AOPA Fly-in at the Buckeye Air Fair

During this three-day event February 16 through 18, experience our large indoor exhibit hall with the latest new tech, gear, and services. Stroll the robust aircraft displays or listen to a seminar in one of our three seminar venues (including a Pilot Town Hall with AOPA President Mark Baker on Saturday). Catch the new Twilight Airshow on Saturday followed by a fireworks display and the traditional afternoon show on Sunday.

A rousing success

2023 fly-in featured high-octane excitement

In February 2023, more than 500 aircraft and more than 30,000 aviation enthusiasts descended on the Buckeye Municipal Airport in Arizona for AOPA’s first fly-in of 2023, a weekend of high-octane entertainment. The successful partnership between AOPA and the Buckeye Air Fair was seen from the ground up as attendees explored a ramp brimming with unique and eye-catching aircraft, local vendors, aviation industry leaders, and a spectacular airshow.

The Buckeye Air Fair began as a small airport open house in the early 2000s and has since become one of the largest aviation events in the western United States. “We knew there was a need to share with the public what general aviation is all about,” said Buckeye Mayor and private pilot Eric Orsborn (shown right with AOPA President Mark Baker).

Orsborn, an AOPA member and aircraft owner, expressed gratitude and excitement about the collaboration between the Buckeye Air Fair and AOPA. “The partnership with AOPA accomplished exactly what we had hoped this year. Creating an environment where the general public who has some interest in aviation could interact with aviators and a trusted organization in AOPA that will help them become aviators themselves.”

Coming back for more

AOPA returns to Buckeye in 2024

AOPA has put together an amazing lineup of all things aviation to coincide with the Buckeye Air Fair airshow schedule. Be sure to bring the entire family, there are lots of activities for kids to do at the Buckeye Aviation Academy area including the Arizona SciTech area and the Kids Zone.

Join other AOPA members and AOPA senior leadership in our members-only AOPA Flightline Chalet. The chalet offers prime viewing for the airshow, partner giveaways, food and beverages, and meet and greets with influencers and AOPA leadership. The Chalet hours are Friday 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (private viewing of airshow practice); Saturday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (evening airshow and fireworks); and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Back this year to perform in the airshow is crowd favorite, Jon Melby, “FearBoss,” in his Pitts S1-11B. With the exciting addition of a twilight airshow on Saturday, watch the talented Nathan Hammond put on a light and pyrotechnics display as the “GhostWriter” in his Super Chipmunk and during the day a phenomenal smoke show with lots of loops and rolls.

aopa.org/buckeye

DC Flyover coming up in May

Celebrating the storied history of general aviation

An array of aircraft representing virtually every chapter of general aviation’s storied history will be on full display over the National Mall in Washington, D.C., during a spectacular commemoration of the numerous contributions the GA industry provides to our nation. The celebration will coincide with AOPA’s eighty-fifth anniversary in May 2024. This special event will take place over one of Washington, D.C.’s most restricted flight zones, P-56, something that’s never been done with GA aircraft. Spectators on the ground and online will watch the aircraft fly above the Lincoln Memorial, down Independence Avenue, and past the Washington Monument. The flyover will consist of more than 20 different “chapters” telling the story of GA in America starting in the Golden Age and continuing to the present day.

aopa.org/community/2024/dc-flyover