A cold April morning didn’t deter the few hundred people who wanted Chris Cakes at the Flying Cyclones’ annual fly-in breakfast.

For $5, individuals received unlimited, fresh pancakes, sausage links, toppings and drinks. But the food was only an enticement for the real attraction, which was aviation.

Individual pilots flew into the Ames Municipal Airport, directed by Hap’s Air Service, and parked their winged vehicles on the terminal ramp for airplane enthusiasts to admire.

The fly-in breakfast is a collaborative effort between the Flying Cyclones and Hap’s Air Service. Hap’s provides the location and facilities, while the Flying Cyclones provide planning, logistics and volunteers.

Andrew Advani, senior in aerospace engineering and president of the Flying Cyclones, said the proceeds are usually used to host the event. 

Members of the Flying Cyclones meet on a bi-weekly basis to discuss events outside official meeting times, which primarily revolve around CyFly and ground school.

CyFly is a software program created by the Flying Cyclones to connect pilots flying during a particular day and students of the club who want to catch a ride. If users see an open space, they can enter their name and simply show up.

Members of the club can also complete ground school, the first part of a private pilot’s license, for less than $100.

“It’s a club for aviation geeks by aviation geeks,” Advani said with a smirk.

The fly-in breakfast typically garners 200 to 300 people every year, and the purpose of the event is to expose the public to the world of aviation, Advani said. 

“I heard about it from a friend, so I came with them and another one,” said Kelsi Gensley, senior in animal science. Although she isn’t a member of the club, Gensley is an aspiring aviatrix and is taking ground school online.

The pilots were easy to distinguish from the crowd. Some wore faded green jumpsuits, while most sported classic, brown leather bombers with sheepskin lining.

“Lucky I didn’t have far to go,” said Terry Schleisman, a pilot and Ankeny resident. “It would [have] taken me forever.”

Schleisman owns a small Piper Cub, a classic training aircraft, and another plane. This year was his first time participating at the Ames Fly-in.

“I have an ultralight and it scares the bejeebers out of me,” Schleisman said of his very small, open-cockpit style aircraft.

Ultralight aircraft come in all shapes and sizes, but typically has a propeller behind the pilot and one large fixed wing above.

For Schleisman and other participants of the fly-in, “It’s a blast.”