Take Your Dad To Watch The Planes!

It's Fathers Day weekend... and it may be the best time of the year to hold a fly-in. If Dad says he wants to leave the yardwork until Monday evening so he can go look at airplanes, odds of getting away with it are excellent this weekend.

But of all the fly-ins scheduled this weekend, one of the bigger question marks is the 11th Annual Virginia Regional Festival of Flight. Last year, the event -- which had previously been held in October and called the Virginia Regional EAA Fly-In -- wasn't held at all. Starting Saturday, after a year off, it returns with its new name, at a new time of year, at a new airport 60 miles from the old.

The new location is the Suffolk Executive Airport, within 45 minutes' drive for more than a million people who live in the Hampton Roads metro area. Attendees will be able to take flights in Robinson R-44 helicopters, a Stearman Biplane and a Beech Staggerwing. Among the forums and workshops will be a Q&A with EAA's Ron Wagner on Sport Pilot and Light Sport aircraft rules and regulations.

The Potomac TRACON will present the details of navigating the Washington area ADIZ, a big deal for pilots in the Mid-Atlantic region. An engine overhaul workshop will allow participants to tear apart and reassemble a Continental O-200 aircraft engine.

This is a new face on a heritage event, the new airport has power, paved streets and running water, and lots of great things have been planned. All that's left is to see how many people show up!

FMI: www.virginiaflyin.org