Casper, Wyoming was one of three locations selected by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) for its much anticipated 2020 fly-in locations. The other airports hosting two-day events are San Marcos, Texas (KHYI) on May 29 and 30, and Rochester, New York (KROC) on Sept. 11 and 12.
“The whole Casper community is very excited to host the AOPA fly-in June 19th and 20th,” said Glenn Januska, Airport Director. “There was tremendous excitement during the solar eclipse in 2017 with the thousands of people who visited Casper, and we’re ready to show off the community again!” Januska said the timing of the event during the College National Final Rodeos (CNFR) will give those in attendance with the fly-in an opportunity to experience genuine western culture and get to see the best of the best college rodeo athletes.
Each location selected by AOPA has a personality of its own. From music to rodeos, car shows to airshows, and Wild West excursions to metropolitan vibes, the 2020 fly-in locations will have something for everyone. Attendees at the San Marcos, Casper, and Rochester fly-ins will have a chance to experience the AOPA programming they’ve come to enjoy with a Friday night Flightline Cookout, short takeoff and landing (STOL) invitational, drone show, seminars, exhibits, and more.
“This year’s AOPA Fly-Ins will take us to two new states in parts of the country we’ve not yet visited with exciting opportunities to explore their unique strengths,” said AOPA Senior Director of Outreach and Events, Chris Eads. “And, we will also revisit the roots of our regional fly-in program by returning to our very first fly-in location from 2014. We are looking forward to a fun year with lots of new flying adventures, and we hope you can join us!” Eads continued.
AOPA’s two-day fly-ins will continue with in-depth workshops on Fridays before the main Saturday event. The all-day intensive workshops, which in the past have included ground school for IFR proficiency; owner-performed maintenance; VFR long cross-country flight, and mountain flying techniques and survival skills; and aviation adventures, proved wildly popular with members and will continue to be offered in the 2020 fly-in season.
“We will be bringing back some of the most requested workshops for 2020 offering engaging lessons to improve aviation knowledge and safety,” said Eads. “And, as always, we are working hard to create new and exciting opportunities for pilots of all levels to improve and expand their skills.”
Registration for all 2020 fly-ins will open in February.
