A very special day

Honoring general aviation with a 'surreal' flyover of the nation's capital

August 1, 2024 By Julie Summers Walker

“No fly zone” are three words pilots heed,so when an opportunity to fly with permission over some of the most restricted airspace in the world was presented to a cadre of general aviation pilots, they responded with giddy anticipation.

Smoke on: AOPA Director of Photography Chris Rose was in a Bell 407 helicopter provided by Zip Aviation, hovering on the edge of the Tidal Basin, and captured the photo of the Titan Aerobatic Team flying the finale.

The National Celebration of General Aviation D.C. Flyover on May 11 featured 54 aircraft flying from Frederick Municipal Airport (FDK) to Washington, D.C. and 1,000 feet over the National Mall and many of the nation’s capital’s most prominent monuments in the most restricted airspace, Prohibited Area P-56. It was the culmination of months of planning and preparation, with support from U.S. Congress and permission from 11 government agencies, including the U.S. Secret Service, the FAA, and the TSA.

“Surreal” is how one pilot described flying over a segment of the nation’s capital that has been closed to GA traffic for years. To be in a place that today few can see from the air was “humbling,” “magical,” and “unbelievable,” according to many of the 54 pilots and their passengers participating in the flyover. Even the most seasoned and celebrated aviators marveled at the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The flyover comprised 15 different “chapters,” telling the story of general aviation in the United States, from the Golden Age and general aviation after World War II, to the general aviation trainer era, vertical flight, backcountry flying, seaplanes, corporate and business aviation, technically advanced aircraft, homebuilt aircraft, airshow performers, and other examples of general aviation aircraft that support public service missions.

The procession of aircraft was led by AOPA President Mark Baker in his Beech 17 Staggerwing. He led the first of the 15 chapters with the call sign “Golden.” Golden took off from Runway 23 at exactly 11:38 a.m. and was followed by aircraft representing their chapters in aviation history, with call signs such as Boom, Trainer, Rotor, Bush, Sport, Growth, Airshow, and Safety. Aircraft were spaced minutes apart based on their recommended airspeeds.

The flight took the aircraft south to the Potomac River, turning to D.C. at the Lincoln Memorial, up Independence Avenue and the mall, passing the Washington Monument, and turning right at the Smithsonian Institution “castle” to depart for home. Baker passed the monument at 12:06 p.m. and was back at Frederick Municipal Airport by 1 p.m. DCA was closed just for one hour and FDK for two.

“Wow. That was amazing. I want to thank the entire group for its commitment and time over the last year and pulling this incredible event together,” Baker said. “People have volunteered their airplanes, their fuel, and their time, so I want to give a big thanks to them. And the agencies—they were so excited about this special day. A lot of people came together and worked hard to make the flyover something special.”
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DID YOU KNOW?

The first restriction of Washington, D.C., airspace was enacted as early as 1938. President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the airspace by executive order and this appeared in the Federal Register on Saturday, June 18, 1938: “The airspace of a described portion of the District of Columbia is reserved and set apart for national defense and other governmental purposes, as an airspace reservation within which civil aircraft are forbidden to be operated except by special permission of the Secretary of Commerce.”

Today, the National Capital Region is governed by a Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) within a 30-mile radius of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The SFRA is divided into a 15-mile radius inner ring and a 30-mile radius outer ring.

The airspace in the 15-mile-radius Flight Restricted Zone is more restricted than in any other part of the country. Rules put in place after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, establish “national defense airspace” over the area and limit aircraft operations to those with an FAA and TSA authorization. Violators face stiff fines and criminal penalties.

Slideshow

When Baker landed, he was ecstatic but clearly exhausted: “It takes a lot of work to keep her at 90 knots,” he said of his Staggerwing. “We fought a lot in the air.” But his grin and thumbs up said it all: Every bit of muscle work was worth the effort. Photography by David Tulis.
The event was livestreamed on YouTube from video cameras placed atop buildings in downtown D.C. along the route. Commentators Tom Haines and Miles O’Brien kept pace with the incoming aircraft, providing background and history of the aircraft. Haines is the former editor in chief of AOPA media and O’Brien is a noted aviation journalist. Both are avid pilots. Photography by Chad Jones.
David Tulis flies his Piper Tri-Pacer over the Washington Monument. Photography by David Tulis.
Photography by Jake Teague.
Photography by Jake Teague.
Photography by Jake Teague.
Photography by Jake Teague.
Remarkable aircraft such as an HU–16 Albatross, Howard DGA, Spartan Executive, and a Douglas DC–3 shared the line in the rain with Van’s RVs, a Cessna 172, a Game Composites GameBird GB1, Grumman Cheetah, and so many more, all hoping for clear skies Saturday morning.
While most of the country had to be content to watch on their iPhones and tablets, Frederick residents lined the streets surrounding FDK, enjoying the spectacle from their cars, folding chairs, and blankets. Just one day after the event, the YouTube video had been viewed nearly 50,000 times.
U.S. Secret Service and TSA officers inspected all aircraft before the event. Several Secret Service officers also flew with some of the participating pilots in their aircraft.
When Saturday dawned to clear skies and subdued breezes everyone involved in this massive undertaking drew a huge sigh of relief. An early morning briefing set the tone: excited anticipation with a strong emphasis on safety and following procedure. “This,” said Mike Ginter, a former U.S. Navy aviator, “is not the time for original thought.”
“During the briefing I tried to drive simplicity,” said Ginter, AOPA vice president of airports and state advocacy and the air boss for the event, noting that each pilot’s primary mission was to maintain the assigned altitude and airspeed and remain calm, knowing they would not be in danger of being intercepted by the military or sanctioned by the FAA for airspace violations that normally would apply in the Flight Restricted Zone. Pilots were required to complete the FAA Special Awareness Training for the D.C. Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) and Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ).
In the FDK tower, Air Boss Wayne Boggs marveled at the line of aircraft on Runway 23. "Take off at your assigned time," he told the flight leaders. “From start to finish, this special event could not have been more amazing,” Ginter said. “I can’t thank enough the countless people who made this day happen—from the team at AOPA to our government partners, sponsors, and all the pilots and aircraft owners who gave of their time and aircraft. And best of all, the weather was as spectacular as the event.”
AOPA was celebrating its eighty-fifth anniversary protecting the right to fly. The DC Flyover and other events throughout the week for members and flyover participants were a part of the association’s birthday party.