The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) set a new record with 6,300 attendees at the association’s fourth and final 2016 regional fly-in at Ernest A. Love Field in Prescott, Arizona.
“Thanks to everyone who helped make this our best-attended fly-in yet,” said AOPA President and CEO Mark Baker. “With the support of Embry-Riddle, hundreds of volunteers, and a great airport team, we closed our 2016 fly-in season on a high note. We’ve now held 16 regional fly-ins across the country and seen more than 44,000 people, and we’re looking forward to doing it again in 2017.”
Rep. Paul Gosar (R.-Ariz), whose district includes Prescott, and Jack Pelton, leader of the Experimental Aircraft Association, attended the fly-in and joined Baker on stage to talk about aviation issues and answer audience questions during Saturday’s Pilot Town Hall.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Chancellor Frank Ayers also took part. The university’s Prescott Campus hosted OctoberWest, an annual alumni homecoming, at Love Field during the fly-in, and provided a static display aircraft and an hour-long aerial demonstration.
AOPA’s Prescott Fly-In By The Numbers
- 6,300 Attendees [Most Attended AOPA Fly-In]
- 565 Aircraft
- 275 Volunteers
- $680,000 Estimated Local Economic Contribution
General Aviation Contributes…
- 1.1 Million American Jobs
- $219 Billion To The U.S. Economy
- 41,200 Arizona Jobs
- $7.9 Billion To The Arizona Economy
Embry-Riddle’s Prescott Campus Contributes…
- $278 Million To The Local Economy
- 2,200 Arizona Jobs
It was great,I loved it. I got to climb on the TBM Avenger,walked up to Brent Barton’s beautiful Beach 18 and kissed it. I was born in 1946 and so was that BEAUTIFUL Plane. But most of all I got my picture taken with the BEST PILOT out there,Melissa Andrzejewski. OH I forgot mention she was also the prettiest pilot as well…….. thank you very much. Forrest ( Frosty ) Wells