AircraftOwner Online

    We all love to fly but do you remember how your passion first came about? My guess is that is was not sitting in the prisoner seat crammed in the back of some big silver elephant. More than likely you really became interested in flying after visiting a local airport. What got you there in the first place could be any of a number of things, but the local GA airport is probably where the spark hit the tinder. And that, my friend, continues to be the most important place to introduce people to the passion of flying. We need to keep people coming to see — and participate in — general aviation activities at our airports. That’s the key.

    In 2003 as part of the Centennial of Flight celebration, I organized the re-creation of the 1925 – 1931 National Air Tours. The National Air Tours were originally conducted in large part to do just what I’m talking about – to introduce people to aviation, right in their own home towns. The 2003 National Air Tour covered more than 4,000 over a three week period, visiting 26 cities across the Untied States (see: www.NationalAirTour.org). Hundreds of thousands of people came out to be a part of the fun.

    Today we continue we have events that bring people to the airport. There are fly-ins, airshows, Young Eagle rides, airport open houses and museums. While we have these things, we need even more of them. And, it would be helpful if we got a bit more creative in recognizing the opportunity we have to get new recruits into General Aviation. More and more the EAA is doing this with the young people who take Young Eagle rides. This is good and there is much more we can do, particularly when it comes time to “sell” aviation to visiting would-be pilots.

    One idea is to create more Air Tours. Along with the original National Air Tour, there also used to be state air tours. As I recall there may still be one or two of them happening – we just need more! Another great event was started after the 2003 National Air Tour. It’s called the American Barnstormers Tour and is operated and participated in by several original NAT participants (see: www.AmericanBarnstormersTour.com).

    The third biannual Barnstormers Tour was just conducted in the upper Midwest. It is a great idea headed up by NAT participant Clay Adams. Clay gets a group of barnstormers together, sets up and promotes a route and gets local airports and communities to help support each stop. There, about half-a-dozen vintage ride planes operate carrying passengers for hire while another dozen of so vintage ships provide background color and a static museum of sorts at each stop. It’s fabulous. People love it and the local participation is hands down fantastic.

    At each stop there is music playing, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, high school boosters and other local organizations selling food, snacks and other things in support their community activities. People are happy just to be there. They watch the goings-on with enthusiasm, even if they don’t take a ride. All the activities are centered on aviation at their local airport. That, my fellow pilots, is a wonderful thing!

    So let’s get creative. Let’s make coming to the airport a fun thing. Smiling faces, happy people and a real enthusiasm for aviation that’s waiting to be released. It’s there. I have seen it.