AOPA Expo closes on record high, looks ahead to Hartford

Renowned illusionist and mentalist Jason Randal wowed AOPA members during AOPA Expo's closing banquet Saturday night. But his tricks of the trade were no match for the exciting news AOPA President Phil Boyer announced: AOPA Expo reached an all-time record high of 12,973 attendees! Relive the excitement with our videos, audio files, and photo galleries on Virtual Expo. With this show closing on a high note, members already were looking forward to AOPA Expo 2007, slated for October 4 through 6 in Hartford, Connecticut. We'll see you there!
November 11, 7:30 p.m. PST

Kentucky congressman honored with Hartranft Award

AOPA paid tribute Saturday night to U.S. Congressman Harold "Hal" Rogers (R-Ky.) for his dedication to general aviation, awarding him with the prestigious J.B. "Doc" Hartranft Award for 2006.

"Congressman Rogers has been a longtime supporter of GA," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "We have always found him willing to listen to our concerns and our ideas. His steadfast support and commitment to GA programs have strengthened the aviation community across the country." More on Hal Rogers...
November 11, 7:30 p.m. PST

AOPA names 2006 Laurence P. Sharples Award winner

Felix Maguire earned the 2006 Laurence P. Sharples Perpetual Award from AOPA for his selfless commitment, tireless leadership, and commitment to general aviation in Alaska.

"Felix has worked relentlessly on behalf of general aviation in Alaska," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "From improvements for VFR pilots — including the unprecedented establishment of a VFR route across the Bering Straits to Russia — to the cutting edge of instrument flight using ADS-B [automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast], Felix has used his broad aviation background to improve safety." More on Felix Maguire...
November 11, 7:30 p.m. PST

FAA administrator addresses user fees, airport issues at AOPA Expo

Speaking before a packed ballroom of AOPA members Friday, FAA Administrator Marion Blakey acknowledged the "big elephant in the room," otherwise known as user fees, during AOPA Expo's second general session.

Blakey said she did not support a new funding system that would entail "broad user fees." The comment was met with applause, but she was later pressed for clarification on the word "broad" by a member during the question and answer period. More on administrator's speech...
November 10, 3:01 p.m. PST

AOPA Air Safety Foundation honored with new FAA award

The FAA on Friday honored the AOPA Air Safety Foundation for its continuing and dedicated work in advancing the cause of air safety. During an appearance at AOPA Expo, FAA Administrator Marion Blakey presented the foundation's Executive Director Bruce Landsberg with the first Thomas H. Wardleigh Award.

"We don't give this thing out to just anybody," Blakey said. "The fact is, we've never given it out at all...until today. And I can't think of a more deserving recipient than AOPA's Air Safety Foundation." More on air safety award...
November 10, 3:01 p.m. PST

Pilots jump at chance to sign up students for AOPA Project Pilot

More than 225 husbands and wives, fathers and sons, brothers and sisters, and friends signed up as Mentors and prospective pilot recruits for the AOPA Project Pilot program at AOPA Expo. More on AOPA Project Pilot...
November 11, 5:37 p.m. PST

Scouts check out exhibit hall

The scouts are out at AOPA Expo, and the players are the new very light jets (VLJs).

Rory Balmer, of XtremeHealth Formulas, is on a mission: to gather information on the latest (VLJs) and take it back to the company. He plans to look at all of the VLJs at Expo, but he already has his eyes set on one. More on shopping for gear...
November 11, 12:01 p.m. PST

'Airplane nuts' live it up at Air Museum party

Big Band music. Dinner under the stars. Dancing among World War II aircraft. AOPA members danced the night away and swapped tall tales during the Friday night party at the Palm Springs Air Museum. More on the party...
November 11, 10:52 a.m. PST

Pilots learn from the experts at AOPA Expo

A good pilot is always learning. That's why thousands of AOPA members turn to the expert speakers at AOPA Expo for advice on safety, aircraft ownership and maintenance, and medical issues.

"I've been flying for 50 years...but there's always something to learn about maintenance and flying," said Monroe McDonald, who lives at Eagle Roost Airpark in Aguila, Arizona. More on the expert speakers...
November 11, 10:32 a.m. PST

Win a Six shows off new colors

AOPA's Win a Six in '06 Sweepstakes airplane looks as if it just rolled off the assembly line yesterday — instead of four decades ago. The 1967 Cherokee Six is turning heads as it shows off its new paint job and interior at AOPA Expo.

