AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 100

DETAILS

The number of
events planned
by the AOPA
Outreach and
Events team in 2017.

News & Notes
MEMBERSHIP

MEET MICHAEL WOODS, AOPA
AVIATION EVENTS PLANNER

Fly in, drive in, or roar in
Wings and Wheels returns to Frederick on May 5
WHAT BEGAN AS A CASUAL CONVERSATION

between two AOPA colleagues as an idea
for a get-together to show off their motorcycles and share stories has become an
annual event for a community eager to see
their airport. Frederick Municipal Airport
(FDK), AOPA's headquarters in Maryland,
will host its third annual Wings and Wheels
event Saturday, May 5. And if you like airplanes, fast cars, and motorcycles, this is the
place to be.
"People who fly, also like fast cars and
motorcycles and vice versa," said Michael
Woods, AOPA aviation event planner. "If
we could add boating in there, we'd be
complete. When you're addicted to toys,
you're addicted to all toys."
Woods and AOPA Senior Vice President
of Marketing Jiri Marousek are both avid
motorcyclists as well as pilots. A "wings and

wheels" event is not a new concept, but one
had never been held at the Frederick airport. When AOPA's Outreach and Events
team decided to host the first event in 2016-
building on Woods and Marousek's simple
idea-they expected 100 people. Even though
the October event took place on a cold day
with 30-knot winds, more than 2,500 people showed up. And although it wasn't easy
for visiting aircraft to fly in, more than 100
cars and 50 motorcycles arrived. "I think the
Frederick community has a pent-up desire
for things at their airport," Woods said.
The success of the 2016 event resulted
in a blow-out event in 2017 when it was
moved to June. Fantastic weather brought
more than 4,500 visitors, more than 30 display aircraft, and, again, some 100 cars and
motorcycles. "We had everything from a
VW Thing to a Tesla. Military vehicles and

When Mike Woods
isn't in the Frederick, Maryland,
headquarters of
AOPA, you can
find him riding his
Harley-Davidson
Road King Custom
motorcycle, cruising in his Kadey-Krogen trawler or
pontoon boat, or flying his 1976 Piper
Cherokee 140. Woods doesn't sit still
much. And if he's not out pursuing his
many hobbies or playing with his toys,
this former pastor and owner of an
aircraft salvage company (he's worn
a lot of hats in this life) is traveling the
country drumming up volunteers for
the AOPA Fly-Ins, as well as planning
activities at the AOPA National Aviation Community Center. And once a
year he's on a mission relief trip to
Kenya. Woods is a private pilot working on his instrument rating and tailwheel endorsement. He's also a Part
107 certificated drone operator and
FAASTeam representative.

an old Plymouth. You name it-British cars,
Jags, MGs," said Woods. A "best in show"
plaque is awarded in each category.
As in previous years, the event this
May will feature a country music band,
food trucks, kids' activities, and more, and
the event is being extended to five hours-
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Woods anticipates seeing
nearly 5,000 visitors this year. Check the
website for details if you'd like to fly in,
drive in, or roar in-but please let us know
you're coming. An arrival and departure
advisory is online.
WEB

aopa.org/wnw/learnmore

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR 2018
Come meet AOPA staff at these events
April 10-15

Sun 'n Fun Int'l Fly-In Lakeland, FL (LAL)

September 14-15 AOPA Fly-In

Santa Fe, NM (SAF)

May 5

Wings and Wheels

Frederick, MD (FDK)

October 5-6

AOPA Fly-In

Carbondale, IL (MDH)

June 15-16

AOPA Fly-In

Missoula, MT (MSO)

October 16-18

NBAA Convention

Orlando, FL

July 23-29

EAA AirVenture

Oshkosh, WI (OSH)

October 26-27

AOPA Fly-In

Gulf Shores, AL (JKA)

100 | AOPA PILOT April 2018

http://www.aopa.org/wnw/learnmore

AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018