AOPA Fly-In Tullahoma

Take me to T town.

We liked it so much, we’re going back.

Tullahoma, Tennessee, is everything you’d expect a laid-back Southern community to be: gracious, picturesque, and welcoming. AOPA held a fly-in there in 2015 and the response was so great, we decided to go back.

“It is no secret to southeast aviators that the Tullahoma Regional Airport is a unique gem in general aviation,” said Chris Eads, AOPA senior director of outreach and events. “With the world-class and one-of-a-kind Beechcraft Heritage Museum on the field, and the rich Southern hospitality of Middle Tennessee, we have long had Tullahoma on our short list of historic AOPA Fly-In destinations to return to. The airport and city leadership are a joy to work with, and we are very excited to invite AOPA pilots from all over the eastern United States to join us for a great early fall event in Tullahoma.”

Within close reach of Lynchburg, Nashville, and Chattanooga, Tullahoma and the surrounding area have much to offer every visitor. From the famous Beechcraft Heritage Museum that’s conveniently located on the south end of the airfield, to scenic nature trails and the Jack Daniel Distillery in nearby Lynchburg, the Tullahoma area is a haven for a wide range of interests for all ages. AOPA enjoyed a great fly-in at Tullahoma in 2015…let’s go back September 13 and 14 and have an even better event with new programs and exciting aerial activities.

The graciousness of the people of Tullahoma are second to none. Take, for example, the Parishes of the Beechcraft Heritage Museum. This remarkable aviation museum—an homage to the joy of flight—is the work of the Parish family, led by patriarch John Parish Sr. A hardworking entrepreneur, Parish made his fortune in sporting goods, including the manufacture and sale of aluminum baseball bats under the brand name Worth Sports. He moved the family to Tullahoma and purchased land where he could keep his aircraft, and became a member of the Staggerwing Club after he and his wife Charlotte attended a fly-in in 1970.

“We all fell in love with Mrs. Beech,” he said. “We respected her for the quality of the Beech products and her high standards.”

The museum was originally founded as the Staggerwing Museum Foundation in 1973 but became the Beechcraft Heritage Museum in 2007. Its 60,000 square feet of aviation memorabilia and aircraft is lovingly maintained by the Parish family, with son Charles Parish as its executive director.

In addition to this aviation highlight, Tullahoma is home to other remarkable—and worth visiting—landmarks such as the University of Tennessee Space Institute, home of the largest high-speed wind tunnels at the Tennessee Aerothermodynamics Laboratory; Skydive Tennessee; the George Dickel Tennessee Whisky distillery at Cascade Hollow; and the Jack Daniel Distillery (just 12 miles from Tullahoma).

Four runways and a great museum.

THA is an aviator’s paradise.

On 775 acres, Tullahoma Regional Airport/William Northern Field (THA) has four runways (two 5,000-foot paved, two 2,000-foot turf), 140 based aircraft, and boasts 40,000 flight operations each year. Originally Camp Forrest, a World War II training facility, pilots were taught to fly the B–24 Liberator here. Camp Forrest became a prisoner of war camp and both Camp Forrest and William Northern Field were declared surplus after the war. Arnold Air Force Base was established on nearby land in 1950 as an engineering development center named for Gen. Henry “Hap” Arnold. Three-time Tullahoma mayor John W. Harton Sr. saw the town’s decision not to buy the surplus William Northern Field as a mistake and purchased the land himself, believing the future of Tullahoma depended on a regional airport. His foresight insured Tullahoma would have this exemplary general aviation airport there today.

Swift Museum Fly-out.

Friday, September 13

Fly out to McMinn County Airport (MMI) to see the Swift Museum and have lunch. The Swift Museum is located in Athens, Tennessee, approximately 60 miles southwest of Knoxville, 60 miles northeast of Chattanooga, and 200 miles southeast of Nashville. The museum has multiple Swift aircraft on display, including the first prototype #1, stock production and modified Swifts from 1946 to 1951, as well as two T–35 Buckaroo U.S. Air Force trainers. These military versions of the Swift were tested by the Air Force in the early 1950s. One of the T–35s is an armed version used by and donated to the museum from the Saudi Arabian Air Force. Grab a quick bite while you are here from one of the food trucks located on site.

Meet Mark.

AOPA President Mark Baker

Will host two Pilot Town Hall meetings during the two-day event. Each day Baker will update members and visitors on the work of the association, answer questions, and share his piloting life. Pilot Town Hall takes place Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

Quality Education

Becoming better, Safer Pilots

At the fly-in, you’ll find plenty of focused workshops and dynamic seminars led by some of the greatest experts and voices in aviation. AOPA is expanding its educational content with the AOPA Air Safety Institute’s Ground School Workshops, which are focused learning opportunities with endorsements that apply to the Focused Flight Review (fees apply). Not to be confused with our free seminars, these in-depth learning experiences provide a professional level of education, offered in two, three-hour sessions both Friday and Saturday. You receive logbook endorsement for three hours of ground training, as well as Wings credit. Meanwhile, our free 45-minute seminars are the core of the AOPA Fly-In experience. Choose from more than two dozen topics sure to help add new experiences to your logbook with confidence and competency. Leave the fly-in a safer, better pilot while you connect and develop friendships with other aviators.

