They like to cruise. They like to eat. They like to tinker.

And they love to fly.

Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 540 of Smoketown's next event is its big one. Participants will be driving in cars and dropping out of the skies to get there.

"Some people will fly in from within a 100-mile radius, just for the fun of it," said Doug McGinnis, president of EAA Chapter 540. "Just for breakfast and to socialize with like-minded people. Some people fly in, in the planes they built. For some, it's an excuse to get out for a flight. They'll all hang out for a while and fly home."

EAA Chapter 540 will host its fifth annual Fly-In/Cruise-In event on Saturday, Aug. 31, from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Smoketown Airport, 311 Airport Drive, Smoketown. The event is much more than a breakfast/lunch fundraiser to help underwrite the chapter's operating expenses.

Breakfast will feature the chapter's Amish baked French toast, pancakes, eggs, sausage, potatoes, coffee and orange juice. Then, around 10:30 am., a lunch consisting of sloppy joes, hot dogs, ice cream and soft drinks will be served.

"It's pretty festive," said McGinnis. "It's casual. These folks are very friendly. A lot of them know each other. It's an annual thing we do. At the end of the day it's a fundraiser, but we want it to be an event the community can enjoy."

Part car show, part airplane display, EAA Chapter 540's Fly-In/Cruise-In event will spotlight nearly 100 flying machines, some of which have been built by hand at home, and about 100 ground vehicles of all makes, models and eras. One of the highlights of the event will be the Young Eagle Flights, an opportunity for children ages 8 to 17 to take a ride in an airplane free of charge.

"It's a two-pronged event for aviation enthusiasts and car enthusiasts," said McGinnis. "Some people just enjoy watching airplanes come and go. It's an opportunity for folks with an interest in aviation to get together and share their passion. We want people to understand what we do. We want to engage the youth and get them thinking about aviation."

Organizers of the event are hoping to make $3,000 for EAA Chapter 540. Some 400 people could attend.

"(Proceeds) will go into our general budget and be used to pay operating expenses of the chapter," said McGinnis. "It'll help with our restoration project (rebuilding a donated 1947 Aeronca Chief airplane), which is a learning experience. It's fairly expensive to keep things going. With our resources, we can try to keep those expenses down."

EAA Chapter 540, which is operated by 50 members, meets the first Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. at its hangar at Smoketown Airport. Founded in 1953, EAA is an international organization headquartered in Oshkosh, Wis., and boasting 300,000 members from 1,000 chapters.

"The event has grown, and the whole chapter has grown," said McGinnis. "(The chapter) was at a point nearing extinction. Now it's a very vibrant chapter. We've gotten some legs under the chapter. Now we're trying to take it to the next level, with the focus on learning. We want people to engage with the aviation community, to learn about it and possibly get involved with what we're doing."

For additional information about Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 540, go to https://chapters.eaa.org/eaa540.