Flight of the Phoenix Museum will hold an Open House and Fly-In this Saturday, museum director Steve Dean has announced.

“For good luck, most East Texans eat black-eyed peas to start off the New Year. Pilots want to start the year by going aloft and exercising their piloting skills,” Dean said.

For the last several years, Carthage has held a New Year’s Day Fly.

“For some reason, the pilots’ group in Carthage, did not schedule their traditional fly-in this New Year’s Day,” Dean said.

He said that Flight of the Phoenix Aviation Museum is extending the invitation for area pilots to come to Gilmer’s Fox Stephens Field Saturday, Jan. 2, for aviation fellowship and hangar flying.

Raffle tickets will be on sale for an Airport Cadillac Raffle, with the drawing to be held Saturday, Jan. 16.

Tickets are also on sale for an Airplane Raffle. The airplane drawing date is yet to be determined.

The museum will be open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Scott Glover is returning with his historic Travel Air passenger biplane and will offer airplane rides, Dean said.

The museum is offering “Free Smoke Oil” to encourage “show planes” to attend, Dean said.

At noon, museum volunteers will serve hot dogs, potato chip, cookies and drinks.

Donations for lunch will be accepted.

The fly-in starts around 10 a.m., and as usual, weather is the determining factor.