AOPA Fly-Ins: Record-breaking attendance ends fly-in season

2017 Airshow Calendar

Also find AOPA at these events throughout the year:
U.S. Sport Aviation Expo, January 25-28, Sebring, Florida
Northwest Aviation Conference, February 25-26, Puyallup, Washington
Heli-Expo (HAI), March 6-9, Dallas, Texas
Women In Aviation, March 2-4, Orlando, Florida
Sun ’n Fun, April 4-9, Lakeland, Florida
EAA AirVenture, July 24-30, Oshkosh, Wisconsin

BY THE NUMBERS

43,760 attendees (2014-2016)
6,026 aircraft flown in across
16 locations

“The results are phenomenal,” said Chris Eads, AOPA director of outreach and events. “In three years we’ve met more than 40,000 members, pilots, and aviation enthusiasts. It took 18 years of combined AOPA Expo and Summit conventions to meet that many. And, 74 percent of fly-in attendees had never attended a Summit or Expo.” Eads said the change to one-day events, which began in 2014, was a result of recognizing that Expo and Summit could only reach a limited number of members, and were expensive for members to attend—and for the association to produce.

The 16 fly-ins held since 2014 have been held in small and medium-size towns across the United States in states such as Washington, California, Texas, North Carolina, Colorado, Tennessee, and Massachusetts. “We made the fly-ins about the airport, the community, and the flying,” Eads said. “The fly-ins have enabled us to build quality relationships with the communities, with the mayors, with the economic developers, and with the residents who then realize how cool airplanes and their local airport can be.”

AOPA fly-ins feature an early morning pancake breakfast, locally sourced luncheons, and an ice cream social. In addition to aircraft displays, aerobatic demonstrations at some locations, exhibitors, seminars, and product displays, the association also presents a Pilot Town Hall meeting during which AOPA President Mark Baker and other aviation leaders present the state of the industry and engage members and attendees in conversations.

As of press time, the AOPA team was in final selection for fly-in locations for 2017. Four fly-ins will be held across the country beginning in late spring. Look for the location announcement on AOPA Online.