AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2017 - R-2

Welcome to GON

Fly in and set sail
An aviation destination with a maritime focus
AIRMEN AND MARINERS have much in common. Aerial navigation has its roots in the nautical world. Principles such as
lift, drag, and compensating for currents in air and water are
known to pilots and sailors alike. More than a few have made
the transition from nautical to aeronautical, and vice versa.
"For people that fly, water's just another fluid that you're
going through," said Franz Edson, a sailor who took up flying
and the local chairman of the AOPA Fly-In at Groton-New
London Airport in Connecticut October 6 and 7. "There's lift,
there's drag...there's navigation. There are so many parallels."
Edson, now retired from Electric Boat, the famous maker
of U.S. Navy submarines, was a competitive sailor for much
of his adult life, he said. He transitioned about 15 years ago to
flight lessons, and has owned a Beechcraft Bonanza based at
Groton for more than a decade. Edson has been working to
promote Groton as a destination since long before he pitched

VOLUNTEERS HAVE MORE FUN
ONE OF THE BEST WAYS to

enjoy an AOPA fly-in is to volunteer. From
exhibit prep to aircraft parking, volunteering will give you a unique
perspective on the day's activities. We need your help in setting
up exhibits, marshalling aircraft, automobile parking, set-up, cleanup, and more. Not only will you enjoy the camaraderie of fellow pilots and aviation enthusiasts as you help AOPA present a fly-in in
your local area, but you'll also get a free lunch, T-shirt, and AOPA
cap. Sign up online (www.aopa.org/kgon17/volunteer).

R-2 | AOPA PILOT September 2017

the AOPA event planning staff on holding an AOPA Fly-In
here-inviting, for one thing, fellow New England Bonanza
pilots to visit and tour the nearby Submarine Force Museum.
The former director of mission systems (classified programs)
at Electric Boat has made promoting the airport and the many
nearby attractions a new mission in his life.
Much of America's maritime history is found within
a short drive of the airport, located near the mouth of the
Thames River and New London Harbor. The U.S. Coast Guard
Academy; the Naval Submarine School and Naval Submarine
Base New London; and the associated Submarine Force
Museum-home of the USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear
submarine-are just up the road from the airport. Mystic
Seaport, billed as the Museum of America and the Sea, is also
close by, and one of many family-friendly attractions worthy
of a side trip. So, too, is Mystic Aquarium, or Fields of Fire,
an adventure park where visitors can explore the colors of
autumn from within the leafy canopies. Not to mention, two
world-class casinos also are close by: Foxwoods Resort Casino,
and the Mohegan Sun, both offering big-name entertainment.
You won't have to leave the airport to be entertained,
though: Friday night's Barnstormers Party features the music
of country singer Jonathan Moody.
The AOPA Fly-In itself will be packed with more to
learn, see, and do than any one person or family could
manage in a weekend. "We want you to see this weekend as

http://www.aopa.org/kgon17/volunteer

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