Sweepstakes Waco Grounded By Heavy Weather, Event Will Go On, Rain Or Shine

A line of heavy afternoon and evening thunderstorms and the high probability of morning fog in the morning have conspired to keep the AOPA Centennial of Flight Sweepstakes aircraft, a beautifully restored Waco UPF-7 biplane, from making it to the grand opening of the new Pilot Facility sponsored by AOPA at First Flight Airfield (FFA) in Kill Devil Hills, N.C.

However, the grand-opening ceremonies for the Pilot Facility will go on, regardless of the weather. The terminal forecast for nearby Elizabeth City calls for morning fog. A pilot who flew in today reported that this morning's fog lifted quickly at about 11 a.m. Pilots will need to land at nearby Dare County Regional Airport (MQI) in Manteo, N.C. There is no parking available at FFA on Saturday. However, AOPA has arranged free shuttle-bus service for the 20-minute ride between MQI and FFA. Buses will begin running at 7 a.m.

The ribbon cutting ceremony begins at 12:30 p.m. and will be followed by a free hot-dog lunch, informal tours of the facility, and guided tours of the Wright Brothers National Memorial, just up the hill from the new building, by National Park Service rangers.

Inside the new center, pilots will see a new, state-of-the-art flight planning facility, including Meteorlogix' MxVision AviationSentry computerized weather briefing system and a second computer with Jeppesen's FliteStar flight planning software and an Internet connection to AOPA Online.

Everyone who attends will receive a memento of the occasion and will be eligible to win a leather Centennial of Flight Sweepstakes bomber jacket. The Centennial of Flight Waco will be awarded in a random drawing to be held shortly after the New Year. Anyone who has joined AOPA or renewed membership during the two-year sweepstakes period is automatically entered.

FMI: www.aopa.org/sweeps/rules.html