An Outstanding Regional Fly-In Posts Upcoming Event Schedules

If you want to know more about NextGen, the massive overhaul of the air traffic control system which offers free weather and traffic or an in depth introduction to Light Sport flying, or try your hand at riveting sheet metal taught by an experienced A&P Mechanic, come to the Virginia Regional Festival of Flight.

Your chance to attend these forums and workshops will be at the 14th Virginia Regional Festival of Flight, April 30 and May 1. Suffolk Executive Airport (KSFQ) is located about 40 miles west of the Virginia Beach/Norfolk area.

The Fly-In orgnizers invite ANN readers to examine the schedule of forums and workshops on the fly-in web site, www.VirginiaFlyIn.org. These presentations (and more) are featured at the largest full-featured fly-in on the East Coast. This year, the Youth Area will offer even more aviation oriented hands-on aviation-related activities and things to see and do for kids. Representatives from NASA Langley will be there with flight simulators, and other attractions, to interest and inspire kids.

A contingent of RC aircraft enthusiasts will fly electric-powered aircraft. An experienced RC pilot will introduce the RC sport and explain how these small aircraft are flown with a handheld radio transmitter adjacent to the Youth Area.

The Festival of Flight attracts dozens of homebuilt airplanes, antiques, classics, warbirds and factory-built models each year. If you fly in, display a window sign showing the aircraft parkers to which area you wish to be guided. Suggested sign codes are listed at the bottom of the Arriving/Airplane page of the web site.

Commercial aircraft vendors will have ready-to-fly airplanes on display too. If you fly in to the Festival of Flight, plan to participate in the expanded Rally Adventure. Pilots in homebuilt, light sport, and commercial aircraft categories, grouped by horsepower, can fly a timed triangular course against the clock. Read the rules on the Festival of Flight web site and sign up online.

Or sign up all day Saturday and Sunday morning until 8:15am. Registered pilots must attend a pilot's briefing on Sunday morning at 8:30 to participate. After the mandatory briefing, pilots will begin take-offs at 9am in reverse horsepower order.

When you register your plane on arrival, bes ure to hang a "Judge Me" prop card. If you'd like to be fueled, request a fuel prop card. Kent Marshall, the Airport Manager, will be offering full service 100LL at a special discount.

FMI: www.VirginiaFlyIn.org