AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 22

LICENSE TO LEARN

AOPA's regional fly-ins

BY ROD MACHADO

It doesn't get any better than this
IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE the pleasure of attending an AOPA
regional fly-in in 2014, then you're in for a real treat
when you do next year. These events are all about
pilots, airplanes, pancakes, and presentations. They're
also free. As country artists Keith Burns and Michelle
Poe sing it, "You can bet on this-don't get no better
than that."
I was fortunate to attend four of the 2014 fly-ins:
at San Marcos, Texas; Spokane, Washington; and
Chino, California-as well as the Frederick, Maryland
"Homecoming" Fly-In. At each event, I struggled to
keep from flailing my arms and getting all giggly as I
walked the flight line. How can anyone contain themselves when they can get up close and personal with
a Gee Bee racer and a Boeing Model 40, as many did
at Felts Field in Spokane? At Chino, I strolled past a

The vast majority of fly-in attendees are folks who
have never been able to make it to one of those yearly
three-day events.

ROD MACHADO

is a member
of the Aviation
Speakers Bureau.

Cherokee, circled a Funk, stumbled over a Stearman,
turned left at a Cessna, and ended up nose-to-nosecone with a Lockheed Constellation. So nice. While not
all fly-ins have historical airplanes on display, there are
many other interesting things to see and do.
All AOPA fly-ins have a vendors' village where you
can shop for your favorite aviation wares. Thinking
about replacing your 172's older navigation box-the
one containing a trapdoor that releases a homing
pigeon to lead you home? Perhaps you're looking to
upgrade your airplane's Gosport-tube intercom system.
Well, you probably won't find the latest in speaking
tubes and voicepipe technology here, but you might
find a vendor willing to sell you a high-tech intercom
system that works using something called electrons.
Speaking of voicepipes, you also have the opportunity to attend several first-class presentations offered
by AOPA's staff and industry experts. Been away from
flying for a while? Then be sure to attend AOPA's
"Rusty Pilots" program, held on Friday evening before
the fly-in begins on Saturday. Whatever you do, don't
trust your rust.
On Saturday morning, breakfast is served beginning at 8:30 a.m. At several of these events, I've had
the pleasure of playing host and introducing AOPA

22 | AOPA PILOT December 2014

President Mark Baker to the morning crowd. Then
they set me free onstage for a few minutes with a hot
mic and no adult supervision. Sometimes I'd share
one or two stories about my little Cessna 150 and its
Gosport tube and TSO'd pigeon. After consuming
breakfast, the audience typically raced off to shop,
learn, look, and listen.
OK, can we talk? It's true that AOPA leadership
took a bit of a risk in exchanging the yearly Summit
for these regional fly-ins. No doubt, many individuals enjoyed the traditional three-day indoor Summit
with its banquets and ancillary trappings. Because
part of AOPA's mission is to connect with its members, an effective way to accomplish this is to bring
a fly-in to your backyard (or closer to it). It turns out
that the first three fly-ins allowed AOPA to connect
with more members than at the last annual Summit.
Furthermore, the vast majority of fly-in attendees are
folks who have never been able to make it to one of
those yearly three-day events. From a grassroots perspective, this is anything but a "sod" story. It's a happy
and successful outcome for everyone.
Each fly-in's signature event begins promptly at
2:45 p.m. Saturday afternoon with a town hall meeting
hosted by Mark Baker. If you want to know how AOPA
is representing you and helping sustain your pilot liberties, then this is a must-attend event.
Of course, these events would not have been possible without Mark's wonderful leadership and the
exceptional staff who assist him. It's not easy to pull
off a typical fly-in, much less six in one year. Chris
Eads, Katie Pribyl, and the crack audio team-along
with many others-all make these events possible.
Each deserve props (no, not propellers) for their
performance.
We look forward to seeing you at one or more
of these regional events next year (schedule to be
announced). If it pleases you, fly in the night before,
pitch a tent, and camp out. Other pilots do it, and they
love it. Wake up nice and early and grab a cup of fresh
Colombian coffee (which isn't your typical cup of
airport joe, sometimes referred to as "pre-Colombian" coffee). Then prepare for a fun day of seminars,
airplanes, and shopping. It don't get no better
than that.
AOPA
WEB

www.rodmachado.com


http://www.rodmachado.com

AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014

Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - Cover1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 4
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 6
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 8
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - Cover3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - Cover4
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