Make Plans To Spend A Day -- Or Two -- In Petersburg

There's nothing quite like Fall in Virginia... just as there's nothing quite like a fly-in. This weekend, Dinwiddie County Airport (PTD) in Petersburg, VA will be the site of the 10th Annual Virginia Regional EAA Fly-in and Expo -- an event focusing on educational activities for pilots, would-be pilots and all those interested in aviation.

To that end, Dinwiddie County Airport will be open Saturday, September 30 and Sunday, October 1. In a departure from past years -- and to give those flying in the flexibility to arrive and depart at will -- there will be no air show this year. However, hundreds of aircraft, from powered parachutes, all sorts of homebuilts and antique aircraft, will flood the airport for the weekend.

Event coordinators say the event drew just under 500 aircraft last year -- and with the airport open all day, that number should be easily surpassed this year.

The fly-in will offer forums covering technical topics such as fabric covering, paint and painting, flight testing and aviation weather forecasting. Ron Wagner, EAA Field Relations Manager -- and the group's self-described "LSA guru" -- will explain how these and the new regulations can allow you to get your pilot's license more quickly and cheaply.

Seven LSA manufacturers are attending, according to Fly-In Manager Judy Sparks. Aircraft Spruce & Specialty, as well as Wicks Aircraft Supply, will join other aviation companies selling aviation items.

A new forum this year for the non-technical person will focus on the building of the Udvar-Hazy Center branch of the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum at Dulles Airport.

And for the first time, you can participate in a hands-on workshop on aircraft engine overhaul, with morning and afternoon sessions of the disassembly and assembly of a Continental O-200 engine. Teledyne-Mattituck will answer questions on their wide range of new and overhauled engines.

As regular ANN readers know, one of our most-loved events at Oshkosh -- and especially, at the Northwest EAA Fly-In in Arlington, WA -- are the many events available that allow children to develop a love of aviation. That mission is not lost on Virginia Regional Fly-In officials, either, with a number of fun, hands-on activities available for youngsters in the popular Youth Tent.

Also returning is the very popular Control Line Model Airplane flying circle -- to give kids an opportunity to fly one of these buzzing flying machines.

A special treat will be an illustrated talk on the the most famous B-29, the Enola Gay, given by a senior docent at the National Air & Space Museum, Scott A. Willey. He will be the headliner for the Saturday evening volunteer dinner.

In order to partially support the fly-in, for attendees 14 and older will be a requested donation of $10 per person at the gate for drive-ins, and $5.00 per person for those flying in.

FMI: www.vaeaa.org