AOPA's Boyer Wolfs Down Historic Freebie

Sporty's Pilot Shop reached a milestone on June 23, 2007, when its 150,000th complimentary hot dog was served. To commemorate the event, AOPA President Phil Boyer had the honor of eating the 150,000th dog.

Sporty’s Saturday cookouts, which began in 1992, have grown into a popular stop for pilots who want to visit Sporty's headquarters at Clermont County/Sporty's Airport (I69).

Serving the 150,000th hot dog drew a crowd as Cardinal Flyers Online, the organization for Cessna Cardinal owners and those interested in these aircraft, was holding its annual convention at Sporty’s the same weekend. More than 50 Cessna Cardinals along with their owners arrived at Sporty’s to be part of the gathering.

Activities consisted of seminars, an airport tour (including a visit to Air Mod, Sporty's and Sandy's Farm Residential Airpark) and a trip to the National Museum of the United States Air Force located at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH.

Sporty's 2007 Sweepstakes Aircraft, a G1000-equipped new Cessna 172 was on display. along with AOPA’s Catch-A-Cardinal sweepstakes airplane -- which was flown in for the event, after making its successful first post-refurbishing flight the week before.

In addition to eating the 150,000th hot dog, Boyer was the speaker at the convention’s closing banquet on Saturday night.

"Since Phil ate our 100,000th hot dog as well," said Sporty’s President Michael Wolf, "we must have him back to eat #200,000, which should be only a few years away."

(In related news, the ANN staff has voted to make the above picture, courtesy of Sporty's, our new "official use" file photo of Phil Boyer -- the shot with his C172 was getting a tad dated. Just kidding, Phil -- Ed.)

FMI: www.sportys.com