The grand opening celebration at the Albert Lea Municipal Airport will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday with elected officials taking a flight tour of the city in a Ford Tri-Motor airplane.

A brief ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place upon their return at about 11:15 a.m.

The airport construction project recently received the “MCOA Project of the Year” award in the “Key, Non-Commercial Service Airports” category. Construction was completed from 2008 through September of 2012 and included the construction of a longer runway, relocation of Plaza Street, new runway lighting and additional navigational aids for pilots. Funding for the project was accomplished with grant participation from the FAA Airport Improvement Program, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Minnesota Department of Transportation grants and the city of Albert Lea.

As a part of this special event, a vintage Ford Tri-Motor will be on display at the airport from today through Sunday and giving rides to paying customers.

For more information, contact Steven Jahnke, city engineer and director of public works at 377-4325.