BRUNSWICK

A squadron of Cessna aircraft descended on the Midcoast over the weekend via Brunswick Executive Airport for the annual gathering of the Cessna Pilots Society.

Owners and guests representing some 47 aircraft, arriving since last week, have based themselves out of the Freeport Holiday Inn.

Bob Vila and Lauren Raines of Long Island, New York, arrived at Brunswick Executive Airport on Thursday after about a two-and-a-half flight up the coast. Vila’s flown multiple aircraft for some 30 years and now Raines has caught the bug and begun lessons of her own.

Vila said his wasn’t the longest trip, with a couple coming up from Camarillo, Texas — a long flight in a four-seat airplane, he added. Also, members are coming from Canada, Florida and pretty much everywhere else in the U.S., according to Vila.

Vila said the group began in 2006 when they split off from another association.

“We started out with about 20 members and we now have about 3,000 members worldwide. We have members in Argentina. We have members in Germany — and pretty much all over the country,” Vila said.

Vila said members come from all walks of life, including a geologist in Utah, truck drivers as well as lawyers and farmers.

Vila owns a consulting engineering business that designs and builds data centers for banks and brokers. Vila joked that he primarily deals with the financial community because they have the most money and flying can be an expensive hobby.

The group’s online community consists of all aspects of aviation, including pilots, air traffic controllers and airframe and power-plant mechanics. Online, members assist each other in everything from maintenance to purchasing a new plane.

“We’ve become pretty close friends over the years. We’ve known each other for a long time, watched ourselves grow old and have kids and grandkids,” Vila said.

And what will the group be doing during their gathering? Consider it tourism from above. Vila and Raines planned to visit Acadia National Park on Friday.

Vila said members will be going on whale watches, stand up paddle boarding, botanical gardens, talks, social events and dining out wherever they can find a venue big enough for them.

The first night, tired flyers stay in, utilizing hotel banquet facilities for a kick off gathering and catered meal together.

Saturday night the group will attend a catered lobster and clam bake on the water, hosted by local member John Marden before flying off again on Sunday.