Approximately 9,500 Came Out For Boyer's Last Expo

There's just something about the West Coast. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association says last week's 2008 Expo in San Jose, CA drew a surprising number of attendees, despite concerns about the current economic crisis.

The combination of seasonably pleasant weather, new product announcements -- and, most importantly, the looming retirement of 18-year AOPA President Phil Boyer -- drew 9,500 members and attendees, according to the pilot advocacy organization. That's far from the record 12,973 members and others who attended AOPA's last West Coast event, the 2006 Expo in Palm Springs... but given current anxieties about a looming recession, it's a rather impressive number nonetheless.

ANN's overall take was there seemed to be measurably fewer Expo attendees than in recent years, an impression backed up by a number of vendors we spoke to. That said, the San Jose convention center offered attendees a lot of room to spread out... and it's worth noting each of the dozen or so seminars ANN staffers attended were packed, many of them to standing-room only.

Boyer was clearly the main attraction of the three-day event... though in characteristic self-deprecating fashion, Boyer kept the tributes and accolades surrounding him as low-key as he could, even acknowledging on more than one occasion there was a lot of "sucking up" going on.

However, he was also visibly moved on several occasions including, during the introduction of EAA Founder Paul Poberezny at the opening luncheon, whom he called his "father" in aviation; the plea from Rep. Peter DeFazio to consider becoming the next FAA administrator (Boyer said no), and the final banquet included a presentation of Boyer’s legacy.

Attendees were also able to hear from incoming President Craig Fuller (below) for the first time during Saturday's opening session. After thanking Boyer for his years of service to AOPA, Fuller said accepting the presidency at AOPA was a dream of his, and "a blessing beyond anything I could have imagined." Fuller takes office January 1.

Following its usual biennial rotation, the 2009 Expo will take place November 5 through 7 in Tampa, FL, before returning to the western US the following year.

FMI: www.aopa.org