By Carmine Mowbray, RAF
The RAF shared a double booth with the Arizona Pilots Association at Arizona’s annual Copperstate Fly-In Expo and Buckeye Air Fair February 6-9.
Buckeye is west of Phoenix and claims to be the third fastest-growing city in the US.
The spread lining the 5,500-ft runway hosted several dozen outdoor displays, 38 indoor displays, plus four pavilions where workshops and forums took place such as AOPA’s town hall, FAA FAAST forums, backcountry techniques, flying into Mexico, maintenance and many homebuilder workshops. The camping area was doubled in size this year and still filled completely!
RAF Arizona Liaison Mark Spencer, his wife Stefanie, Brian Schober, Tommy Thomason and other APA and RAF representatives did lengthy duty in the booth. They signed up new members and organized and presented several backcountry forums throughout the event. RAF volunteers from several nearby states, including Carmine Mowbray from Utah, helped out in the booth and explained to visitors the role the RAF plays in Arizona's backcountry. Copperstate organizers work especially hard getting young persons to participate, and field trips brought over 1,200 school children that toured the venue, including APA director’s presentations about flying. The RAF thanks the Arizona Pilots Association for enhancing the RAF message and advocating the partnership that has resulted in successes like the Grapevine and Double Circle Ranch airstrips.
The event brought more attendees than last year, around 36,000 visitors from the pilot and non-flying local community. Over one hundred vehicle campers and dozens of airplane tenters spread out and enjoyed the clear Arizona skies. Food vendors were plentiful Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and Friday’s guests were treated to the Air Show rehearsal, just as breathtaking as Saturday’s Air Show. A Harmon Rocket, Pitts biplane, a modified Stearman, and a “twin” Yak – made by combining two Yak 55s with an added jet engine – wove the skies with smoke and exciting maneuvers.
