Cherokee Pilots Association Fly-In Just Gets Better and Better

We just returned from the 3rd Annual Cherokee Pilots Association Fly-In,
held at Tan-Tar-A resort at Osage Beach, Missouri (in the Lake of the Ozarks
area), and, wow -- this group just keeps getting better and better. What a
great weekend!

As the arrivals continued on Friday morning, a large group of pilots
migrated out to the runway, where someone produced a large dry-erase board
for "landing judging." Mary garnered an "8" from this very tough crowd,
with the highest rating being a "9" (for an absolutely perfect squeaker),
and the lowest being a "4" (for arriving in the pattern on a right downwind,
directly into the teeth of two other planes on a LEFT downwind!). We
eventually joined them, and spent a great afternoon watching planes arrive
from all over the country.

Friday night kicked off the festivities with a fantastic cookout, put on by
the Missouri Pilots Association at the Grand Glaize Airport (K15), home
airport for the fly-in. It was extremely well attended, and Av-Tek kicked
in a bunch of free beer -- and not much makes a bunch of pilots happier than
free beer!

Then, starting at 8 AM Saturday, a full day of forums were conducted by many
different presenters. Everything from airspace incursions and intercept
procedures (presented by a very funny Air Force F-15 driver), to propeller
overhaul procedures -- and everything in between -- was presented, and I
attended as many as I could while Mary took the kids to Tan-Tar-A's water
park.

Before, between, and after the forums, many, many hours of enjoyable and
informative hangar flying took place. What a great bunch of guys and gals
to hang out with -- and you shoulda seen some of the planes! We're talking
better-than-new here, with glass panels, and enough dead cow to keep a lion
pride fed for a month... The judges for the competition had a helluva time
selecting winners in each category (I.E.: Early 140s; late 140s; Early
180s; 235s; Saratogas; etc.) -- it was very close.

That night we all dined in one of Tan-Tar-A's big banquet halls, and --
after the judging awards were presented to the dozen-or so winners of their
"Best Cherokee" categories -- we were able to listen to (and question) Chuck
Suma, president of New Piper, who appeared as the keynote speaker.

Mr. Suma is a very open, honest, and accessible guy (we shot the breeze with
him for 30 minutes after his speech, and we talked about everything from his
years bucking rivets at "Old" Piper, to possibly bringing out a new 4-place
based on a shortened Malibu fuselage), and it was really great for him to
make an appearance at our fly-in.

This was followed by hours of dancing, and many more hours of hangar flying,
well into the wee hours.

Then, today, the vendors were open again for a few hours, and the freebie
drawings were held. We once again won (this time a plastic piece from Plane
Plastics -- one that I had JUST broken a few weeks ago, conveniently
enough!), and we were soon being shuttled back to the airport, where the
biggest bunch of Cherokees you'll ever see were starting up and getting
ready to depart.

You Cherokee drivers who are NOT a part of this great organization are
really missing a great educational and social opportunity. Not only is the
CPA's on-line chat ("Cherokee Chat") website the best source of information
for your Cherokee, but your annual dues get you a decent monthly magazine,
and the right to attend what is rapidly becoming one the best annual fly-ins
around! I urge you to join, and attend next year's event, which is being
planned for June 2006. (Less interference with OSH.)

See their website at http://www.piperowner.com/

See more info about the fly-in at http://www.cherokeeflyin.com/
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"