Some of the top
national air show performers will be featured at the 2003
COPPERSTATE Regional EAA Fly-in on October 9-12. For the second
year, the event will be held on its permanent campus at Phoenix
Regional Airport (PRA) in Maricopa.
Air show performances take place from 1 to 3 pm on Friday, 1 to
4 pm on Saturday, and noon to 3 pm on Sunday.
Returning to COPPERSTATE are 2002 U.S. National Aerobatics
Champion Kirby Chambliss and aerobatic pilot Tim Weber, along with
pilots Lon Arnold, Rob Harrison, Jon Melby, Jason Stephens, and
Sonny Weller. For the first time, the event will feature a comedy
act by veteran performer Kent Pietsch. Other first-time COPPERSTATE
performers include Eric Beard, Ed Hamill, Jim Maroney, and Rhett
Thompson.
The air show offers a wide variety of popular aerobatic
performers and aircraft, including:
- Lon Arnold, Long EZ (www.longezairshows.com)
- Eric Beard, Yak 54 (www.russianthunder.com)
- Kirby Chambliss, Zivko Edge (www.chamblissaerobatics.com)
- Ed Hamill, Pitt S2C (www.edhamill.com)
- Rob Harrison, Zlin 50 (www.harrisonairshows.com)
- Jim Maroney, Dehavilland Super Chipmunk
- Jon Melby, Pitts S2B (www.jonmelby.com)
- Kent Pietsch, Interstate Cadet (www.pietschaircraft.com)
- Jason Stephens, MDM-1 Fox (www.azsoaring.com)
- Rhett Thompson, Sukhoi SU-26M (www.thompsonairshows.com)
- Tim Weber, Extra 300 (www.timweber-airshows.com)
- Sonny Weller, Pitts S2C
On Sunday, 10/12, the airshow will also include a
radio-controlled aircraft demonstration featuring the Sun lakes
Radio Control Club with Kevin Davis (1/3-scale Cap 232 and
helicopter), Clint Fereday (1/3-scale Edge 540), and Steven Jones
(1/3-scale Patty Wagstaff Extra 300). Larry Nichols and John
Mangino from Arizona Model Aviators will also be appearing as the
Arizona Flying Eagles, an 8-plane RC combat team. A few lucky
winners will have the opportunity to fly an RC model using a "buddy
box" with the help of a qualified RC instructor pilot. In addition,
parachutists will open each show, and there will be fly-bys by the
Replica Fighters on Sunday, and warbird aircraft on Saturday and
Sunday. Bill Larson is the Air Boss and the announcer is T.K. (Tom)
Harris.
The COPPERSTATE Regional EAA Fly-in is sponsored by the Arizona
Council of EAA Chapters, a non-profit organization dedicated to
aviation education. The event features an air show, hands-on
workshops and educational forums, kid's activities, vendor
displays, food court, and acres of planes on display. In previous
years, hundreds of aircraft from all over the U.S., Canada and
Mexico have flown in for the event. Gates are open daily from 8am
to 5 pm. Daily admission is $10 per person, $7 for EAA members, and
children under 12 Free. Four-day event passes are $25.