AOPA’s second regional fly-in of the year, Indianapolis on May 31, is shaping up to be a grand event with plenty of fun, flying, and food. Check out these top 10 reasons you won’t want to miss the fly-in.
1. Fun flying. AOPA’s Indianapolis Fly-In is the perfect excuse to get in the air and do some flying. Bring the family or some friends—part of the adventure is getting to the destination. Indianapolis Regional has two runways, 7/25 and 16/34. It’s located outside of the Indianapolis International Class C airspace and has wide open, obstruction-free approaches, making for a peaceful approach.
2. The food! Indianapolis-area Experimental Aircraft Association chapters are hosting a pancake breakfast ($5 per person), and AOPA is offering a free lunch for AOPA members and their immediate family. The lunch will be catered by Edwards Drive-In, known for its pork tenderloin sandwiches. (RSVP for tickets.)
3. Cool rides. EAA’s B-17 Aluminum Overcast; a Fairchild PT-26A Cornell, Consolidated Vultee BT-13 Valiant, and Boeing PT-17 Stearman Kaydet from the Commemorative Air Force; and Grayout Aerosport’s Pitts S2C will be selling rides during the fly-in.
4. Educational seminars. AOPA Foundation President Bruce Landsberg will help you improve your radio communication skills; Sporty’s Vice President John Zimmerman will teach you how to get the most out of using your iPad in the cockpit; Adrian Eichhorn will show you how to save a few bucks with owner-performed maintenance; U.S. Air Force Reserve Maj. Billy Werth will share unusual attitude recovery tips that could save your life; and Marc Epner of Leading Edge Flying Club will discuss steps you can follow to start a flying club.
5. The AOPA Sweepstakes Debonair’s new paint scheme. The Debonair got out of the paint shop May 12, and the Indianapolis Fly-In will be its first public debut. See how it looks with its new stripes—it could be yours before you know it.
6. Warbirds galore. Marvel at the mighty machines from the World War I and II eras. A replica of the Curtiss JN-4 Jenny, Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon, seven-eighths scale P-51 Mustang, T-34, warbirds with the Trojan Horsemen Flight Demonstration Team, and more will be on static display during the fly-in.
7. Pilot Town Hall. Join AOPA President Mark Baker, U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, U.S. Reps. Larry Bucshon and Todd Rokita, and Indiana State Sen. Brandt Hershman for a Pilot Town Hall. Catch up on the latest advocacy issues affecting general aviation, and learn about specific measures that have helped make Indiana an aviation-friendly state.
8. Summer aviation fix. Pent-up demand for an aviation event at Indianapolis Regional has been building since the popular Indianapolis Air Show, a 16-year tradition, was canceled for 2013 with no plans of a return. That makes the fly-in a “summer aviation fix” for many pilots in the Midwest, according to Ryan Maxfield, general manager of Indy Jet at the airport.
9. Midwestern hospitality. Everyone at Indianapolis Regional is eager to lend a hand to help you park and an ear to listen to your latest flying adventure. The airport’s FBO, Indy Jet; Indianapolis-area EAA chapters; and the Indianapolis Aviation Authority are working to make the fly-in an event to remember.
10. Meet AOPA staff, manage your membership. Catch up with old friends, make new ones, and visit with AOPA staff members during the fly-in. You’ll also be able to take care of all of your membership needs. And, you can take advantage of special deals on AOPA merchandise and place an advance order for the 2015/2016 AOPA Airport Directory print edition, which will shape in the fall.
If you haven’t already sent your RSVP, take time to do so today—AOPA members and their immediate family can reserve their free lunch ticket and purchase pancake breakfast tickets all through the RSVP form. See you in Indy!
Flying in?
Pilots flying in for AOPA's Indianapolis Fly-In should download and review the flight procedures in advance. Check the weather and file a flight plan with DTC DUAT, the official weather sponsor of AOPA’s Regional Fly-Ins. If you need a rental car, book it through AOPA for exclusive discounts from Enterprise, National, and Alamo.
