Your Chance to Design a Fly-In

Jay -

Some thoughts, in no particular order....

The DNR water bombers are usually popular with both the kids and the
adults. Besides a static display, a demo during the "air show" portion
could be arranged. Be prepared for a quick exit by these folks, if they
get called out. May is already fire season (depending on weather of
course) up here in Minnesota, don't know about Iowa.

For cool fly bys of military arcft - When I was Technical Director our
local Independance Day Celebration (the largest in the state, and
continues to this day, by the way) about a hundred years ago, it took a
few phone calls to get the right general on the phone, but I started
with the National Guard at Camp Ripley, which is our local base. Within
a couple of days, I had a call back and it was all arranged. Arrived
within 20 seconds of scheduled time, too! Those guys are good. (The
first (or second, don't recall now,) they sent a ground crew up with a
radio (Mil UHF, had to use theirs) that we patched into the PA system.
Crowd thought it was very cool to listen to the pilots as they made
their passes - even got a few words directed to the crowd from the lead
plane.

The Duluth MN airshow a few years ago (its scheduled again for 2006, I
understand) had a large turn out of the Military recruiters (Duluth
being a NG air base) who had all kinds of very cool activities for the
kids. My son spent much time in the Marines (inflatable) obsticale
course. This thing was hugh, complete with ropes to climb and things to
crawl under/thru. It even included genuine Marine Drill Sargents with
the "smokey-bear" hat and LOUD voices.

Local flight school/ FBO offering 15-20 minute plane rides, helicopter
rides...

Don't forget to involve at least one local radio station as a sponsor.

Send posters to airports and such in a large radius - what better
reason to get in the plane and fly somewhere?

Randy

And be very careful of what you call the "contests" (i.e. "flour bombing
contest"). Most aircraft insurance policies have clauses regarding
"contests" and I don't think you want to run afoul of this little glitch.

Jim

The Duluth MN airshow a few years ago (its scheduled again for 2006, I
understand) had a large turn out of the Military recruiters (Duluth
being a NG air base) who had all kinds of very cool activities for the
kids. My son spent much time in the Marines (inflatable) obsticale
course. This thing was hugh, complete with ropes to climb and things to
crawl under/thru. It even included genuine Marine Drill Sargents with
the "smokey-bear" hat and LOUD voices.

You mean this thing: http://alexisparkinn.com/november_'05_open_house.htm
??

We had it at our CAP squadron's open house last week. A really remarkable
piece of equipment!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

That would be it!