Those who dream of flying can get a brief taste Saturday, courtesy of NIU’s Flying Huskies.

The flyers will offer free 20-minute rides at DeKalb-Taylor Municipal Airport, 2300 E. Pleasant St. Sign-up begins at 8:30 a.m. Flights will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Flying Huskies President Jim Siminak said the rides are being offered because the “organization is funded by the Student Association. It is part of our funding agreement that we provide these rides … (as) a service to the NIU student community.”

Siminak estimated the price tag for the rides—which the SA pays—is about $168. The rides are only for NIU students.

In the event of poor flying weather, Siminak encourages people to contact him for a rain date.

“Every year, we fill all available seats,” Siminak said. “We expect to have more people than we will have seats.”

The plane is a single-engine Piper Warrior, capable of seating up to three passengers and the pilot, depending on the load weight. The plane cruises at 100 mph.

The Flying Huskies average about 15 to 20 members a year. However, Siminak said about 80 percent of the club members are not pilots.