Over 75,000 visitors were expected over the course of the five-day event in the small British town southeast of London. With Royal Air Force flyovers, and more than 1,200 exhibitors, it’s sure to be a busy week.

Over the next five days, all the events taking place will be covered in daily roundup articles, so be sure to check back each evening. In this article, we take a look at all the events occurring on the first day of the show, as well as a small press conference with executives at Boeing. 

• READ MORE: Boom Unveils Supersonic Overture Flight Deck

Boeing’s Pre-Airshow Press Conference 

At a press conference in London on the day before the show began, Boeing Commercial Aircraft CEO Stephanie Pope shared key details on the company. In response to questions regarding the impact on Boeing’s production, Pope claimed that Boeing had managed to increase production on its 737s and 787s. 

Pope, who recently took the helm of Boeing commercial aircraft due to the resignation of its former leader, claimed that she had key priorities to address when taking leadership. These included culture at the company, production, and quality. 

Korean Air Renews Long-Haul Fleet 

Korean Air announced at a press conference that they were ordering additional long-haul aircraft to its fleet.

The order consisted of 20 Boeing 777-9s, and 20 Boeing 787-10s, with a further 10 Boeing 787s being optional. Korean Air CEO Walter Cho claimed that these additional aircraft tied in nicely with the Airbus A350-1000s ordered earlier this year.

When questioned on when the aircraft would be delivered, Cho said Korean Air was looking at 2028 as the first delivery slot.

Japan Airlines Orders More Boeing 787s

Japan Airlines has announced that it will procure an additional 10 Boeing 787-9s, with the first set to arrive in 2028 going through to 2031.

This is a finalization of the order announced in March of this year. Once the order is finalized, it will bring JAL’s order total to 10 Boeing 787s and 21 Boeing 737 Max.

Drukair Plans to Add 5 Airbus Jets

In one of the first A321XLR orders of the airshow, Bhutan flag carrier Drukair announced a revolutionary short-haul order for the airline. The full breakdown consists of three Airbus A320neos and two Airbus A321XLRs. 

The airline’s current Airbus fleet consists of four Airbus A320 family aircraft: three Airbus A319s and an A320ceo. The new aircraft will be revolutionary for the small Bhutani carrier, allowing it to reach destinations farther away, such as the Middle East or northeastern Asia.

• READ MORE: Embraer Inks A-29 Super Tucano Deal

“[We’re] thrilled to embark on this new chapter in Drukair’s history, which dovetails perfectly with the development of the Gelephu Mindfulness City and work to expand the Gelephu Airport [VQGP],” Drukair CEO Tandi Wangchuk said. “Our investment in these state-of-the-art aircraft underscores our dedication to supporting Bhutan’s vision of holistic and mindful development.”

Qatar Airways Touts Upgraded Qsuite Product

Qatar Airways revealed its “QSuite next-gen” product, an upgrade to its current business-class product featured on its Boeing 777s and Airbus A350s. The new features include moveable 4K OLED Panasonic Astrova IFE screens, the first to be featured on board an airline’s cabin.

The seats in the cabin are also wider now, and the ability to socialize in so-called “Quad suites” (four seats grouped together) still remains at the heart of its product. The new seats will be featured on Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777-9s, which are on order and set to first arrive in 2025. 

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AirlineGeeks.com.

The post Farnborough Airshow Kicks Off With a Handful of Orders appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

1. If you drive to the event, pack your patience. 

You may end up parked well away from the show grounds and bused to the front gate. Take note of where you parked (for example Blue Lot) and write it down. Also consider dropping an AirTag in your car, so at the end of the day when you’re tired, you can find it more easily.

• READ MORE: Airplane Types Unlock AirVenture Locations for Parking, Camping

2. Conserve your energy.

Don’t run when you can walk, and don’t walk when you can ride. Use the trams and buses on the grounds to get where you need/want to go, or close to where you want to go. You get a map when you enter the grounds. Use this map to plan your visit. For the map-reading challenged: The big runway is aligned north-south; the warbird runway is east-west.

