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CONCRETE — Each time an engine revved to a piercingly loud volume, hundreds of spectators craned their necks, their eyes focused on an accelerating airplane speeding down the runway until it finally left the ground.

And there were ample opportunities to gawk since the runway hummed with landings and takeoffs throughout most of the afternoon Saturday at the 26th annual Old Fashioned Fly-In at the Concrete Municipal Airport. The event continued Sunday.

Overhead, a group of planes, called the Blackjack Squadron flew in formation, diving and chasing each other through the sky.

More than 100 planes of all shapes, sizes and colors were parked in neat rows alongside the runway. Some stood out from the rest with their unusual paint patterns or features. Large planes towered over spectators; others were so small that they barely had room for one person. Most were grouped alongside matching plane styles, ready to be judged. Competition classes included antiques, classics, contemporary classics, warbirds and experimental aircraft.

One of the judges, Jim Jenkins, owns an airplane-restoration business and lives alongside the airport. When looking over the planes, he says there are many criteria that determine which plane will win in each category.

“I am looking at the plane’s overall condition, the look, the paint job, the interior — and authenticity in the older planes,” Jenkins said.

“There are some rare planes here,” he said as he looked down a row of biplanes. “Some of them have taken years to restore.”

Jenkins said that he tries to fly a couple times a week but admitted that restoring planes takes more of his time now.

Pilots from all over the state dropped in on the fly-in to show their planes and socialize with fellow aviation enthusiasts.

Standing out from the rest was Paul O’Donnell and his black-and-white Zebra print Sonex Experimental Plane.

“It was easy to paint, and fun,” he said.

O’Donnell built the plane from scratch, after buying the plans and the aluminum sheeting needed for the shell.

“I go to six or seven fly-ins over the summer,” he said. “I like the opportunity to talk to other pilots — and letting the kids sit in the cockpit.”

Steve Lynn made the short flight from Anacortes for a hot dog.

Lynn has been flying since 2000. He said that he got his license so that his family could go on vacations and bring along the family dog.

He goes to fly-ins all summer in Washington, along with various places for family trips. His longest flight was to Oshkosh, Wis., for a large fly-in. His four-seat Piper can fly nonstop for about eight hours, he said.

“But when the family is loaded in, we have to stop every few hours for bathroom breaks,” Lynn said with a laugh.

Bob Miller didn’t arrive at the airport via airplane; he drove up from Sedro-Woolley.

“If I do fly, it is as a passenger,” said Miller, who has been going to fly-ins for more than 30 years. “I enjoy seeing all the different planes and talking with the owners.”

Most plane owners sat in lawn chairs, excited to talk about their winged transportation.

They also agreed that flying is a very addictive hobby.

“Flying is like a disease,” Jenkins said. “Once you start it is hard to stop.”

* Keith Chaplin can be reached at 360-416-2155 or .