Something for everyone

Special events are being planned to include a Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) Invitational Competition to showcase the skills and aircraft of backcountry flying, a nighttime drone show, an engaging Friday night flightline cookout, and several fly-outs to nearby aviation attractions. “Our new AOPA STOL Invitational, Great Lakes night drone show, and exciting aerobatic demonstrations from Lee Lauderback and Jeremy Holt are sure to round this out as a great conclusion to our eightieth anniversary celebrations,” said Chris Eads, AOPA senior director of outreach and events.

Big Tires, Short Hops.

STOL Invitational

At each AOPA Fly-In this year the fun backcountry sport of short takeoff and landing (STOL) contests will be a highlight. With the assistance of Texas wrangler Jimmy Gist, AOPA will host a STOL Invitational on the field. The first-ever STOL Invitational at Tullahoma Regional Airport will take place Friday evening and Saturday afternoon with Gist masterminding the activity. Gist, a former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, calls STOL competitions “the aviation equivalent of four-wheeling.” Tailwheel aircraft with big tires and pilots with big ideas take off and land in short distances, just like they have to do in rugged places like Alaska and the backcountry. The shorter the hop, the better. It’s all in friendly competition and it showcases lightweight, fun aircraft such as Cubs and Experimental types.

Light Up the Night.

Drone Show

The Great Lakes Drone Co. will present a nighttime drone extravaganza on Friday night. Set to music, more than 50 drones lit with LED lights will dance their way across the sky in a first-ever AOPA Tullahoma Fly-In drone show. The show begins at dusk, so plan to stay late with us and enjoy this spectacular show. Drones are becoming an important part of the aviation community, and it will be fun to see their lighter side (excuse the pun—it’s just for fun). There’s a flight line cookout before the show, so settle in for a fantastic early-autumn evening with AOPA.

Go further

Tour Arnold Air Force Base

Tour Arnold Air Force Base, Tennessee, which is named after the father of the U.S. Air Force, Henry “Hap” Arnold, and is currently the most advanced and largest complex of flight simulation test facilities in the world. The base is home to the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC). The center operates 58 aerodynamic and propulsion wind tunnels, rocket and turbine engine test cells, space environmental chambers, ballistic ranges, and other specialized units here. Many of the complex’s test units have capabilities unmatched elsewhere in the United States; some are unique in the world. The tour takes place Friday, September 13.

Sneak Peek.

Jack Daniel distillery

Walk through our hallowed hollow with AOPA and learn about Mr. Jack’s distillery without partaking of his smooth-sipping whiskey in the “Dry County Distillery Tour,” or go behind the scenes to see how Jack Daniel’s whiskey is made in the historic barrelhouse on the “Flight of Jack Distillery Tour.” See firsthand how Tennessee whiskey is carefully crafted while learning about the founder. The “dry” tour is $15 and the tasting tour is $20 (you must be 21 to attend). Tours take place Friday, September 13 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Visit the website.

25 Things to do in Tullahoma

1. Meet Dottie the dog—the official new greeter at the Beechcraft Heritage Museum.
2. Have a true Southern dining experience at Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House.
3. See Louise Thaden’s pilot’s license, signed by Orville Wright.
4. Drive to the holler and enjoy the George Dickel Distillery.
5. Eat like a local: Order the “local flavor” (foods with a hint of Jack Daniel’s).
6. Tour A-Ro, aka The Base, or Arnold Air Force Base.
7. See the first Staggerwing ever made, serial number 1.
8. Tour the University of Tennessee Space Institute where nine alumni are astronauts.
9. Sample some Water’s Edge chocolate.
10. See the new Mach 4 wind tunnel at the Tennessee Aerothermodynamic Laboratory.
11. Grab a canoe on one of three beautiful lakes: Normandy, Tims Ford, and Woods Reservoir.
12. Enjoy homegrown products from businesses such as the Ole Shed Brewing Co. and Tennessee Tanning Co.
13. Try some barbecue (and cake) at Piggy’s Place.
14. Tour the Mitchell Museum and Confederate cemetery.
15. Take the Civil War self-driving tour.
16. Buy The Barnstormer and the Lady at the Beechcraft Heritage Museum gift shop.
17. Chase waterfalls at the area’s beautiful parks.
18. Learn how whiskey is made at the Jack Daniel Distillery.
19. See the Swift Museum in Athens.
20. See the 1929 Travel Air Mystery Ship.
21. Jump out of a perfectly good airplane: Skydive at Skydive Tennessee.
22. Take a road trip to “The Big City”: Nashville is just 45 miles away.
23. See the Model 2000 Beech Starship.
24. Sit on a rocking chair and sip whiskey—it doesn’t get any better.
25. Visit the Olive Ann Beech chapel inside the log cabins at the Beechcraft Heritage Museum.