Fifth Annual AEROS & AUTOS

May 11th, 2013 at Ellington Airport To Benefit Lions Camp and USO

By Betha Merit

caaarBack for its fifth year, Aeros & Autos will be hosted by the Houston Airport System on May 11th, 2013 at Ellington Airport from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Presented by Texas Flying Legends Museum and Ellington Air Commerce Center, this annual family-friendly community event features car shows, static aircraft displays, kids corral, gift drawings, food, shopping, live entertainment, and the Houston Half Mile Shootout.  The Aeros & Autos website is www.fly2houston.com/aerosandautos or check them out at www.facebook.com/pages/Aeros-Autos-at-Ellington-Airport/204996842845099 .

The Half Mile Shootout, sponsored by Hennessey Performance, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fly your automobile or motorcycle down the runway, to see if you can clock the fastest time.  Last year, a Volkswagen Beetle entered and clocked at 97 m.p.h.  The fastest overall was 212 m.p.h. for an auto, and just slightly less than that for a motorcycle.  Registration specifically for the Shootout must be made in advance at www.houstonmile.com.

Proceeds (100%) from the show will benefit two charities.  The first is Texas Lions Camp, an organization focused on assisting physically disabled, hearing/vision impaired, and diabetic children from the State of Texas (www.lionscamp.com).  Additionally supported is The United Service Organization or better known as the USO, whose mission is to support U.S. troops by providing morale, welfare, and recreation-type service to our men and women in uniform and their families (www.uso.org ).

Aeros & Autos is the brain child of Shawn Chittum, operations supervisor at Ellington Airport, five years ago when he sat with a group of combined municipal employees to trouble shoot a new and novel way to provide a community event that would connect with the public and allow the airport to give back.  Aeros & Autos is well received by the participating community, sponsors, and vendors.  When you mingle automobiles with airplanes, food, shopping, contests, gift drawings, and diversions for kids (including snow cones), it comes up to a winning combination.

“Over $100,000 has been raised for charities in the past four years,” says Chittum, “and we expect to surpass that this year.”  With an ever-increasing list of sponsors and vendors, the experience for participants as well as spectators and their families will provide something for everyone all day long.  “Our major sponsors have dedicated time and money to facilitate planning and set-up, and with many new contributors, the family fair atmosphere we aimed to achieve will be realized,” says Chittum.

The aircraft on display will feature everything from WWII planes to Vietnam War jets to modern day aircraft.  Helicopter and aircraft rides will be available, and shopping for novelties and necessities, as well as a kid corral area with free air slides.  The car shows will feature everything from street rods and muscle cars to lowriders and imports, with trophies awarded to those judged as the elite.  Registration for the car show is $30, and due on the day of the show only.  It includes one admission, a goodie bag, a 4 x 6 inch photo of your vehicle with a military aircraft, and an event t-shirt.

Admission is $5 for adults and free for children aged three and younger.  Gates will open at 8 a.m. and close at 4 p.m.  The address for Ellington Airport and for the event is 6011 Farley Road, Houston, Texas  77034.

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