• READ MORE: Air Force B-52, C-17 Headed to EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh

3. Carry a backpack.

Most people carry a backpack to the event to hold water bottles, sunscreen, etc. The pack will be searched when you enter the grounds, so do yourself a favor and make sure you’re not carrying a firearm or other contraband that is not allowed.

• READ MORE: Flying In to AirVenture: A Carefully Orchestrated Cacophony of Chaos

The best packs are the ones with the waist strap as they take the load off your shoulders. Make sure your name and phone number are on the bag in the event it goes missing. EAA has an excellent lost-and-found department.

4. Self protection is important.

Wear a hat with a brim and sunglasses on a lanyard. Carry a rain poncho and an extra pair of socks. Even if the sun is shining, weather comes up quickly and ferociously. You can also use the poncho to make shade or to sit on when watching the airshow. When your socks get sweaty, change into the dry pair. This prevents blisters, which can ruin your day. Also, don’t forget earplugs as it can get loud during the airshow.

• READ MORE: Oshkosh 2024 Notice Outlines Changes for Pilots Flying to AirVenture

5. Study the map.

Plan your route carefully. You may want to make a loop of the grounds, starting at one end and going to the other, rather than zigzagging back and forth.

• READ MORE: EAA AirVenture: A Vintage Aircraft Paradise

6. Visit the hangars early in the day.

If able, visit the hangars before 11 a.m. because they can become uncomfortably hot later in the day.

7. Carry a small first-aid kit.

This kit should contain hand sanitizer, Band-Aids, anti-diarrhea medication, pain reliever, etc. Hopefully, you won’t need any of it. There is a first-aid building on the grounds for more serious injuries.

The post 7 Things to Know Before You Go to AirVenture appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The 32-page document of official procedures, known as the Oshkosh 2024 Notice, is now available online and required reading for pilots intending to fly themselves to the Wisconsin event. 

According to the EAA, there are a few changes this year that are the result of “pilot feedback and FAA review of arrival procedure recommendations.”

The EAA said the notice is in effect from noon CDT on July 18 until noon CDT on July 29. The document outlines procedures for the many types of aircraft that fly to Oshkosh for the event, as well as aircraft that land at nearby airports.

New Procedures for 2024

This year there are TFRs in the Milwaukee area that have nothing to do with AirVenture.

• On July 15-18, the Republican National Convention will be held in the region, prompting a closure of airspace. On July 25-28, the Milwaukee Air & Water Show will be conducted with a TFR of its own.
• There is a new Fisk holding procedure. There are several pages on it in the notice that include drawings of landmarks and approved routes in addition to textual descriptions called out in boldface and boxes.
• No Fisk arrivals will be permitted before 8 a.m. CDT on Thursday, July 25.

In addition, the ATC assignable transition points located west of Oshkosh will be in effect again. They are designed to reduce holding time and air traffic congestion. The points are at Endeavor Bridge, Puckaway Lake, and Green Lake. According to the notice, they will be announced on the arrival ATIS when ATC activates during times of highest traffic flow.

This year’s AirVenture marks its 71st anniversary, and safety, as always, is paramount.

“The most essential information for any pilot flying to Oshkosh involves reading and thoroughly understanding the 2024 AirVenture Notice to ensure safe operations on arrival and departure,” said Sean Elliott, EAA’s vice president of advocacy and safety. “This FAA notice document states the official requirements and expectations for pilots. We also urge all pilots to log appropriate cross-country time prior to their trip to Oshkosh so they have the proficiency and confidence to fly safely.”

Pilots are advised to study the notice in advance and plan their flights carefully. 

Pro Tips:

• Add an additional 30 minutes to your estimated time en route, and be prepared to divert to another airport if weather, traffic, or an accident creates a delay.
• In addition to having the notice in digital form on your iPad or tablet, print it out and have a hard copy with you in the cockpit as a backup.

Good luck, and we’ll see you at the show.

The complete Oshkosh 2024 Notice is below. For a free, printed copy, call EAA at 1-800-564-6322.

