1. A GA-friendly destination. Just a couple of miles from historic Plymouth, Mass., Plymouth Municipal Airport (PYM) offers everything a general aviation pilot could want, including on-field fuel and services, and easy approaches to well-kept runways—and a warm welcome from some of the nicest people in aviation. The pilots and airport management have gone out of their way to make AOPA feel at home, and you can expect to make new friends.
2. Camp out on the grass. Bring a tent, make new friends, and make it a weekend under the stars (and your wing). Camping is available for the nights of July 11 and 12, and Plane Jane’s Place will cater a meal Friday evening ($10 per person, cash only). Reservations are required, so download the camping procedures to learn more.
3. Get yourself very well-fed. Since variety is the spice of life, we’ve lined up a convoy of food trucks, all high-quality and highly acclaimed operators who will dish out everything from fresh fish to Fenway Franks to pasta or barbecue pork. There’s something for everyone. Reserve your free lunch and sign up for the pancake breakfast now. Seriously, please do it now: We kind of need to know how many to cook for.
4. Exercise your license to learn. Airshow legend and race pilot Michael Goulian is based at PYM, and will offer a seminar that will sharpen your decision-making skills, part of a lineup of educational opportunities during the day that culminates with a Pilot Town Hall led by AOPA President Mark Baker.
5. Scenic aviation. Plymouth Municipal is just a couple of miles from the shore of Cape Cod Bay, surrounded by cranberry bogs and beaches. It is 30 miles south of Boston, outside of the Class B airspace (straddling the Mode C veil) with easy approaches.
6. Check out your new airplane. The AOPA Sweepstakes Debonair, freshly painted with its new design, will be on display so you can get an up-close look at the airplane you might soon fly home.
7. Great music from fellow pilots. The Flying Musicians Association will be on the field, with aircraft on display and instruments tuned up to serenade fellow pilots (and their families).
8. Vintage aircraft. A Globe Swift, C-45H (military Beech 18), and a Curtiss-Wright CW-1 Junior are among the rare and vintage aircraft owned and operated by local pilots. AOPA has also lined up a variety of newer aircraft, from Cirrus singles to a tailwheel Carbon Cub, that will be on static display.
9. Knock the rust off. If you’ve been thinking of getting back into flying after an absence, AOPA will offer a Rusty Pilots Seminar Friday (July 11) from 6:30 to 9 p.m. RSVP for this free event.
10. Do some shopping. We’ve lined up more than 40 exhibitors and vendors, leading general aviation manufacturers and suppliers who cover all of the bases from pilot gear and supplies, to new airplanes. Everything you, and your aircraft, might need will be available.
Plan for a safe and efficient arrival at the AOPA Fly-In at Plymouth Municipal Airport July 12 with a detailed briefing and notam that covers arrival procedures, parking, and everything else you need to know to make it an easy and enjoyable flight. Note that free ground transportation is available from our designated reliever airport, Taunton Municipal-King Field (KTAN), and rental cars can be arranged for pickup at a number of nearby airports.