AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2017 - 47

PILOT BRIEFING

CAMARILLO

NORMAN

GROTON

TAMPA

AOPA FLY-IN

Oklahoma odyssey
Norman hosts next AOPA Fly-In

09 / 0 8
09 / 0 9

'1 7

THIS SCULPTURE in downtown Norman,

Oklahoma, is a tribute to its history as a
naval aviation training center in World
War II.

BY MIKE COLLINS

AOPA'S SECOND FLY-IN OF 2017 is shaping up to
be one you won't want to miss. The September 8
and 9 AOPA Fly-In at Norman will take place at
University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport, home
to the school's aviation program that has been
training aviators and other aviation professionals
since 1947. Norman also is home to the National
Weather Center, a collaboration between the university, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, and other entities working to better understand the Earth's atmosphere.
In their newly expanded two-day format, this
year's AOPA Fly-Ins feature in-depth learning
opportunities that could not be offered at oneday events. Optional Friday workshops at Norman
include Understanding Aviation Weather, led by OU
faculty and NOAA meteorologists and conducted
at the National Weather Center; an IFR refresher,
designed to send rusty instrument pilots on their
way back to proficiency; Pilot Plus One, focused
on incorporating nonpilots in your aviation adventures; and owner-guided maintenance, teaching
aircraft owners how to better manage maintenance
of their aircraft. The workshops run from 9 a.m. to
4 p.m. on September 8; cost is $105 for AOPA members, $155 for nonmembers, and $75 for spouses.
Also on Friday, AOPA has teamed with
the Cessna Pilots Society to offer a fly-out to
Independence, Kansas, for a tour of the Textron

2017 AOPA Fly-Ins
April 28-29
September 8-9
October 6-7
October 27-28

Camarillo, California (CMA)
Norman, Oklahoma (OUN)
Groton, Connecticut (GON)
Tampa, Florida (TPF)

Aviation factory where Cessna piston aircraft are manufactured. Registration
is required for the workshops and the fly-out; see the website for more details.
No registration is required, however, to watch AOPA's first short takeoff and
landing (STOL) demonstration. The Texas STOL Roundup Team will present a
free seminar on Saturday morning, covering important aspects of STOL and backcountry flying techniques, and then demonstrate the concepts. The Texas STOL
Roundup, September 29 through October 1 in Hondo, Texas, features an obstacle STOL competition using inflatable pylons to represent that 50-foot obstacle
frequently referenced in pilot's operating handbooks.
The exhibit hall opens at 4 p.m. Friday, and the always popular
Barnstormers Party begins at 6 p.m. Camping with your aircraft is allowed
and encouraged. Saturday activities include free seminars, dozens of exhibits
and display aircraft, and a Pilot Town Hall with AOPA President Mark Baker.
See the details online (www.aopa.org/koun17).
www.aopa.org/pilot AOPA PILOT | 47

http://www.aopa.org/koun17 http://www.aopa.org/pilot

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2017