Palm Springs Event Expected To Draw Thousands Of Airplane Owners And Pilots

One hundred and eight aircraft headed down the streets of Palm Springs, CA Wednesday morning from Palm Springs International Airport. They couldn't have flown any more "low and slow" as they taxied down Alejo Road turning west on Sunrise Way, and hanging a left at Sunrise until they arrived at the Palm Springs Convention Center. The hundreds of spectators lining the streets were loving it.

As you might suspect, the vast majority of parade goers were AOPA members and airplane lovers who arrived early to enjoy the show. But two local women, who had just heard about it, Marti Johnson and Fran Finn, watched the parade and pronounced it "incredible". Finn said "how many times do you get to see an airplane going down the street?" Johnson said she loves small planes ever since a Lear air-ambulance (well not exactly "small", but still a GA aircraft) brought her to a US hospital after being stricken ill on a cruise in Mexico.

The unique Aircraft Owners & Pilot's Association "Parade of Planes" kicked off the opening to the 2006 AOPA convention Wednesday morning. It was done once before in Ft. Lauderdale, FL but because of construction since then, Palm Springs is the only place on planet earth you can see a hundred aircraft driving down the street.

Leading the pack was the AOPA's grand prize sweepstakes Piper Cherokee Six, a completely updated, upgraded, 1967 six-passenger model with all new bells and whistles, followed closely by the new Cessna LSA. Another 106 of everything from tiny light sport aircraft to shiny new personal aircraft all the way to several light business jets, followed, in no particular order.

Dieter Decuba, a volunteer plane director, had the job of pointing to a dip in the road so none of the aircraft would suffer a prop-strike. He said the pilots had been briefed earlier, but he was there to just give them a visual reminder.

Parade watchers gravitated to what little shade was offered from the few trees along the route. The recorded temperature reached 92, and this was still morning, but observers seemed prepared for the desert weather.

AOPA Expo 2006 will start 9am Thursday and goes through Saturday night. Over 500 exhibitors are showing airplanes and "airplane-related accessories" on the exhibit floor, and there are dozens of seminars to make you a safer, more efficient, and happier pilot.

FMI: www.AOPA.org