AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2013 - 32

BRIEFING

FLY-OUTS
Fly-outs made possible by ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR

FLY-OUTS

Texas travel tips

Some suggested stops on your way to Summit
BY MIKE COLLINS
FLYING TO FORT WORTH for AOPA Aviation Summit, October
10 through 12? You may discover that Texas is not all flat. You’ll
definitely find that Texas is big.

Arriving from the northwest? Consider
a fuel stop at Dalhart Municipal Airport
in Dalhart, Texas, in the northwest corner of the state. AOPA members consistently rate the airport as friendly and
accommodating. And you’ll appreciate
the quick service, because you’re still
323 nm from Summit host airport Fort
Worth Meacham International.

Roswell International Air Center
in Roswell, New Mexico, is 363 nm
west of Fort Worth. While the city
may be home to the International
UFO Museum and Research Center,
you’re much more likely to see
idled airliners stored on the field
than an extraterrestrial.

AMERICAN AIRLINES will provide a
5-percent discount off any published
airfare for Summit attendees (www.
aopa.org/summit/transportation)
Promotion Code: 11H3AI

If you’re arriving from
the north, consider a
stop in Wichita Falls,
Texas. You’re only 84
nm from Fort Worth,
and who wouldn’t want
to log a landing at
Kickapoo Downtown
Airport?

If you land hungry at Fort Worth
Meacham, detour north a short
distance to Texas Pit B-B-Q at
324 South Saginaw Boulevard.
The brisket—and everything
else—is excellent. At lunchtime
you’re likely to see a lot of
airport people here.

•
Fill up on avgas

$1 gallon

Consider stopping at Midland International Airport
(MAF), 250 nm west-southwest in Midland, Texas.
It’s home to the Commemorative Air Force (www.
commemorativeairforce.org), which is hosting its
fiftieth annual airshow there October 12 and 13. Many
of the nonprofit organization’s more than 150
warbirds will be on hand for the event. You’ll get a
sneak peak and chance to ride in FIFI, a B–29 and
other CAF airplanes in the Ghost squadron at Summit.

Coming from the northeast
or east, you might pause
at Memorial Field Airport
(HOT) in the city of Hot
Springs, Arkansas—263 nm
from Summit. Hot Springs
claims to be the only city
located within a national
park. The many spas in the
vicinity are better suited
for an overnight visit than a
quick turn.

Skyport
San Marcos, Texas (HYI)
October 1-31

ON THE

WEB

AOPA needs volunteers to help with
parking 1,000-plus attendee aircraft,
directing ground transportation, and
managing the flow of people and vehicles
(www.aopa.org/summit/volunteer).

VIDEO EXTRA

Watch the AOPA
Aviation Summit
Movie Trailer.

SUMMIT 2013 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: MEET THE NEW CEO
MARK BAKER, the new presi-

dent and CEO of AOPA, will
provide updates on the current
state of general aviation, share
AOPA’s vision for the future,
and present the AOPA Able
Flight scholarship award during
Thursday’s opening keynote

32 | AOPA PILOT October 2013

for Summit 2013 in Fort Worth,
Texas, October 10 through 12.
On Friday, baseball legend and
pilot Ken Griffey will speak
during the keynote, which
also features the director and
producer of Disney’s Planes.
Director Klay Hall and pro-

ducer Traci Balthazor-Flynn
will discuss how the movie’s
characters were developed,
how they chose the airplanes
and models, and who they went
to for the research and aviation
expertise. Also scheduled for
Friday’s keynote is Dr. Jonathan

M. Sackier, medical counsel
for AOPA; Earl Weener of the
NTSB; and Michael Whitaker,
deputy administrator of the
FAA. On Saturday, join Baker
and other AOPA key leaders for
“Pilot, Planes, and Pancakes” at
the Meacham Airport.

http://www.aopa.org/summit/transportation http://www.aopa.org/summit/transportation http://www.commemorativeairforce.org http://www.commemorativeairforce.org http://www.aopa.org/summit/volunteer http://www.aopa.org/summit/volunteer

AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2013