The post Oshkosh 2024 Notice Outlines Changes for Pilots Flying to AirVenture appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The powerplant manufacturer, which is a subsidiary of Continental Aerospace Technologies, has submitted its certification package to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and  expects certification by the end of the year.

• READ MORE: AERO Friedrichshafen Encourages Pilots to Arrive in Their Own Aircraft

According to Continental, the CD-170R variant is “an evolution” of its CD-170 for advanced fixed-wing, single-engine aircraft and will feature similar characteristics. The CD-170R, however, does not have a gearbox, shaving its weight by 37 pounds.

“The 170 hp turbocharged engine combines the state-of-the-art, full authority digital engine control (FADEC), resulting in lower fuel consumption and dual redundancy,” Continental said in a statement. “While fuel consumption is application based, this 4-cylinder model is expected to conservatively burn approximately 7.9 gallons of jet-A-1 per hour when in cruise. Similar to its predecessors, the CD-170R will debut with a time between replacement (TBR) of 1,200 hours and will increase with time in service.”

According to David Dörner, vice president of global research and development for Continental Aerospace Technologies, the engine was engineered with pilot needs at the forefront.

“This is a major innovation milestone in Continental’s history that will allow us to serve even more pilots and operators in the [GA] industry,” said Dörner. “Controlled via FADEC with rotorcraft-specific software mapping, pilots can now direct their focus toward the critical phases of flight and mission, alleviating the need to manage both the throttle and the collective simultaneously.”

The post Continental Unveils CD-170R Rotorcraft-Specific Heavy Fuel Engine appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The FAA, which predicts nearly 2,000 pilots are headed to Sun ‘n Fun (SNF), has published a NOTAM for the event, effective Monday, April 8, to Sunday, April 14, for the duration of the event. 

• READ MORE: 5 Things to Look Forward to at 2024 Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo

Pilots should read the NOTAM in its entirety, but these are some areas the FAA has called out this year:

VFR Procedures

There are multiple VFR procedures for Sun ‘n Fun arrivals, and they vary depending on the type of aircraft, such as warbirds, ultralights, or aircraft without radios (NORDO), so read the NOTAM carefully.

Contacting Flight Service by Radio

• On initial call-up, advise flight service of your full aircraft identification and which frequency you are using.
• When transmitting on 122.1 and listening to the VOR, check that volume is up.
• Due to frequency congestion, air files and in-flight full route weather briefings are discouraged.

Tips for Enroute

Pilots should acquire the ATIS no later than 60 miles from Lakeland Linder International Airport (KLAL), noting the arrival runway in use. Follow the published NOTAM procedures for your type of aircraft.

• READ MORE: Sun ‘n Fun 2024: Soar into the Skies with Unforgettable Airshow Spectacles

Pilots are requested to have their landing lights on for extra visibility when they are within 40 nm of KLAL and make sure their transponder remains on during the approach. ATC will contact pilots in the vicinity of Lake Parker’s north shore, using the aircraft “color” and “type” to provide sequencing and other arrival information. When you file your flight plan, make sure to include these.

Pilots will likely be asked to rock their wings in acknowledgment of instructions. Do not transmit unless requested by ATC or if you have an emergency. ATC at Lake Parker controls traffic flow and assigns the KLAL landing runway.

Pilots are cautioned to pick out an aircraft of similar type and speed to follow and remain at least a half mile in trail behind it. Aircraft should not be overtaken nor should the pilots perform S-turns to follow another aircraft. Instead break off the procedure and proceed to the starting point and follow another aircraft of similar speed.

Pilots are encouraged to add at least 30 minutes to their expected time en route with a corresponding fuel load in the event they are required to hold, go around, or divert to an alternate.

All aircraft maintain 100 knots, at 1,200 feet msl.

Aircraft unable to safely slow to this speed should maintain 150 knots at 1,700 msl, with the exception of twin-engine aircraft that should be at an altitude of 2,200 msl.

Pilots should land on either the green or orange dot, per ATC instructions.

Be alert for special event traffic and flyby aircraft using the main runway with opposite-direction base leg entries.

