Planes fill the sky at contest

By Staff
Jonathan Willis FCT Staff Writer
The Russellville Municipal Airport was one of the area's largest tourist attractions last Saturday.
The airport drew planes from all across the Southeast as they arrived for a spot landing contest held on the newly renovated and expanded runway.
The contest required pilots to land as closely as possible to a bull's eye on the runway without stopping short of it.
The contest served as an attraction to the airport which hopes to be one of the selling points for drawing industry to Franklin County.
With over 200 people and 70 planes at Saturday's event, the publicity generated for the facility is immeasurable, Mattox said.
Each pilot paid $5 for an attempt at the bull's eye. The first, second and third place winners all received cash prices.
The winner of the landing contest, Glenn Wilson of Bessemer, won $106 for landing on the bull's eye.
The contests will also allow pilots to practice what it may be like if they are ever in a situation that they have to make an emergency landing.
The next contest will be held on April 30 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The public is invited.