Activities
Activities
To the left, you'll see our official activities calendar. Use this to get an idea of what's going on at the airport, click on the links in the calendar for more info. Being a shareholder, airport user, or even a pilot is NOT required. If you have an interest in aviation and want to join us, feel free to attend!
Below you'll find more information about what makes our airport such a great one!
Brighton Airport Annual Fly-in/Cruise-in : Saturday August 12th, 2023
Annually, on the second Saturday of August, the BAA hosts a Fly-In/Cruise-In. General aviation pilots and enthusiasts are invited to attend. Also included is a low key car show where anyone is invited to bring their classic / custom car to show off.
.Lunch will be available for those that attend. This year's lunch items include hamburgers, pulled pork, hot dogs, all the fixings, and cold beverages. Donations are appreciated.
This past year we chose not to have our normal Saturday Breakfast so that we could set up for the Fly-In. However, that may not be the case for this coming event. Please check back regularly to see the details for the Cruise-In in 2023. In the meantime, here are a number of pictures from the event in 2022:
Fly-In/Camp-In : Friday, 22 Sept -Saturday, 23 Sept 2023
The Brighton Airport Association presents our Third Annual Fly-In/Camp-In event. It will start on Friday, 22 Sept 2023 at 4pm and end on Saturday, 23 Sept 2023 at noon. This event will included camping, food(dinner and breakfast available for a donation), a camp fire, entertainment, and an atmosphere suitable for all ages.
This year's entertainment hasn't been planned at this time. The proposed plan is to bring back the movie for the kids. We have updated our audiovisual equipment in the clubhouse to make the movie better. The actual movie is to be determined so check back often for info. We also plan on having Ford Model T rides for all who are interested.
The current Schedule is:
4pm (16 Sep) - Event opens. Please don't arrive prior to this time.
6pm - Dinner starts. Expected menu is ??? (info coming soon). There will be a vegetarian option available for those that need one.
7pm - The Model T will start giving rides at this time if there is interest.
8pm or Dusk - The Movie will start for those that want to watch it. Bonfire will be lit sometime as it is getting dark.. The telling of long tales will commence (if not previously started) possibly assisted by beverages of choice brought by the participants.
8am (17 Sep) - Breakfast starts and goes until all are fed or we run out of food
12pm - "Closing Time... you don't have to go home but you can't stay here"
For those of you who are concerned about facilities, we have two indoor bathrooms. We do not have a shower so you will have to rough it for one night.
There will be a registration tent to give you the general agenda and layout so please visit it when you arrive. If you have any questions in the interim, please contact us at (810)588-4887 or email karl@brightonairport.org. You can also follow the us on our MeWe Group. Search for Brighton Airport 45G.
P.S. Make sure to bring your own tie downs and a chair.
See below for some pictures of previous years event below.
Monday Night Pilot Proficiency Meetings
You should never stop learning! On most Monday evenings the BAA hosts a pilot proficiency meeting. These generally include topics pertinent to the season of flying, safety related discussions, presentations, webinars, and a little hangar flying. During certain periods of the year, we have a ground instructor host test prep for either Private, Instrument or Commercial pilot FAA knowledge tests.
Afterwards, some of us head to the local watering hole and tell stories.
EAA Chapter 384
Based on the north end of the field in their own chapter hangar, Chapter 384 is a part of the international organization known as the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). Chapter 384 has 30 members (and growing!) with a current project of restoring a Stinson 10A Voyager. If that isn't cool enough, this airplane is a certified warbird that was used off the east coast during World War II...patrolling for German U-boats!
Previous projects include the Brighton Build-A-Plane project encouraging high school students to learn a skill, pursue a career in aviation, and help build a Van's RV-12. Here you can find the plane's build log. And here is a newspaper story about their efforts!
Additionally, Chapter 384 hosts Young Eagles flying events a few times a year. This year the planned events are 6 May 2023, 10 Jun 2023, and 7 Oct 2023. Since 1992, EAA Young Eagles has provided free introductory flights to youth ages 8 to 17. To date, more than 2 million young people have discovered the magic of flight.
Chapter meetings for 384 are on the second Wednesday of every month.
Interested? Contact chapter President Dave Yegge at info@eaa384.org or (734)395-2395
Learn to fly! Brighton Flying Club
Based on the airport, Brighton Flying Club was formed as a low cost way to promote aviation at the beginner through advanced level, using both simulators and primary training programs. The club currently owns a 1965 Cessna 150E and 1697 PA-28-140 Piper Cherokee. Work on your private in the 150 and utilize the Cherokee for IFR GPS approaches, the best of both worlds! Questions can be directed to brightonflyingclub@gmail.com
Warbirds of Glory Museum & Kittyhawk Academy
Located on the south end of the airport, the Warbirds of Glory Museum is currently in the process of restoring a North American B-25J, also known as the Sandbar Mitchell. That's right, Brighton Airport is currently home to a B-25J!
Co-located with the museum is the Kittyhawk Academy whose mission is to encourage Michigan's youth to pursue and prepare them for a career in the skilled trades. Their training and mentorship program assists local youth in learning about computer aided design, engineering, aircraft construction and restoration, and various skilled trades such as plumbing, construction, and mechanics.
The World Famous Brighton Air Force
Alright, maybe only famous in our own minds, but there is a very active group of flyers who never miss the opportunity to do $100 hamburger runs, adventures, excursions, and never turn down an opportunity to "go burn holes in the sky." For more information, happenings, and fly-out events, join our Facebook Group - Brighton Air Force
Some places we like to fly to
As told by some of our members!
