Planning

For kids that are fascinated with flying, this theme is perfect for them!  Whether they want to fly commercial 747s or sleek F-16s you can have a lot of fun with this theme.  It's fast, it's fun and it appeals to all young boys.   

What is your "Party Picture"?

Whether you are considering the commercial side of flying, or the military application, have some fun researching on the internet.  If it's commercial, go to a couple of commercial airline websites for colors and logos, if it's the military side of the house check out the Navy and the Air Force for fighter jet ideas.  Work with your child - what is it about flying that is cool? Was there a movie that triggered the interest, or a book?  There are so many directions that this can go - make sure you select the right one.  

Invitations

Communicating with your Guests

This isn't a passion everyone will share, so you need to make sure that you don't get so specific that it won't appeal to your guests. 

• Pre-printed Invitations:  Preprinted is a great timesaver, just fill in and send!
• Boarding Passes:  Create Boarding Passes for each of your guests!  Itinerary includes the time, date, name, location and any special information like meals served!  Request confirmation of their "flight" by X date at your phone number.  Keep the language in theme and have fun with this!
• Invitation to Flight School:  Welcome to Top Gun, we only take the "best of the best" here, and that includes YOU!

Invitations	Thank You Notes
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Dress It Up

Work with the colors of the derivation of this theme - if it's the Air Force its blue, white, silver and gray, if it's an airline, look at the colors of their logo.  Then add in poster board pictures of the type of aircraft your child is excited about as well as what it may look like in a cockpit or the sky above if you were flying!  Bring this theme to life by starting with sky and adding in your jets and pilots!  Don't forget the ceiling with this theme - try making some model airplanes/jets with your child and hanging them with fishing line from the ceiling.  This will give your décor a three dimensional aspect.

Decorations

• Airport:  If it's airlines and airports your child is into, then create your own terminal at home!  Make large signs identifying each area and try to make it as realistic as possible.  Have "Ticketing and Check In" at your front door, then direct guests to "Baggage Claim" to deposit any presents and jackets.  Greet guests with their own set of "wings" and direct them to the party area (Gate XX).  This party would do well to have a ton of balloons in light blue and white to represent the sky and clouds (if you are ambitious you can cover the entire ceiling with blue balloons with bunches of white - then hang models or have mylar airplane balloons hovering a foot or two below the sky balloons.  To give even more dimension, anchor bunches of white balloons a foot or two below the sky balloons for layered clouds. 
• Fighter Pilot:  Welcome to (your last name) Military Base!  Camouflage anchors this party!  You can get inexpensive material to drape over things, and if you can get your hands on some cargo netting all the better!  Have military ID for each guest and have everyone choose a call sign that's fun and creative which will also go on their ID (if you want to really do this up, use a digital camera, sticker film and a laminator to make truly official looking IDs!)  Have poster board jets along the walls with jet mylar balloons hovering in the space. 

Tablescapes

• The Sky's the Limit:  Work with blues for your table, highlighted with soft white "clouds" then hang models or toys at all different heights over the table!  A sky blue table cloth with theme related products or white and blue products.  Have pitchers filled with blue colored juice and bunches of white balloons about every 3 feet over the table (clouds).  Then find jet or airplane models or toys and hang from your ceiling using fishing line. 

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Food/Drink

Food

• Cloud Cookies:  Your party guests will be in seventh heaven when they taste these puffy cookies. If you wish, add food coloring to create tiny pastel-colored clouds. 
• Ingredients:  4 egg whites, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp cream of tartar, 1-1/2 cups sugar,     1 tsp vanilla, a few drops of food coloring (optional), 1 cup white chocolate chips
• Instructions:  Preheat the oven to 300° F. Separate egg whites from yolks; discard yolks and beat egg whites until frothy. Add salt and cream of tartar. Beat on high until stiff peaks form. Slowly add sugar, a tablespoon at a time. Beat well after each addition. Add vanilla and food coloring. Fold in chips. Drop spoonfuls on a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake for 18-20 minutes until firm. Store in an airtight container.

• Energy Fuel:  All pilots need their vitamins to stay healthy and energized! Your guests will love this drink, without realizing how good it is for them! Combine one 12-oz can frozen juice concentrate, 3 cups nonfat milk, and 1 pint low-fat orange sherbert in a blender. (Halve ingredients to prevent blender overflow.) Mix well. Serve with a wide straw and a spoon.

Beverages

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Cake

Cakes and Desserts - Share your Idea! Send Pictures!

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Entertainment

Activities

• Runway Obstacle Course:  Set up an area (preferably outside or in a large open room) where you create a "runway" using masking tape.  The longer the better!  Set up several "obstacles" that won't break or hurt if stepped on.  Try plastic cones, stuffed animals, balls, piles of towels, etc. Then set the kids up as "pilot" and "navigator" (or "Air Traffic Controller").  The pilot is blindfolded with arms outstretched.  The navigator or controller helps the pilot navigate the runway!  You can create the rules for navigating based on the age and ability of the kids.  For older kids, the navigator would stand at the end of the runway and tell the pilot which direction to travel and how far (3 steps to the left, etc.).  For younger kids, then can stand a few feet in front of the pilot and guide them with their voice.
  
  
• Paper Airplanes:  There are several kits and books  you can purchase that have instructions for paper airplanes.  Select a couple of styles and have paper and instructions for your guests.  Once everyone has made a couple of planes they can spend a while just flying them and seeing whose goes the farthest or does the best Loop D Loops.  
  
   
• Make your own Glider:  There are kits you can purchase to make your own glider and then the kids can fly their creations in a wide open space outside. 

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Prizes / Favors

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