With a theme harkening to the golden age of Hollywood, A Night for Flight offers an elegant evening of fine food, entertainment, and a chance for donors to preserve the future of general aviation in the last country on the globe with a vibrant GA community.
The Oct. 11 gala hosted by the AOPA Foundation during AOPA Aviation Summit in Palm Springs, Calif., also will feature a chance to bid on a flight and lunch with Hollywood legend Harrison Ford--most certainly not the typical $100 hamburger. The experience begins with a tour of Ford’s impressive collection of aircraft, followed by a flight around the Los Angeles basin with the actor, pilot, and stalwart supporter of AOPA and the freedom to fly. Lunch at one of Ford’s favorite restaurant will follow, all donated by Ford to help raise the tax-deductible donations that make the work of the AOPA Foundation possible.
Donors make it possible for the AOPA Foundation to pursue critical missions, including expansion of the pilot population needed to support GA airports and businesses in generations to come. Educating communities, decision makers, and the media about the value of GA is also an AOPA Foundation focus, along with enhancement of pilot training and safety.
The Ford experience is one of many auction items that will be open for bids online from Aug. 27 through Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. Eastern time. A private tour of the Reagan ranch, a chance to name a character in an upcoming Stuart Woods novel, and a hunting excursion to Patagonia will also be among dozens of items up for bid.
A Night for Flight will also acknowledge this year’s four winners of the AOPA Foundation’s Hat in the Ring Society Achievement Awards, given to individuals whose efforts have made a significant and positive impact on the future of GA. The awards will be presented by comedian, actor, pilot, and Hat in the Ring Society co-chair Dave Coulier. Flying Wild Alaska pilots John Ponts, Luke Hickerson, and Doug Stewart also will attend the event.
Transportation to the Oct. 11 gala will be provided from all AOPA hotels to the Riviera Palm Springs Resort & Spa for an evening of cocktails, the music of Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack, and a three-course dinner in the Grand Ballroom. Tickets cost $250, half of which is a tax-deductible donation to the AOPA Foundation. Contact Julia Jones at 301/695-2268 with any questions.
AOPA Aviation Summit takes place Oct. 11 through 13. Find a schedule of seminars and a full schedule online. Register now for special advance pricing.