Groton — The Groton-New London Airport ceased commercial flights more than 10 years ago, but the terminal was packed Friday morning.

By 11:15 a.m., the third annual open house for the airport, presented this year by the Groton Business Association, had attracted more than 200 guests to check out airplanes, helicopters and even a few handmade robotic arms.

Cadets from the Civil Air Patrol, the U.S. Air Force auxiliary, showed guests how to use remote controls to guide the arms to pick up a flier off the table.

Lt. Dave Pineau of Colchester said STEM education is a big part of the cadet program in addition to aviation skills, and they brought their robotic arms and a cardboard quadcopter to show some of the projects that they work on in the program.

"We've had a lot of interest," he said. "(We've got) a couple new prospective members, which is always good, and a lot of smiling kids, which is the best part."

Other senior Civil Air Patrol members were outside on the main ramp of the terminal talking to guests about their search-and-rescue programs, while local residents showed off their personal planes and helped little ones into the cockpits.

In a phone interview Thursday, Connecticut Airport Authority Executive Director Kevin Dillon said open houses like this help take some of the mystery out of what goes on at regional airports.

"It's a great opportunity to showcase the airport to the local community," he said.

Inviting the public to come see what goes on also highlights the economic impact of Groton-New London Airport on the community.

Dillon said the airport supports more than 900 jobs and has an economic output of $119.5 million.

This year's open house also included stations for Connecticut's Submarine Century, where visitors could check out Navy aircraft and decorate flags for the Sub Century Flag Line.

Outside the terminal, Civil Air Patrol cadets and senior members directed traffic, and volunteers from the Navy in bright yellow shirts showed visitors toward the other three buildings participating in the event.

Across the street from the main terminal, Survival Systems USA had to start turning away guests from its 11 a.m. demonstration on survival and safety skills because it was full.

Several families, including Sarah Huse of Waterford and her four children, walked over to tour the Connecticut Army National Guard Helicopter Repair Facility instead.

While in line, Huse said her kids enjoyed looking at the displays inside the terminal and behind it, including the Sikorsky Autonomy Research Aircraft, a helicopter that serves as a flying test lab that can use sensors to fly itself.

"I was surprised by how many people were here," she said. "It's one last fun thing to do before summer's over."

a.hutchinson@theday.com