Do not deviate south of Runway 10R/28L in the event of a go-around.

Do not land on the main (wide) Runway 10R/28L unless specifically instructed by ATC.

Do not stop on the runway. High-speed taxi to the end of the runway or follow ATC instructions.

Pilots are asked to close flight plans while airborne.

Due to the large number of aircraft, you may encounter up to a 30-minute delay in parking. Clouds can result in an overdue if the flight plan has not been closed.

If you are one of the nearly 2,000 pilots flying to @SunnFunFlyIn, make sure to review these new arrival procedures for @FlyLakeland Airport. Watch our full video at https://t.co/9MwlAjckl7. #SunNFun #GeneralAviation pic.twitter.com/Ql4dl2bR4q

— The FAA (@FAANews) April 8, 2024

NORDO Procedures

Aircraft not equipped with an air-to-ground radio (NORDO) must land at an airport within approximately 30 minutes of KLAL. Call Lakeland Tower at 863-647-4864 and receive ATC approval for arrival. Specific routes and runway assignment will be issued based on traffic and weather conditions.

To ensure clear and concise communications with ATC, pilots are asked to carry a copy of the Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo Domestic Notice aboard their aircraft. Don’t expect the controller to read it to you.

All VFR departures requesting airborne activation of IFR flight plans or VFR flight following in the central Florida area should use published procedures.

• READ MORE: FAA Seeking Pilots for Cognitive Study at Sun ‘n Fun

If the weather at Lakeland or along the route of flight is marginal VFR, it is strongly suggested that the pilot file IFR from their departure airport and receive your IFR clearance and departure release on the ground. As the event creates a significant uptick in air traffic, Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville approaches may not be able to issue IFR pickup clearances.

Pilots landing or departing KLAL should display a sign on the left side of their windshield to designate their intended parking/camping area or type of departure. The sign should have dark letters large enough to make it readable from at least 50 feet. Consider using a thick black marker to apply the appropriate designation (such as VA for Vintage Aircraft) on a piece of printer paper. Computer or tablet signs are not acceptable.

Note that there is usually a significant number of departures after the daily airshow ends, therefore arrival traffic is not normally accepted until 30-45 minutes after the conclusion of the event. Pilots are advised to check the ATIS to determine if the airport has reopened.

Do not plan to arrive or depart after the night airshow as the airport will be closed.

When You Land

Do not make unnecessary radio transmissions where procedures state, “Monitor the frequency only.”

Do not stop on the runway after landing. High-speed taxi to the end of the runway.

• READ MORE: Sun ‘n Fun Kicks Off Spring Break for Aviation

Show visitors are warned not to stand on/near or walk/drive across the runways. Be aware of aircraft coming and going in the aircraft parking areas. Don’t assume the pilot of a taxing aircraft can see you.

Pilots should use caution when operating in nonmovement areas and recognize that all movement on anything other than paved runways comes at a pilot’s own risk. Also, remember that many of the visitors to SNF may not be familiar with the visual limitations from the cockpit, so pilots be extra careful around pedestrians.

All aircraft must be tied down and, when on a paved surface, chocked.

Aircraft parking and camping is allowed in designated areas only. Camping north of Runway 10L/28R is prohibited.

No campfires or stoves are permitted near aircraft, and visitors are asked to observe all fire prevention rules.

The post What You Need to Know Before Flying Into Sun ‘n Fun appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Victory’s Arsenal Theatre

It’s not Sun ’n Fun without historic military warbirds on display. The aircraft played significant roles in multiple conflicts, such as World War II and the Korean War. You’ll see a variety of transports, bombers, trainers, and pursuit aircraft, later known as fighters.

Beginning April 10, Victory’s Arsenal Theatre will present an aircraft each morning in front of the grandstands on the Sun ’n Fun warbird ramp. The pilot or owner of the aircraft will share  its story. The master of ceremonies will be Ron Kaplan, former executive director of the National Aviation Hall of Fame.

