjoyed an assortment of food at both fly-ins and at the corn roast event some of the local bounty of corn was enjoyed, which was kindly donated. Pilots enjoyed some time having chin-wags with other pilots, listening to their 'lies,' or telling their own, and sharing stories of various flying exploits with one another.

A Super Canadian taxies past in preparation to depart, left.
A Wagero Super-Cuby heads for home, right.

Sexsmith Airport is a wonderful grass strip with the main east-west runway of 3,000' and a shorter grass north-south runway of 1,200'. The strip has drainage and is surrounded by farmers fields and some forested areas. There are a number of small hangars and the COPA Flight 177 & Sexsmith Airport clubhouse and maintenance hangar offering professional maintenance for those in need.

Another Hatz CB-1 lands for the fly-in breakfast, left.
The zippy Van's RV-4 rolling out after landing, right.

The weather doesn't always cooperate but, as long as it's VFR flying weather, most pilots make the effort to get there, without putting lives at risk of course. A nice assortment of aircraft flew in for the COPA fly-ins including Piper Cubs, an assortment of Cessna aircraft, Aeronca Champs, homebuilts, Ultralights and a few other aircraft.

A lovely Stinson 108 Voyager lands later in the morning but still early enough for breakfast, left. There were a variety of Cessna aircraft that flew in including this 150, right.

Sexsmith Airport is in a beautiful Southern Ontario setting, surrounded by farmers fields, and a few small towns in various directions. To the northwest sits Lake Huron, almost within spitting distance of the airport, and further to the southeast is Lake Erie. The scenery from the air is stunning, especially in summer or fall.

A Beech Sundowner, also known as a Musketeer, flies overhead to join the circuit, left. Showing off the STOL characteristics, the pilot of this Zenair CH701 takes to the air, right, after enjoying breakfast.

If you enjoy flying and being around like-minded people, make a trip one morning to an airport near you that's having a breakfast fly-in or make it a day trip by getting to a breakfast fly-in then head off to another airport for a BBQ lunch or corn-roast. Grab a couple of friends with airplanes and make it a loose formation trip together. If you can't get to Sexsmith to enjoy time with COPA Flight 177, find your local COPA or AOPA chapter and head out this flying season for an enjoyable day on the wing and at the airport enjoying some good eats!

An unusual aircraft is the Puffin, left, which looks like a modified Cessna 150.
A Piper Cherokee Warrior overshoots, right, and heads back to the circuit.

 

The pilot of this pretty Taylorcraft taxies past heading for the end of the runway and his departure, left. An American visitor taxies past in his Cessna 177 Cardinal, right.

 

The flying club & maintenance hangar at Sexsmith Airport, left.
A rare Skoczen SR-6 at the 90 degree mark in his roll after departure, right.

 

Aircraft were parked in a few different places, including the 1200' grass "crosswind" runway, showing the beautiful Stampe. Get out to Sexsmith for the next fly-in

 

The popular Murphy Rebel departing the fly-in breakfast

 

Another Wagero Cuby, this one on full amphib floats, departing Sexsmith after the corn roast fly-in that took place in late August.

 

It looks a little like a Champ but it's known as a JRS-1, parked on the grass of the cross runway, awaiting the return of her pilot.

 

The Stampe climbing away, heading for home.

 

A unique looking Stits SA6B departs and heads for home.

 

Tucked away near a tree on the east side of the hangars is this tribute to a former pilot and member of COPA, Leonard Greb. A beautiful metal plaque on a large granite stone.

 

Another popular aircraft at the fly-in was this pretty little Hatz CB-1 biplane

 

Yes, another Wagero product, this one a Cuby Acro Trainer.

 

Lining them up in front of the hangars worked as a great parking area.

 

One of the cleanest aircraft at the fly-in was this super little Kitfox.

 

Visit the COPA Flt 177 website and get out to one
of their fly-in gatherings this flying season.

 

By Kevin Moore, Contributing Editor & Photographer
2moorekwm@gmail.com

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