Fri, May 09, 2003
Sweepstakes Waco Grounded By Heavy Weather, Event Will Go On,
Rain Or Shine
A line of heavy afternoon and evening
thunderstorms and the high probability of morning fog in the
morning have conspired to keep the AOPA Centennial of Flight
Sweepstakes aircraft, a beautifully restored Waco UPF-7 biplane,
from making it to the grand opening of the new Pilot Facility
sponsored by AOPA at First Flight Airfield (FFA) in Kill Devil
Hills, N.C.
However, the grand-opening ceremonies for the Pilot Facility
will go on, regardless of the weather. The terminal forecast for
nearby Elizabeth City calls for morning fog. A pilot who flew in
today reported that this morning's fog lifted quickly at about 11
a.m. Pilots will need to land at nearby Dare County Regional
Airport (MQI) in Manteo, N.C. There is no parking available at FFA
on Saturday. However, AOPA has arranged free shuttle-bus service
for the 20-minute ride between MQI and FFA. Buses will begin
running at 7 a.m.
The ribbon cutting ceremony begins at 12:30 p.m. and will be
followed by a free hot-dog lunch, informal tours of the facility,
and guided tours of the Wright Brothers National Memorial, just up
the hill from the new building, by National Park Service
rangers.
Inside the new center, pilots will see a new, state-of-the-art
flight planning facility, including Meteorlogix' MxVision
AviationSentry computerized weather briefing system and a second
computer with Jeppesen's FliteStar flight planning software and an
Internet connection to AOPA Online.
Everyone who attends will receive a memento of the occasion and
will be eligible to win a leather Centennial of Flight Sweepstakes
bomber jacket. The Centennial of Flight Waco will be awarded in a
random drawing to be held shortly after the New Year. Anyone who
has joined AOPA or renewed membership during the two-year
sweepstakes period is automatically entered.
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