By Tony Judnich

Judnich@hometownnewsol.com

GRANT VALKARIA - Acrobatic aerial demonstrations and the chance to meet original members of the Tuskegee Airmen are just some of the main attractions at the high-flying Valkaria Air Fest.

The third annual event is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at Valkaria Airport. The rain date is Feb. 22.

The Valkaria Aviation Association sponsors the Air Fest, which typically draws thousands of spectators, including many from Vero Beach and Sebastian, to the 660-acre, Brevard County-owned and operated airport.

Proceeds will support the education and pilot training of aviation students, said Steve Borowski, manager of Valkaria Airport.

"We'll probably have a total of about 75 planes at the festival," Mr. Borowski said. "The majority of them will be experimental aircraft, which traditionally are those that people build and then fly."

Pilots will fly various types of aircraft from around the country to the airport from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. the day of the festival, he said.

Besides experimental aircraft, Air Fest visitors will be able to get up close to Warbirds, gyrocopters, powered parachutes, helicopters, hang gliders, hot-air balloons, biplanes, aerobatic planes, sailplanes, racers and other aircraft.

The festival's air shows, which are scheduled for 1-3:30 p.m. and 6-6:30 p.m., are other major crowd-pleasers.

According to the Web site, www.valkariaairfest.org, air show performers include:

. Gene McNeely, who "is a world-renowned air-show performer, known both for his superb flying skills with the award-winning Aeroshell Aerobatic Team and his solo routines." He will fly his T-6 Texan trainer from World War II.

. John Black, who "puts his classic American champion 8KCAB Super Decathlon through some really great low, slow and smooth aerobatic routines." He is a Cocoa Beach resident and full-time fighter pilot who flies F-15 Eagle fighter jets for the Florida Air National Guard in Jacksonville.

Also on tap are high-performance fly-bys by aircraft such as a P-51 Mustang and a Mustang Midget Racer, sport parachuting demonstrations and a hot-air balloon "glow," during which the balloons are inflated and glow brightly as the sun sets.

At the "History Hanger," festival visitors can talk with legendary aviators, such as Daytona Beach resident Steve Wood - who Mr. Borowski said has set the most aviation records - as well some original members of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Festival officials said the airmen were the first black combat pilots in the U.S. military and that they "earned a nearly perfect record of protecting their assigned bomber groups from German fighters during World War II" while also fighting "the rampant racism of the times."

Also at Air Fest, visitors can pay for a ride on a helicopter, an antique biplane, in which two people sit in the front and the pilot sits behind them, and a Pitts Special, which is a high-speed aerobatic aircraft.

In addition, visitors can watch demonstrations of radio-controlled aircraft and learn how to fly them themselves.

The festival also includes aviation-related children's rides and a classic car and motorcycle rally.

Vendors will sell refreshments throughout the day, starting with a pancake breakfast from 7:30-11 a.m.

The breakfast is sponsored by Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 1288-Valkaria.

Mr. Borowski said parking arrangements for this year's Air Fest are vastly improved compared to those for the first two festivals.

Admission for adults is $10 at the gate or $8 in advance. Admission for children ages 7-16 is $7 at the gate and $5 in advance and children younger than age 7 will be admitted for free.

Valkaria Airport is on the south side of Valkaria Road, about 1.7 miles west of U.S. 1. For information on the Air Fest, call the airport at (321) 952-4590 or LeRoy Rotgers at (321) 727-1419 or visit www.valkariaairfest.org.