• READ MORE: A Fond Memory: Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo 2023

Take a Warbird Ride

The Commemorative Air Force will once again be offering rides in select warbirds, such as the RC-45J Expediter, T-6 Texan, known as “the pilot maker,” and P-51 Mustang. These once-in-a-lifetime flights are available for a price (it varies) and will certainly be the highlight of any aviation enthusiast’s day.

Catch a Daily Airshow

It wouldn’t be Sun ’n Fun without a daily airshow. Weather permitting, delight to the exploits of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, aerobatic pilots Michael Goulian and Patty Wagstaff, the Titan Aerobatic team, the Howard DGA-6 Mister Mulligan, and the Patriot Parachute Team. Check the daily schedule here for updates, and keep your eyes on the skies.

• READ MORE: Sun ’n Fun 2024: Soar into the Skies with Unforgettable Airshow Spectacles

Hands-On Workshops

If you have ever thought of building your own aircraft or restoring one, check out the hands-on workshops. There will be demonstrations of a variety of skills, including composite construction, electrical installation and noise troubleshooting, fabric covering and metal shaping, woodworking, and welding.

• READ MORE: Trace Adkins, Sara Evans to Kick Off 50th Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo

Bring Your Kids

For children, there is the Junior ACEs program, which is a weeklong open house showcasing the year-round STEM programs available for those between the ages of 7 and 17. Explore different careers in aviation, fly a simulator, or learn about space. This year there are three locations for Junior ACEs: the Skylab Innovation Center, Buehler Restoration and Skills Center, and Junior ACEs tent located in the Future ’n Flight Plaza.

As if that’s not enough, don’t forget to wander through the exhibit hangars. If you can fly it, navigate with it, train with it, or use it to enhance your aviation experience in any way, shape, or form it, you’ll likely find it there.

The post 5 Things to Look Forward to at 2024 Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

For the estimated 140,000 fans who attended the weeklong celebration of aircraft performance (September 13-17), I suspect the overall experience was still one to treasure, in part because the races are more than the sum of the event. When you walk through the gates and head for the grandstands, you are stepping into a complex timeline that stretches back to the competition’s conception in 1964 and beyond to aviation’s Golden Age, with the Cleveland air races, and the Thompson, Bendix, and Greve trophies.

I know I will feel a tinge of joy every time I look back on my days spent with the Yak-3 racer Miss Trinidad, its owner Sam Davis, crew chief John Dowd, pilot John Maloney, and the gang of volunteers that kept the complex vintage machine ready to race. This group generously made room for me in its pit stall so I could report on the effort required to get a bunch of 80-year-old warbirds to the starting line and the elements that, when blended correctly, turn a race plane into a winner.

• READ MORE: The Intricacies of Getting Ready for Reno

The performances seen at Reno are often the culmination of years of work spent modifying, testing, and refining these former fighting aircraft into racers capable of lapping the 8-mile course at 400 mph or more. Favorites change from year to year with certain airplanes enjoying runs of back-to-back victories and record-setting lap speeds. Sometimes an airplane will languish at the back of the pack until a new owner or change of sponsorship brings the resources needed to make it a front-runner. In other cases, finding the right pilot can put an airplane in the winner’s circle. These combinations often become part of air racing lore.

That tradition piqued my interest as a kid leafing through aviation magazines. Photos of P-51 Mustangs, F8F Bearcats, Hawker Sea Furies, and other models of the World War II era rounding pylons, flying wingtip to wingtip, seemed completely thrilling. Even more storied than the aircraft were the pilots. From Chuck Lyford and the Bardahl Special P-51 and Mira Slovak and the Smirnoff Bearcat in the 1960s to Steven Hinton in the recently restored Bardahl Special in this year’s races, the aviators who compete at this level tend to lead interesting lives.

For decades, I was determined to make my way to Reno to see the action firsthand. But life and all of its schedules kept me away. As a result, I missed watershed developments, including the arrival of original non-warbird designs Tsunami during the mid-1980s and the twin-engine Pond Racer, a Burt Rutan composite design of the early 1990s. My father went to the races with a group of friends in 1992 and brought back photos of the Pond Racer. I was jealous.

