GENERAL AVIATION FLY-IN RETROSPECTIVE

Associate Member Ginger Gordon sent the following message out to all general aviation participants - us included - that attended this year's Mt. Comfort Airshow for Riley Children's Hospital:

The 2002 Indianapolis Air Show was a huge success. Gate attendance was over 12,000 for Saturday and Sunday (with pre-purchase tickets yet to be counted), the weather was fantastic, and the air show was spectacular.Thanks to those general aviation pilots that attended the fly-in event. Your attendance and participation added greatly to the ambiance of the show. Over 300 general aviation aircraft registered over the course of the weekend with a representation from all corners of the United States. Almost every arena of the general aviation community was represented, as there were homebuilts, antiques, ultralights, gliders, helicopters, hot air balloons, and warbirds in attendance.

The GA group raised $2600 for Riley Children's Hospital through donations and it looks as if the air show will be able to donate a combined effort in excess of $150,000 to the hospital. Personally, my favorite part of the weekend was the departure of over 200 aircraft on Saturday afternoon. Seeing the aircraft lined up for departure on the taxiway was simply spectacular not to mention the orchestrated performance provided by the GA marshallers.

As this year was only the start of incorporating general aviation into the air show, we hope to expand and improve for next year. We have identified many areas that were good and others that need improvement. We hope to be even bigger and better next year.

To round out my aviation experiences for the week (not to mention my exhaustion factor), I got up very early on Monday morning, flew my RV-3 (which sat neglected all weekend because I was too busy to fly) to Mike's Hangar, in Columbus, Indiana. Here, I got the opportunity to fly a Tiger Moth on a photo shoot for Aeroplane magazine. This magazine is based out of the UK - after having spent the day listening to them ogle over our ability to fly when and where we want too, I wanted to remind everyone to be thankful and proud of our freedom to fly in the United States.

Next year's show is starting to be planned . . . I hear rumors about a possible WWII bomber reunion as well as a first class jet act. So, mark your calendars early and get ready for another spectacular show and fly-in event.

Ginger Gordon and The 2002 Indianapolis Air Show General Aviation Fly-In Committee

PS: Aeroplane will publish an article on the Indianapolis Air Show in their December issue and the Tiger Moth story will be in the January issue. If you haven't had a chance to see this wonderful magazine on historic aviation, check out their website http://www.aeroplanemonthly.com/index.htm. Lots of great pictures of the air show on the website: www.indyairshow.com Thanks for helping us make the future healthier for the children at Riley!