2001 ASF Silent Auction features fighter flight, other unique aviation-related gifts

Items available for bid on the 2001 ASF Online Silent Auction include a "Fighter Pilot for a Day" experience and other unique aviation-related gifts. The opening gavel rang out on February 1.

The Online Silent Auction allows pilots and others to bid on valuable merchandise and services donated by individuals and companies interested in promoting GA safety. Last year, the Silent Auction raised $50,000 for ASF's free national aviation safety seminar program. Those programs reached over 30,000 pilots last year.

"Pilots, their friends, and spouses will find aviation, vacation, and celebrity items," pointed out ASF Executive Director Bruce Landsberg. "There's something for everyone and something to fit everyone's wallet."

The "Fighter Pilot for a Day" course with Air Combat USA includes a ground school on tactical dogfighting maneuvers, followed by a six-attack mission in a SIAI Marchetti SF260 (an Italian-built light attack fighter). A combat flight suit, helmet, and parachute are included for the flight, and the winner will receive a cockpit videotape for convenient replay of the thrills.

Other items donated so far for the 2001 ASF Silent Auction include:

• A three-day complete instrument and multiengine refresher course at FlightSafety International;
• An air-to-air photo shoot of your aircraft by a staff photographer of AOPA Pilot magazine;
• An opportunity to have the aircraft parking ramp in front of AOPA and ASF named in honor of anyone chosen by the winning bidder;
• An autographed Doonesbury book titled Duke 2000: Whatever It Takes;
• Autographed photos of Angelica Houston, Luciano Pavarotti, Sophia Loren, Bob Newhart, Tara Lipinski, Debbie Reynolds, Judy Collins, and other celebrities;
• A stainless steel, multi-time-zone Citizen Thunderbird watch, the same as those worn by pilots for the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flight demonstration team;
• Thrilling aviation videos on mountain flying, icing, GPS approaches; and
• An introduction to aerobatic flight, provided in an Extra 300L by famed aerobatic performer Nancy Lynn.

"If you've never tried a silent auction online, explore this," said ASF Vice President of Development Robert Milanchus. "It's simple, not intrusive, and a lot of fun."

The ASF Silent Auction Online will run until November 30.

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