A windy weekend packed with aviation activities went on despite challenging weather for pilots across the valley.

One of the area’s largest gatherings, the Oroville Airport Day (OVE), ended early due to strong winds, according to event organizer Gonzalo Curiel. Sustained winds of about 15 mph with gusts up to 32 mph caused many attendees to leave the event by noon, he said in a social media update posted Sunday. 

In an email to Wingman on Monday, Curiel said that no damage was reported, but the winds did result in limited aircraft at the event.

“Weather is something you can’t predict, especially months in advance,” Curiel said in the announcement, noting that planning begins in January. “Quitting isn’t an option in our books nor is it an option to all that came during the day.”

Despite the winds, Curiel said the final attendance was 1,189, and he thanked the vendors, food trucks, and those who were able to land at Oroville, including some aircraft from CALFIRE. 

Further away at the fourth annual Armed Forces Day in Grass Valley, Nevada County Veteran’s Services Officer David West told Wingman that the event was well attended. The event was held at the Nevada County Airport (GOO) and West said vendors were pleased with the turnout. 

“I believe turnout has been tremendous,” West said. “It’s been a steady flow of people all day long.”

Nevada County Administrative Assistant and pilot Rain Wrenn said several different organizations participated in the event including CALFIRE.

“It’s nice to see everyone come together and to see the public up here,” Wrenn said. “A lot of people have never been to the airport.”

Wrenn noted that small airports such as Nevada County benefit the community in many ways, including serving as a launch pad for future aviators.

“I think a lot of people don’t know that this is where all of our pilots come from, this is where pilots are born,” Wrenn said. 

The third annual When Pigs Fly event was also held on Saturday at the Yuba County Airport (MVY) with winds from the north northwest recorded at around 20 mph and gusting to about 28 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

Yuba Sutter Sheriff’s Aero Squadron Commander John Messick estimated about 350 people attended the ticketed fundraiser, although a final tally has not yet been released.