The fog was so thick the geese were walking and there was a new $5 admission fee, but neither seemed to keep pilots, mechanics and aviation buffs away from the Northwest Aviation Conference Feb. 25-27 in Puyallup, Wash. The show has been attracting pilots from all over the northwest for more than 20 years.
If you could use it to improve aircraft performance, the look of your machine or piloting abilities, you could probably find someone exhibiting it at the show. There were seminars covering topics ranging from mountain flying and single pilot IFR operations to starting your own chapter of an aviation organization.
There were lots of activities for children of all ages as young and not-so-young aviators played with computer flight simulators, toy gliders and propellers.
On the other side of the age spectrum were older aviators interested in the Sport Pilot certificate. A few said they were shopping for a Light Sport Aircraft. Others were checking out different facets of aviation, such as gliders.
Show officials said the attendance figures were up for Saturday over last year’s numbers with 8,000 attendees. Sunday attendance was closer to 3,000.
Dates for next year’s show have not been determined.