Free Event On North Carolina's Outer Banks
The
AOPA invites all pilots to the Pilot Facility Grand Opening and
Fly-in Saturday, May 10, at the Wright Brothers National Memorial
at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. Ceremonies begin at 12:30 p.m.
(Because parking is very limited at First Flight Airport (FFA),
pilots are requested to land at nearby Dare County Airport (MQI) at
Manteo. Free bus service will be provided to the Wright Brothers
Memorial starting at 7 a.m.)
All New Facility
The brand-new Pilot Facility is sponsored by AOPA on behalf of
its members. It was built in coordination with the National Park
Service and First Flight Centennial Foundation and will be the only
permanent structure built at the historic site to remain following
the Wright Brothers' 100th Anniversary of Powered Flight
celebrations this year. The day's celebrations will be hosted by
AOPA President Phil Boyer and will include speeches, tours, hot
dogs, and other refreshments.
There's That Waco!
Also featured will be the first public appearance in the
Mid-Atlantic region of AOPA's Centennial of Flight Sweepstakes
vintage Waco biplane.
"The new Pilot Facility provides state-of-the-art flight
planning and weather information to pilots visiting First Flight
Airport during this important year," said AOPA President Phil
Boyer. "We want to share the excitement of the 100th Anniversary of
Powered Flight, and a chance to see the AOPA sweepstakes Waco
biplane, with pilots across America. I hope pilots will fly in to
join us."
Guests will have the opportunity to tour the new Pilot Facility,
which includes a computerized Meteorlogix MxVision AviationSentry
weather briefing system and a second computer equipped with
Jeppesen FliteStar route planning software and access to AOPA
Online. The 900-square-foot facility is located adjacent to the
3,000-foot First Flight Airport (FFA).
Pilots and aviation enthusiasts also will be able to enjoy
AOPA's newly restored 1940 WPF-7 three-seat biplane at the event.
The AOPA Centennial of Flight Sweepstakes aircraft will be awarded
early next year to a lucky AOPA member who has joined or renewed
their membership.
AOPA's recognition of the Wright brothers' 100th anniversary
includes sponsorship of the Pilot Facility, exclusive centennial
editorial coverage in AOPA Pilot magazine, and the ongoing
sweepstakes, which also provides monthly winning members the chance
to experience flights in a Waco biplane.
Get Your Reservation In Early
Pilots flying to the event will need to call and place a
reservation beginning May 6 at 8:30 a.m. With parking space
extremely limited at First Flight Airfield, aircraft parking slots
will be awarded only to the first 25 pilots making reservations.
All other pilots wishing to fly in for the event will be
accommodated at Dare County Regional Airport.
The May 10 event will begin at 12:30 p.m. Pilots landing at Dare
County Regional Airport will enjoy free bus service to the Pilot
Facility event beginning at 7 a.m. (Travel time between the airport
and the monument is about 20 minutes.) Bus service will run
continuously until 5 p.m., allowing pilots plenty of time to visit
the Wright Brothers National Memorial. The day's schedule will
include:
- 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. — Free shuttle bus service between Dare
County Regional Airport in Manteo and Wright Brothers National
Memorial. Buses will depart every 20 minutes.
- 12:30 p.m. — Opening ceremony begins outside the Pilot
Facility at First Flight Airfield, Wright Brothers National
Memorial. Speeches by Phil Boyer, politicians, Park Service, FAA
representative, and a ribbon cutting at the front steps are
planned.
- 1 p.m. — Informal tours of the Pilot Facility commence
and lunch service begins.
- 1:30 p.m. — National Memorial tour of monument and Wright
Flyer first flight site. Ranger talks offered at flight site and
monument.
With nearly 400,000 members, AOPA is the world's largest civil
aviation organization. The association is dedicated to preserving
the rights and privileges of all general aviation pilots. General
aviation is defined as all aviation except scheduled air carrier
service and military flights. GA accounts for the vast majority of
hours flown each year in the United States.