Celebrates 100 Years of Flight with Fun for All Ages
The COPPERSTATE
Regional EAA Fly-in will be held on October 9-12
at the event's permanent campus on Phoenix Regional Airport (A39),
located 25 miles south of Phoenix, Ariz.
Attendees from throughout the U.S. and several foreign countries
are expected at COPPERSTATE, the largest EAA fly-in in the
Southwest. Attendance is expected to significantly increase from
last year's inaugural event at the Phoenix Regional location, which
saw almost 8000 attendees and more than 650 aircraft.
Gates are open daily from 8 am to 5 pm. Daily admission is $10
per person, $7 for EAA members, and children under 12 Free.
Four-day event passes are (only) $25.
Thursday, 10/09, is designated as Youth Day. Schools, science
classes and clubs, and ROTC groups are specifically invited to
attend at no charge. Participants will receive tours of the
aircraft areas and information about career opportunities in
aviation. A number of aviation-related educational institutions
will have booths in the vendor area. Teachers and advisors
interested in participating should contact Bob Hurni at bhurni@aol.com.
COPPERSTATE features an air show on Friday (1-3 pm), Saturday
(1-4 pm), and Sunday (noon-3 pm), with exciting performances by
national and regional aerobatic stars. Returning to COPPERSTATE are
2002 U.S. National Aerobatics Champion Kirby Chambliss and
aerobatic pilot Tim Weber, along with pilots Lon Arnold, Ed Hamill,
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, Jim Maroney, and Rhett Thompson. In addition,
there will be a warbirds fly-by on Saturday and Sunday. Another
first is Family Day on Sunday, featuring flights by radio-control
aircraft and a Replica Fighter fly-by. The R-C modelers will also
have 'buddy boxes" that enable a few lucky winners to experience
flying a radio control model. Also featured, will be a half-scale
replica of the Wright Flyer that has been displayed throughout the
state to help celebrate the centennial of flight.
More than an airshow, COPPERSTATE is a meeting place where
enthusiasts of all ages from all aviation-related areas can enjoy a
wide variety of events.
- For the youngest
aviation enthusiasts, Bruce Schoenberger's award-winning
rib-building program allows kids of ages 8-15 years to build a
wooden airplane rib in 90 minutes or less.
- Free flights in general aviation aircraft are offered for youth
as part of EAA's national Young Eagles program.
- Educational forums and workshops are another popular attraction
at COPPERSTATE. In previous years, forum topics ranged from FAA
certification procedures, NTSB safety reports, and border crossing
procedures to building RV aircraft and converting auto
engines.
- Aircraft builders can learn new building techniques and hone
their skills in fabric covering, woodworking, metalworking,
composites, welding, engine repair, avionics, and more at the many
hands-on workshops.
- For the aircraft builder looking for aviation memorabilia or
out-of-production parts, vendor booths present a variety of
shopping choices, from books, clothing and collectibles to tools
and aircraft parts.
- The Fly Market offers tens of thousands of dollars worth of
aviation goods for sale on a consignment basis. Instruments,
airplane parts, tools, engines, cases, and even whole aircraft
projects are typically available for purchase. This year the
exhibitors will be housed in a single, large tent.
- Show planes are judged in several categories. Awards for best
homebuilt (wood, composite or other), best ultralight, and people's
choice are among the awards presented at the Saturday night
banquet.
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