AOPA members stretch over the wings to peer inside at the new interior — which resembles a luxury car with leather seats (sorry, they're not heated), console with cup holders, and DVD screens. The pilot and copilot setup is decked out too. More on the Win a Six...
November 10, 4:37 p.m. PST

User fees, a discussion presented at AOPA Expo

AOPA members were on the edges of their seats Thursday morning when they were informed about the potential horrors of a user fee-based air traffic control system.

Four leaders of the general aviation community as well as a congressman conducted a roundtable discussion during AOPA Expo's first of three general sessions. At issue was the airlines' proposal to shift $2 billion in taxes onto GA and wrest control of the ATC system. AOPA President Phil Boyer moderated the panel, representing what he described as "one big combined set of voices." More on user fees and you...
November 9, 2:16 p.m. PST

ASN volunteers tapped to recruit new pilots

AOPA President Phil Boyer recognized Airport Support Network volunteers on Friday for their efforts to help the association protect general aviation airports.

"You are the largest association within an association — 1,700 volunteers and growing," Boyer told more than 70 volunteers and guests. "You go far beyond the job as AOPA's eyes and ears at your airports." More on ASN volunteers...
November 10, 1:29 p.m. PST

Lindbergh encourages pilots to share passion for flight

"Pass on the juice!" AOPA Project Pilot spokesman Erik Lindbergh encouraged AOPA members to share their motivation and passion — or "juice" — for general aviation with others. He showed nearly 70 aviation enthusiasts and prospective pilots the important role motivation plays in learning to fly during the first AOPA Project Pilot Invitation to Fly seminar on Thursday. More on the juice...
November 9, 7:52 p.m. PST

Why we fly: 'AOPA Pilot' contributor shares joy of flight

Most teenagers sneak out of the house to go on a date, but aviation extraordinaire Barry Schiff snuck around to take flying lessons without his parents' knowledge. That is until his flight instructor left a message with Schiff's father that a lesson had been canceled because the aircraft was down for maintenance. "My father chased me and threw his shoes at me because he couldn't catch me. Luckily he missed," Schiff, a longtime AOPA Pilot contributor, told hundreds of AOPA members Thursday during Expo's opening luncheon. More on why we fly...
November 9, 6:22 p.m. PST

2006 AOPA Karant Awards honor journalists

AOPA on Thursday announced the winners of the 2006 Karant Awards.

"It is a pleasure to recognize journalists who do not succumb to the pressure of reporting negative news about general aviation," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "The Karant Award winners educate the public about GA through their fair and insightful coverage."

The awards are named for the late Max Karant, founder of AOPA Pilot magazine and the association's first senior vice president. More on the Karant Awards...
November 9, 6:22 p.m. PST

'A Good Morning' sweeps 'AOPA Pilot' Photo Contest

Out of more than 2,000 entries in the AOPA Pilot 2006 General Aviation Photography Contest, Brian Dary's "A Good Morning" photo took top honors. The photo featured an Alaskan sunrise with a deHavilland DH-2 Beaver on floats at the Juneau float pond next to Juneau International Airport. More on the AOPA Pilot Photo Contest winners...
November 9, 6:22 p.m. PST

AOPA Expo or bust
Pilots team up, hitch rides

General aviation has a way of bringing pilots together. And the road — or flyway — to AOPA Expo is building friendships from strangers.

Frank Forray, a tail gunner in World War II, and John Plavan met for the first time Thursday morning at San Diego's Montgomery Field before flying to AOPA Expo. A mutual friend, Dave Peterson, flew the group to Palm Springs in Forray's Commander 112TC. More on bringing pilots together...
November 9, 2:16 p.m. PST

A Parade of Planes to remember

Propeller blast never felt so good. With temperatures in the 90s, 104 airplanes taxied down the streets of Palm Springs, California, late Wednesday morning to kick off AOPA Expo 2006.

Thousands of people lined the streets to watch the airplanes taxi by under their own power. Most were piston-engine singles, but there were several jets and turboprops. One Cessna was on amphibious floats and towered above the rest. People applauded when the biplanes, a Waco and a Pitts Special, zigzagged their way through town. More on the parade...
November 8, 4:56 p.m. PST

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