A digital rendering of the terminal to be revealed Sept. 14. Courtesy | Ginger Moore

Hillsdale Municipal Airport will unveil its new terminal building with pancakes, airplane rides, and a car show at its annual Patriot’s Day Fly-In Sept. 14. 

“The event is for the local community — it’s a way to tie citizens into the airport,” said Hillsdale Airport Administrator Travis Stebelton. “We want everyone to feel comfortable at the airport.”

Stebleton said the fly-in tradition, where pilots from the region display their aircraft, has been a fixture at the Hillsdale Airport for more than 40 years. 

“These types of events are popular in the aviation community as a way to share local airports with everyone, especially those not directly tied to the industry,” Stebelton said.

Beginning at 7 a.m., the Hillsdale Exchange Club, a local nonprofit, will serve a pancake breakfast for $8 for adults and $4 for kids, and Chunky Butts BBQ and Grill will serve lunch.

Pilots from local flight school Compass Rose Aviation will take up to three people at a time on airplane rides for $30 per person and helicopter rides for $40. 

The airport is also hosting a classic car cruise-in during the event, with local police, fire, and emergency response vehicles on display.

Freshman Will Adkison said he is looking forward to the event. 

“It’s so great to see something like this out here in rural Michigan,” Adkison said. “It would be awesome to go talk to some people, see some cool planes and cars, maybe get up in the air and take a ride in a helicopter. I’d love that.” 

Construction on the new terminal began last year, but the initial design and planning stages were more than 20 years in the making, according to Stebelton.

“I really think people are going to want to see it,” Stebelton said.