RMY (Marshall, Michigan) Schuler's Restaurant and Pub. Give the unicom freq. a call en route and Schuler's will send out a van to pick you and your party up. Besides the Bar Cheese, they are well known for their 24 ounce prime rib. (If you finish it, seconds are free)
CVX (Charlevoix, Michigan) Juillerets Restaurant. This restaurant is simple but has reasonable prices and home cooked meals. Save room for their Cinnamon Rolls. They are wonderful! About a 1 mile walk into town gives other restaurants and shops to see.
MOP (Mt. Pleasant, Michigan) Soaring Eagle Casino - they'll send a van to pick you up!
BKL (Cleveland, Ohio) Immediately next door to the airport is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. There is a $5 landing fee payable at the terminal bldg. There is also a WWII submarine that you can go aboard on the way to the museum. A short walk from the airport is Terminal Tower (old train station) inside are all sorts of specialty shops and a Hard Rock Cafe.
ADG (Adrian, Michigan) Courtesy car is available at the airport. They even let me use the county car with the yellow flasher on top for my visit. Take US 223 eastbound to the village of Blissfield. On the north side of the road near the center of town is the Hathaway House restaurant. They have marvelous food selections and fairly reasonable for white linen tablecloth dining. My wife is especially fond of their stuffed pork chop. (similar dining experience to Rockies at Burroughs Farms) Also in this community, they have a 1940's vintage train that goes thru the countryside for an hour or so. The restaurant makes the food for the dinner trains. If you ever wanted to see the elegance of the 1940's when trains were king, this is for you!!! I took the entire pharmacy crew on a murder mystery train... I was the one who was murdered. I laughed so hard that the muscles in my face were sore for the rest of the day.
AZO (Kalamazoo, Michigan) Bravo Ristorante right across the street from the entrance to the Airport (very close the the Kalamazoo Air Zoo) If you like Italian food, you will love this place. I brought back some veal picata for Don Black when his wife was out of town and he drooled over it. He said to me "Someone there knows how to really do Italian food" It was still hot when I landed back in Brighton = ) (tail winds that night)
BAX (Bad Axe, Michigan) Walk across the road from the airport onto Silver street. About a 1 mile walk into downtown Bad Axe. Across from the movie theater is a Chinese restaurant. I cannot remember the name of it but it is there and the food is great and very reasonable. Afterwards take in a movie across the street. Movies for adults are $3.75 in an old oak floored theater that brings back memories of my childhood. A large drink is only $1.50 and if you want a refill it is only 25 cents for a fill-up!! The popcorn is about the same price for a very large bucket and what I like is the salt shaker is on the counter so you salt to your taste. Movie times at 7 and again at 9 p.m.
OH30 (Put-in-Bay, Ohio) The runway down here has been repaved and straightened out. There is still no fuel available on the island but 5 miles away at Port Clinton there is always fuel. There is a landing fee of $10 but this is a mini Mackinac. Cottages to stay overnight, hotels from the early 1800's. The speed limit is 25 mph and bike rentals and motorized golf cart rentals are everywhere. I have taken the kids to Perry's National Monument to fly kites for years. Explore caves and wineries,(grape juice too for the transient pilot) and President Grover Cleveland's summer house. It makes for a very pleasant day especially in the autumn when the hardwoods on this island are in their vivid glory and few boaters go to the island. Also next door is neighboring Kelly's Island (89D). Motorized golf carts are available and some interesting things to see such as entire fields of solid rock carved by passing glaciers. Some real nice area to see wildlife especially birds not so common to Brighton.
SPL (Saint Paul, Minnesota) I know this one is a trek but it is well worth the run. I love going to an event on U of M's campus.... no the other U of Minnesota. Over Labor Day, they have their state fair and to me, is one of the premier state fairs in the country. About 1 mile in length down the main causeway but about 3 parallel blocks on either side!!!! They even had a hut across from the bottomless glass of milk hut (25 cents A.Y.C.D.) that only made SMORES ... yes the Girl Scout graham cracker, chocolate, marshmallow treat. I was also impressed with the Dairy display... All the princesses (teens) from the 14 dairy districts of Minnesota had their portraits carved in butter in a cold revolving lazy Susan array while the people watched. It is very worthwhile for the kids and kids at heart. If you get tired, across from MSP is the Mall of America 1 mile of shopping (1/4 mile per side of the square) and 4 levels!!!!! Four miles of shops with an amusement park in the middle.
61D (Plainwell Airport) Fly In Restaurant. That's right, the name of the restaurant is "Fly-In Restaurant". The food is good, home cooked, and the prices are less than at most places. Plainwell Airport is 96 statute miles on a heading of 270 deg. magnetic from Brighton Airport, and about 16 miles north to northwest of Kalamazoo Airport. It is located right on the east side of US 131 divided highway. The 09-27 paved runway is 2650 x 50 ft. with trees on the approach to runway 27.
Flying to Brighton? Fun activities for you and the family
Brighton, Michigan is the place we call home and we think you might like it too! Annually events in town include the Smokin' Jazz and Barbeque Blues Festival, car shows, and activities at the Downtown Ampitheater.
We are conveniently located 30min north of Ann Arbor and Michigan's Big House and 45min east of East Lansing and Michigan State's Spartan Stadium.
If you plan on traveling or are considering moving to Brighton, here's some resources that may enhance your time here while visiting and others that will make you want to stay forever.
Brewery Becker Eternity Brewing Block Brewing Champs Pub Tee Bone'z Brighton Coffee House & Theater
Single Barrel Social Sushi Zen The Wooden Spoon Bourbons El Arbol Taqueria