3 months ago
You might expect to see vintage planes coming in for a landing or cruising among the clouds at an airport's open house.
"Just seeing these two beautiful airplanes, it's incredible," said Michael McCarthy, a retired Air Force serviceman.
He couldn't pass up the chance to check out the planes and choppers on display at the Perry-Houston County Airport.
"It's like a love affair," said McCarthy.
But just beyond the wings and tails, lies construction equipment, clearing the way for upgrades that could help the airport and Houston County.
Airport Manager Patsy Goff says in the last year the airport has received about a million dollars in grant money.
The funds helped obtain a new instrument landing system that allows planes to land in severe weather. It also paid for a new taxi-way and to move another, and to re-locate a road to provide better access to the airport.
Goff says as the airport grows and improves so does the Houston County area.
"Because we have more airplanes that stay here so therefore we have more ad valorum taxes that go into the local community we sell more fuel and the taxes got back into the community," said Goff.
She says the construction can also lead to more businesses
"It gives more of an incentive for the corporate people that may want to move here," she said.
"I think it's a God-sent actually," said McCarthy. He says anything that will help the economy in Houston take flight sounds like a good idea to him.
