“The flight school has taken off,” Taylor added, asking listeners to pardon the pun.

In the first month, the school’s airplane was flown 49 hours. “In this downed and depressed economy, we’re growing our business here at Penn Valley,” Taylor said.

The Fly-In was planned in order to push for more public awareness of the airport. By 9 a.m., more than 30 planes had already arrived. Taylor was expecting more than 100 airplanes and approximately 500 people. He had contacted every airport within a 100-mile radius to advertise the event. Breakfast was served in the T-hangar.

“Put pilots and food together, and it’s a guaranteed success,” Taylor joked.

“I think it’s nice,” said Gene Salvatore, of Allentown, who flew into the airport with a group of friends for the event on Saturday morning. “It’s a beautiful flight down here.”

“This is what we do,” said Joe Hacker, also of Allentown. He and his friends look for fly-ins to attend all over the state. “Over the years, we get on the radio and say, ‘that’s where we’re going.’ ”

But it’s hard to find them anymore, Salvatore said. “It would be nice to have more events.”

Pilots came from as far away as Altoona, Carlisle, Bradford and Capital City. “They’re coming from all over,” Taylor said as he watched new planes roll in and kept his communication device close by his side.

“Success,” he said with a smile.