And ANN Is There

Like lovers to Paris, swallows to Capistrano or lemmings to the sea, it's AOPA Expo time in Frederick, MD, and the rain appears to be returning to where it's roosted for the past two years at this time. Even so, the show WILL go on -- and AOPA says it'll be a great one.

Actually, the forecast is low VFR for Saturday's event -- the biggest one-day aviation expo in the US.

The big white tent is up and filling up with exhibits. The temporary, portable control tower is in place and awaiting the FAA controllers who've volunteered to fire up the radios at 70 00 Saturday and handle the hundreds of expected inbound aircraft. Technicians are dropping the Ethernet cables for the computers that the specialists from the Leesburg Automated Flight Service Station will use to give pilots on-site weather briefings.

Three tractor-trailer displays from Cirrus, Lancair, and the National Consortium of Aviation Mobility are already here, and static display aircraft are en route.

Oh, and the seminar presenters are polishing their PowerPoints and rehearsing their best jokes. The vendors start serving breakfast at 0800, the exhibits open at 0830 and it's non-stop aviation fun and learning all day.

ANN's Grand Poohbah, Jim Campbell, is on hand and will provide us with reports from the scene.

FMI: www.aopa.org, www.aero-news.net