Some of the top national air show performers will be featured at the 2003 COPPERSTATE Regional EAA Fly-in on October 9-12. For the second year, the event will be held on its permanent campus at Phoenix Regional Airport (PRA) in Maricopa.

Air show performances take place from 1 to 3 pm on Friday, 1 to 4 pm on Saturday, and noon to 3 pm on Sunday.

Returning to COPPERSTATE are 2002 U.S. National Aerobatics Champion Kirby Chambliss and aerobatic pilot Tim Weber, along with pilots Lon Arnold, Rob Harrison, Jon Melby, Jason Stephens, and Sonny Weller. For the first time, the event will feature a comedy act by veteran performer Kent Pietsch. Other first-time COPPERSTATE performers include Eric Beard, Ed Hamill, Jim Maroney, and Rhett Thompson.

The air show offers a wide variety of popular aerobatic performers and aircraft, including:

• Lon Arnold, Long EZ (www.longezairshows.com)
• Eric Beard, Yak 54 (www.russianthunder.com)
• Kirby Chambliss, Zivko Edge (www.chamblissaerobatics.com)
• Ed Hamill, Pitt S2C (www.edhamill.com)
• Rob Harrison, Zlin 50 (www.harrisonairshows.com)
• Jim Maroney, Dehavilland Super Chipmunk
• Jon Melby, Pitts S2B (www.jonmelby.com)
• Kent Pietsch, Interstate Cadet (www.pietschaircraft.com)
• Jason Stephens, MDM-1 Fox (www.azsoaring.com)
• Rhett Thompson, Sukhoi SU-26M (www.thompsonairshows.com)
• Tim Weber, Extra 300 (www.timweber-airshows.com)
• Sonny Weller, Pitts S2C

On Sunday, 10/12, the airshow will also include a radio-controlled aircraft demonstration featuring the Sun lakes Radio Control Club with Kevin Davis (1/3-scale Cap 232 and helicopter), Clint Fereday (1/3-scale Edge 540), and Steven Jones (1/3-scale Patty Wagstaff Extra 300). Larry Nichols and John Mangino from Arizona Model Aviators will also be appearing as the Arizona Flying Eagles, an 8-plane RC combat team. A few lucky winners will have the opportunity to fly an RC model using a "buddy box" with the help of a qualified RC instructor pilot. In addition, parachutists will open each show, and there will be fly-bys by the Replica Fighters on Sunday, and warbird aircraft on Saturday and Sunday. Bill Larson is the Air Boss and the announcer is T.K. (Tom) Harris.

The COPPERSTATE Regional EAA Fly-in is sponsored by the Arizona Council of EAA Chapters, a non-profit organization dedicated to aviation education. The event features an air show, hands-on workshops and educational forums, kid's activities, vendor displays, food court, and acres of planes on display. In previous years, hundreds of aircraft from all over the U.S., Canada and Mexico have flown in for the event. Gates are open daily from 8am to 5 pm. Daily admission is $10 per person, $7 for EAA members, and children under 12 Free. Four-day event passes are $25.

FMI: www.copperstate.org