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COPA 177 Spring Fly-In Breakfast 2019 Part II
By Kevin Moore, Contributing Editor & Photographer
There were some new visitors to the fly-in this spring, from fixed wing to rotary.

There were many other aircraft that flew in for the morning such as the Wagero Wag-a-Bond Traveller, Wagero Husky Cuby, Wagero Cuby and even a helicopter. Some aircraft travelled only a short distance, some came from 40 or 50 miles away. It's not how far you travel, it's where you're going. Fly-ins are a great place to end up regardless of your method of transportation.

Most fly-ins will see a wide variety of aircraft, including homebuilts such as the Nexus Mustang, left, and the Hatz Biplane CB-1, right.

Homebuilt aircraft are common visitors to fly-ins as well such as the Rocket, Nexus Mustang/Alar and the Hatz Biplane. Both the Rocket and the Nexus are little speed demons and can see speeds in excess of 200mph while the Hatz Biplane will cruise around 75-80mph. Regardless of what you fly or how you like to fly your aeroplane, a fly-in breakfast is a great place to go, whether you get their fast or slow.

New to the COPA 177 breakfast fly-in was Karl Pfister's Bo-105 former German Army helicopter which flew in from his own airstrip just north of London, Ontario.

An unusual aircraft to see at most small fly-ins is a helicopter but Karl Pfister made the trip from his own airstrip just north of London International Airport (YXU) in his Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm Bo-105 helicopter, formerly of the German Army. There were over 1500 of the type built and they served with 34 different militaries, police forces, coast guards and forest services, among others.

The Bo-105 is a nice size, offering space for 4 or 5 people, including the pilot, and traveling at a cruise of about 100mph.

The Bo-105 has, what was considered, a revolutionary hingeless rotor system which was considered quite the innovation when the aircraft was first introduced in 1970. Karl's version sports high-lift rotor blades, cruises around 100mph and can climb at 2000' fpm. Though considered as being fully aerobatic, Karl operates the aircraft in a much more docile fashion, taking family and friends for flights and to fly-ins.

This hangar housed an unusual little aircraft, a Thatcher CX-4, left, and a visiting aircraft parked near one line of hangars, a colourful Cessna 150, right.

There are a few hangars at Sexsmith Airport and you'll never know what you'll find inside them so a walk around the airport will offer you the opportunity to see what some of the locals fly. Visiting aircraft are parked either in front of or near the hangars, depending on space and ground conditions.

The Wagero Wag-a-Bond Traveller, left, and the Wagero Cuby, right.

There are a many aircraft that are built/restored under the Wagero label and they are always common at fly-ins in Ontario. The Wag-a-Bond Traveller and Cuby are two of the more common types and they can be seen at most airports, visiting for the $100 hamburger, stopping for fuel or just flying around the countryside.

Fly-in events to most airports are an easy flight or drive. The food is always good, the company is even better. You never know what you might see or even who you might meet at times. Visit your local airport to find out what events they hold during the year.

If you've never attended a fly-in, whether for breakfast, lunch or for a corn roast or pig roast, it's a great way to spend a morning, afternoon or an entire day, hopping from one airport to another or visiting a friend's airstrip. You never know who you'll meet or what type of aircraft you'll see. You'll enjoy good food, good company, good weather and good times.

Sexsmith Airport and COPA Flight 177 are very hospitable and outgoing. They love visitors and they put on a great feast, whether the breakfast fly-in during the spring or the late summer corn roast. Make sure you check their website for dates!
The front cockpit and instrument panel of the Bo-105, left, and parked on the grass on its own, right.
The Hatz Biplane CB-1 just before landing.
Cessna 170B floating as the pilot prepares to touch down.
The 1941 Boeing Stearman, Bruce Bond at the controls, heading home after a hearty breakfast. No doubt, he and many other pilots will return for future fly-ins as Sexsmith Airport.

Sexsmith Airfield, COPA 177: sexsmithairfield.ca

By Kevin Moore, Contributing Editor & Photographer
kevinwmoorephotography@hotmail.ca
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