Still, I followed the races for many years through print, television, and video, catching memorable events like Hinton flying the P-51 Red Baron to a new speed record in 1979 to the classic 1989 showdown between Bill “Tiger” Destefani and his P-51 Strega and longtime rival Lyle Shelton in the Bearcat Rare Bear.

Seeing the event in person this year might have been the ultimate case of “better late than never,” but it gave me a sense of what the races truly represent and why the tightly knit racing community returns each year despite the expense and obvious risks.

“Community” really is the right word to describe Reno’s cast of characters that includes pilots, aircraft builders, mechanics, owners, officials, sponsors, and families. As expected, people serving as crewmembers work tirelessly for their teams, repairing, tuning, and tweaking aircraft before and between qualifying flights and heat races. What might surprise outsiders is how hard the same folks will work to get a competitor’s airplane into a race, especially if they are sidelined by a mishap.

If someone needs a spare part, a special tool, or someone with particular expertise, help is sure to emerge from a neighboring section of the pits, which sprawls like a small town across the vast ramp at Reno-Stead Airport (KRTS). It is the kind of town where some of your neighbors might be celebrities.

Pete Law, the renowned former Lockheed engineer and fluid dynamicist who for decades designed exotic systems for cooling racers’ engines and keeping them running properly, stopped by Trinidad’s pit stall for a friendly visit. Across the ramp were the legendary P-51s Miss America and Thunderbird. Take a shortcut through Miss Trinidad’s backyard, and you would enter the Hinton headquarters where the Bardahl Special was undergoing constant preparation. The airplane, restored and heavily modified over the past year, reportedly at great expense, was favored to win the Unlimited Gold race.

The stakes were high, and the atmosphere in the pits was intense, though still friendly, with visitors stopping by to chat and bag the occasional autograph. In the background, generators hummed and power tools whirred as workers opened hatches and removed exterior panels to perform a range of surgeries on aircraft before sending them to the line to start the next race. Occasionally, someone shouts for a tool or bandage to dress bloody knuckles. Sometimes you hear the echo of a nut, bolt, screw, or other small part dropped deep inside a fuselage or engine cowling, followed by an expletive. That is about as harsh as it gets.

Proof of the air racing community’s openness came when my wife, who did not grow up around airplanes, flew out to join me for the final day of competition. The entire crew welcomed her, and she wound up having such a great time chatting with them and pitching in to help when she could that the racing almost became secondary. She wondered how you get so many accomplished people to work free of charge.

As a physician, she happily answered medical questions with owner Davis and crew chief Dowd while learning about the vagaries of twin-row radial engines like the Yak’s Pratt & Whitney R2000. She cannot wait for the races to resume at a new venue, which is planned for 2025.

The ultimate show of friend-for-life status came just before we departed on Sunday afternoon. Members of the Davis team wore white T-shirts with an image of the airplane and the inscriptions “Miss Trinidad” and “Race 27.” As we said our farewells, Davis approached and handed us our own crew shirts.

We will wear them with pride.

This column first appeared in the November 2023/Issue 943 of FLYING’s print edition.

The post Taking in the Reno Air Races’ Final Lap appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The daily airshows, scheduled from 1-5 p.m. EDT, promise to deliver thrills courtesy of renowned performers such as Patty Wagstaff, Rob Holland, and Michael Goulian. Additionally, the night airshow and pyrobatic fireworks will illuminate the skies on Wednesday and Saturday, kicking off at 7 p.m.

• READ MORE: A Fond Memory: Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo 2023

For aviation enthusiasts, the Commemorative Air Force is set to offer vintage aircraft rides, including the iconic B-29 Fifi, and various other warbirds. Interested individuals can secure their ride bookings through the Sun ’n Fun website. Spectators can look forward to captivating performances by the U.S. Air Force F-35A Demo Team, Air Force Thunderbirds, Patriot Parachute Demo Team, and Warbirds Arrival Show on April 9, with additional warbird events sprinkled throughout the week. The official website provides a detailed event schedule.

