BELFAST — The fourth annual Fly-in event at Belfast Municipal Airport had a foggy start Sept. 15, with the low-lying clouds causing cancellations from some of the local pilots who had planned to attend.

Despite the fog, there were still plenty of planes to examine throughout the day, with Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) chapter 1434 President Duke Tomlin saying they still expected roughly 30 planes throughout the day.

Tomlin said that they have had up to 80 aircraft at the event in the past, with planes traveling from as far as Tennessee and Kentucky to attend. Planes out of New Jersey and Pennsylvania were scheduled to fly in, however inclement weather in their areas caused their cancellations.

A helicopter also typically attends the event to offer paid rides to interested visitors, but heavy fog in Sanford, where the helicopter is located, made their arrival indefinitely delayed.

The day offered a wide array of homebuilt aircraft, also known as experimental aircraft, in addition to breakfast and lunch, live music, and the presence of several service organizations, including Patient Airlift Services and Angel Flight.

Angel Flight is an organization by which, “pilots donate their time and they fly cancer patients to Dana Farber [Cancer Institute], and they do it for free,” Tomlin said.

The term “experimental aircraft” refers to homebuilt airplanes, according to Tomlin, who said: “The [aircraft] that we see in this field are all homemade planes. They come in a kit, you buy them as a kit and then you put them together…. or people can just buy the plans and all the raw material and build an airplane in their backyard, in their garage, or whatever.”

Whether people buy the kit or just the plans, some also choose the unlikeliest of works spaces, such as Robert Dodge, of Jackson.

Dodge built his entire aircraft in the upstairs woodworking shop at his home after buying the plans from an Ohio based company for $250 and getting the necessary aluminum.

“I had to take the end of the building out to be able to get [the plane] out,” Dodge said.

Making the move easier are the planes two detachable wings, which allow the aircraft to be towed, in addition to making storage easier. Dodge said the build took roughly 18 months to complete.

As for the very first time the wheels of his homemade aircraft made a trip down the runway and into the air, Dodge said there were some nerves.

“Well, you’re always concerned, but everything went perfectly. Soon as it jumped in the air, I knew it would fly. But you spend so much time building and doing weights and balances, you know everything is right.”

Dodge’s favorite part of flying is the freedom it creates. He likes to fly to many local areas including Rockland, Waterville, and Pittsfield, among others. The furthest he has flown is Ohio.

For anyone considering becoming a pilot, Dodge said his advice would be to, “absolutely give it a shot because it’s a freedom that most people don’t get to enjoy.”

Duke Tomlin’s favorite thing about being a pilot is similar: “Just being up in the air, it’s a liberating feeling… it’s a challenge to get your license, but it’s an accomplishment, so you feel good about that.”

For those interested in flying, there is a business in Belfast, Seaview Aviation, which, Tomlin said, provides lessons and airplane rentals, “so you can come down here and get a look and a lesson with an instructor.”

“You can get an introductory lesson to see if you even like it, you know, go up for a ride for 15 or 20 minutes to see if it’s something for you,” Tomlin said, adding, “then you can progress beyond that if you want. You could go onto be a professional pilot from there if you wanted.”

For interested kids between the ages of 8 through 17, the EAA fly Young Eagles. The program offers a free airplane ride to introduce them to aviation, according to Tomlin, who said that the 15-minute flights allow kids to get a chance to see what aviation is like.

With the fly-in attracting flight enthusiasts of all ages, the potential for future pilots to be among the crowd seems as high as the planes that traveled overhead.

Additional photos.

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com