New Facility, Large Hall And Air Conditioning

The 2005 Copperstate Regional EAA Fly-In occurred for the first time ever at Casa Grande Municipal Airport, Arizona, in its 33rd annual event October 6-9. Organizers and attendees settled into the new facility, which features a large, air-conditioned exhibit hall, large, clean camping area, a new shower facility, and is ideally situated midway between Phoenix and Tucson just a few miles west of Interstate 10.

The new location is much closer to essential facilities like hotels and restaurants than past venues. Saturday and Sunday events were somewhat hampered by windy weather, but spirits were not dampened based on the many positive comments of pilots and attendees. Planes and people came from all over the region and beyond, with the furthest confirmed from Southern Florida.

EAA headquarters' presence was seen throughout the grounds, including the EAA Member Village welcoming friends old and new. EAA's Ron Wagner conducted four well-attended and well-received sport pilot/light-sport aircraft forums-one each day.
On Friday night Wagner and Lesley Barkham of the EAA Membership Department hosted a chapter leaders get-together on Friday that featured an appearance by Mary Senft, a charter member of the EAA Homebuilt Aircraft Council. She also recently led the formation of EAA Chapter 1406 in San Manuel, AZ.

 
Wagner praised the new location for its visitor convenience. "We certainly viewed it as an improvement with the new indoor exhibit facility and the close proximity to the city of Casa Grande," Wagner said. "The plans they have for site improvement in coming years will make it even better."

Aircraft awards were announced at the awards banquet held Saturday evening at the Holiday Inn Casa Grande. Cory Bird's Symmetry, which won EAA AirVenture 2004Grand Champion, was Copperstate's Grand Champion this year. Reserve Grand Champion is Neal Obert for his Lionheart N110N. Complete judging results can be found on the Copperstate website.

Mark down October 12-15, 2006, dates for next year's fly-in.

FMI: www.copperstate.org