On the ground, attendees can partake in workshops, explore opportunities at an aviation career fair, and provide young aviation enthusiasts with inspiration at a dedicated kids corner. Aviators flying into the show can benefit from available discounts, while those seeking an elevated experience can opt for preferred seating, available on the event’s website. The Sun ’n Fun event promises an immersive experience for aviation enthusiasts of all ages.

The post Sun ’n Fun 2024: Soar Into the Skies with Unforgettable Airshow Spectacles appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Answer: Not at all. An airshow involves aerial acts that require an aerobatics box, oft-paid performers and announcers, the designation of a show line (to keep the viewing public out of harm’s way from performers), along with procedures and staff for emergencies, just to mention a few things. The FAA needs to approve the event, and a NOTAM is issued. Airshows usually charge a fee for entry.

The airport sponsor needs to approve the airshow before it happens, along with the FAA, which has guidance here.

An airshow usually takes about a year to plan. For example, the airshow in Grant County, Washington, is held on Father’s Day weekend, and by August 1, they have started planning for the next year.

Fly-ins do not typically have paid performers, although they may have fly-bys of aircraft in the pattern, or Young Eagles rides taking place. Fly-ins require permission from the airport sponsor, such as the county, city, or port, making arrangements not to disrupt regular activities at the airport—like flight school operations. Usually, you do not need FAA permission—or have to issue a NOTAM about the fly-in.

A fly-in is more like a car show with aircraft on static display—and often the two are paired, classic cars and classic airplanes. Usually there isn’t a fee to enter the fly-in, although they are often cast as fundraisers for aviation or civic organizations and donations are appreciated. Many aviation fly-ins have a pancake breakfast for a price, and that money is considered a donation.

Both an airshow and fly-in require the organization putting on the event to obtain an appropriate level of insurance, often determined by the airport sponsor. Sometimes, this can be the killer of the event, as the amount of insurance required by the airport sponsor risk management team is beyond the capability of the organization that wants to put on the event. This is particularly true if the fly-in is a fundraiser for a non-profit. Both events also require attention to infrastructure, such as getting an adequate number of porta-potties, parking assistance, first aid stations, etc.

In both cases, approaching the airport sponsor well in advance (at least a year to six months out) with a plan on when the event will take place, what activities and exhibits to be at the event, how many staff and volunteers you will have working the event, the footprint of the event on the airport, how you will address the issue of not interrupting regular airport operations, and how many people you anticipate having will go a long way to making your event a success.

The post What Is the Difference Between a Fly-In and an Airshow? appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The airborne meet-up was part of a yearlong observance marking the 90th anniversary of Air France and the 70th anniversary of the Patrouille de France. The performance also served as a tribute to the French aviation industry. 

• READ MORE: Airbus Chooses New Honeywell Flight Management System

The event took place as the Airbus named “Les Sables-d’Olonne” made a ferry flight from the company’s assembly plant in Toulouse to the Air France global hub at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport. Members of the Patrouille de France team were conducting a positioning flight for an airshow in the Occitanie region.

Both organizations took full advantage of the occasion by combining the flights into a painstakingly planned, choreographed, and recorded demonstration mission called Athos A350. The project included eleven aircraft and produced “exceptional images,” the companies said.

• READ MORE: Patrouille de France Will Perform at Sun ’n Fun during North American Tour

“A month of preparation and thorough cooperation was required to plan this 45-minute flight down to the smallest detail, guaranteeing the highest level of safety. This groundwork prepared jointly by the Patrouille de France team, the Air France crew and the pilot of the camera-mounted aircraft was carried out in line with the highest standards,” said Eric Prévot, event manager and Athos A350 mission leader.

The film was directed by Eric Magnan of Airborne Films, a specialist in aerial footage, and shot from a Daher TBM 700 using a gyro-stabilized camera system. The film’s original music by composer Augustin Saldjian was performed by the Prague philharmonic orchestra.

The flight video can be viewed on YouTube.

The post Airbus Joins Celebration of Air France and Patrouille de France Anniversaries appeared first on FLYING Magazine.