Smithville Fly-In: General and Military Aviation Festival

A Texas fly-in was recently featured in AeroErmo, a Colombian aviation magazine with international readership. The article below, reprinted with permission, highlights the 19th 84R Annual Fly-In held at Smithville-Crawford Municipal Airport in Central Texas.

The event has continued to grow in reach and reputation, drawing attention from both aviation enthusiasts and photographers across the region. Local officials reflected on the success of this year’s fly-in and what it meant for the community:

“The 19th 84R Annual Fly-In provided the opportunity to showcase the City of Smithville’s municipal airport while giving the community an exciting glimpse into the world of general aviation. Over 1,500 people enjoyed a fun-filled day that included aircraft displays, helicopter rides, great food, a candy drop and camaraderie,” said Robert Tamble, Smithville city manager/airport manager.

“We are grateful for all the attention our airport has received and look forward to next year’s event. As chairman of the annual fly-in, I assure you we will have even more exciting additions next year,” said Sandy Meyerson, airport operations manager.

The below excerpt was written by Javier Vera, originally published in AeroErmo.

In May of this year, the small town of Smithville, located in Central Texas, had the privilege of hosting an engaging aviation event designed for the enjoyment of the entire family.

Although the Smithville-Crawford Municipal Airport (ICAO: 84R) may not hold major significance within Texas, it certainly does for the local community. In addition to being a much-anticipated annual event, entry to the fly-in is free, which encourages more people to attend and become interested in aviation.

Almost a tradition by now, this year marked the 19th edition of the fly-in and featured a variety of interesting aircraft. Notably, it included presentations by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) with their Texan T-6II training aircraft and the U.S. Army, which brought a Sikorsky Blackhawk helicopter. Both aircraft landed at the airport and were parked on the public ramp, giving attendees the opportunity to get up close and take photos with them.

This allowed people who don’t usually engage with aviation — and who came out of curiosity — to be surprised and impressed by the variety of aircraft. One example is Tanya Diaz, who said:

“I was really struck by the arrival of the military aircraft. I had never seen Air Force planes like that before, and the pilots explained to me that this model (Texan T-6II) is a training aircraft used to prepare new USAF pilots.”

In total, approximately 76 aircraft arrived at the event, and just over 1,500 people attended and enjoyed the outstanding show. Around midday, there was a special treat for the youngest guests: aboard a Robinson R-44 helicopter, hundreds of candies were dropped for children to collect and enjoy.

Additionally, the event featured craft vendors and food booths offering the local specialty: Texas-style BBQ.

Jack Fleetwood, a well-known pilot who actively participates in aviation events throughout Texas, expressed his positive surprise at this 19th Smithville Fly-In:

“I’ve attended this event many times, but this year was different. The number of volunteers and the effort each one put in took it to a whole new level. Many fly-ins lack the necessary safety measures to ensure everyone’s well-being, but this year I felt that 84R set the standard. I’m looking forward to coming back next year!”

The show’s organizers expressed their gratitude and satisfaction through social media following the conclusion of the Smithville Fly-In 2025, and they are already inviting everyone to attend next year — highlighting it as a great way to enjoy aviation as a family, and always with exciting surprises for all tastes.

To read more from the AeroErmo magazine, visit www.flipsnack.com/aviacionmkt/ aeroermo-revista-ed-52/full-view.html