As usual, Forbes Houghan will happily attend the annual Fly-in/ Drive-In Breakfast at Woolsey Memorial Airport in northern Leelanau Township on Saturday.

Houghan is president of the Northport Pilots’ Association and has been a member since it was formed. As the group’s members have aged and its numbers dwindled, the Northport Lions Club has moved into position to take over the running of the popular breakfast fundraiser. The transition started last year and will be completed in 2008 when the Lions Club will be sole sponsor of the event.

Houghan is very happy with the transition.

“Having the Lions Club come in has been a welcome addition to the event. They have the resources, the energy, and the same goals as the pilots association had in keeping Woolsey Airport in shape,” he said.

The breakfast fundraiser will be held at the airport from 8 a.m.-noon, rain or shine. John Sparling, one of the breakfast’s organizers, said volunteers are hoping for at least as good a turnout as last year’s breakfast.

“We served 1,470 breakfasts last year. I think we could’ve had more, but it started raining just before noon and might have scared some people off,” he said.

The breakfast menu features pancakes, sausage, cherry jam, biscuits and more. The Northport Community Band will be performing from atop the stonework terminal building, a selection of vintage cars and vehicles will be on display, and the U.S. Coast Guard will have one of its rescue teams and helicopters on hand for visitors to see.

Sparling said other military aircraft may be on display, but the C-130 cargo plane that has been part of the show in the past is not expected since it is being used in a support role for the war in Iraq.

While the Northport Lions Club has more members than the pilots association, Sparling said the groups do share one common theme: older members. To add youth and muscle to the set-up and dismantling work required for the breakfast, the Northport High School boys’ soccer team members will help out as well.

“They are a godsend. They’ve been a real help in the past and we really appreciate them and their coaches helping us out,” Sparling said.

As to what will happen with the Northport Pilots’ Association in the future, Houghan said there may still be a group, but he’s not sure how it will be organized. “They’re aren’t as many people flying their own planes these days. The expense of general aviation has really sky-rocketed,” he said.