AOPA Fly-In and Open House coming June 7
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) will hold its annual Fly-In and Open House Saturday, June 7, at the association’s headquarters on the Frederick Municipal Airport in Frederick, Md.
“We look forward to meeting our members and also telling the general public about our industry,” said AOPA President Phil Boyer. “Our building will be open for self-guided tours, and staff will be on-site throughout the day to interact with members and answer questions.”
AOPA will debut its “Discover Flying” seminar at Fly-In to discuss flight training with nonpilots and answer their questions about how to get started. Pilots are encouraged to bring prospective pilots to Fly-In to attend the seminar and see what general aviation is all about.
Thousands of people annually attend the Fly-In, now in its eighteenth year. On a nice flying day, the event attracts hundreds of aircraft that fly in for the day, making Frederick airport one of the busiest airports in the country. A temporary air traffic control tower will be in place to handle the increase in traffic.
Aircraft display
The AOPA 2008 Get Your Glass Sweepstakes airplane will be showcased at the aircraft exhibit area on the ramp. The 1976 Piper Archer is undergoing refurbishments throughout the year and will be awarded to a pilot early in 2009. At the AOPA Fly-In, the Archer will have a new paint job, new interior, and a completely upgraded, state-of-the-art glass panel. Pilots are encouraged to stop by and check out the airplane that might be theirs in less than a year. Complete rules, eligibility requirements, and alternate methods of entry are available online.
Dozens of aircraft will be on display for the Fly-In. Everything from small single-engine planes to the latest in business jets will be on the ramp for all to enjoy.
Seminars and exhibits
AOPA’s “Discover Flying” seminar will debut at Fly-In, with presentations at 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 3 p.m. Nonpilots will discover how to get started learning to fly, and they will have their questions answered by seminar host Mark Grady, a 6,000-hour pilot and certificated flight instructor.
In addition, Boyer and the AOPA executive team will host a seminar at 12:30 p.m. to discuss general aviation issues of importance to all pilots. This is an opportunity for AOPA members to hear directly from their association’s leadership and ask questions of them.
Other seminars held throughout the day include the AOPA Air Safety Foundation’s latest, “Top 5 Mistakes Pilots Make”; “Aviation Humor With Rod Machado,” hosted by the popular aviation humorist and educator; and a briefing on what pilots should know about FAA enforcement.
One hundred vendors will be exhibiting under the tent behind the AOPA headquarters building. Pilots can browse the aisles for a variety of goods, such as avionics, insurance, and safety information. Prospective pilots will find books, headsets, and valuable information to get their flight training started on the right foot.
Additional exhibits of AOPA products will be displayed throughout the building.
June 7 is also Airport Appreciation Day. Airport staff will be on-site to speak about the facilities and meet visitors. In addition, flight instructors at Frederick Flight Center will be available to answer questions and show off the aircraft in their fleet.
Hours, directions, and arrival procedures
AOPA’s Fly-In and Open House begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. Admission and parking are free. Vendors will be on-site throughout the day selling beverages, snacks, and meals.
For those flying in, aircraft arrival procedures are available on AOPA’s Web site, as are complete lists of seminars and exhibitors.
The Frederick Municipal Airport is located off of Exit 56 (East Patrick Street) from Interstate 70.
- Traveling from Washington, D.C., take Interstate 270 North to I-70 East, then Exit 56.
- From Baltimore, Md., take I-70 West to Exit 56.
- From Loudoun County, Va., take Route 15 from Leesburg (joins Route 340 from Charles Town, W.Va.). Take Route 340 to I-70 East just outside of Frederick. At the I-70/I-270 split stay left to continue on I-70 and take Exit 56.
- From Harrisburg/Gettysburg, Pa., take Route 15 South to I-70 East and take Exit 56.
- From Johnstown, Pa., and points West, take I-70 East to Exit 56.
The 415,000-member Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has represented the interests of general aviation pilots since 1939. General aviation includes all flying except the scheduled airlines and the military. Nearly two thirds of all U.S. pilots, and three quarters of the general aviation pilots, are AOPA members.
08-2-014
May 5, 2008
