Air and Space Museum Fly-in: Udvar-Hazy Center

[davidtheamazing1]

The air and Space Museum Fly-in is called Become A Pilot Family Day - June 19, 2010

We have attended/participated in the event each year and it is basically a chance to attract people who are interested in aviation to free flight. USHPA has shown interest in supporting our participation in the event and I am sure our local schools/instructors would like to provide promo materials as well. The Air and Space Museum coordinator who emailed me has flown many times herself (tandem) and would like to see us at the event again this year.

I would like to coordinate our attendance, but unfortunately am going to be out of town on that day.

Even if you would rather be flying, most likely the conditions will be blown out or overcast so flying options will be limited anyways. If you might be interested in participating, please fill out the registration form:
http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/flyin/aircraft_form.cfm (For N-Number, put "CHGPA")

Would anyone volunteer to coordinate our efforts at the event?

[XCanytime]

I have volunteered to coordinate. I have submitted an application to statically display my glider at the Be a Pilot Day at the Dulles Annex on 6/19/2010. Would be good to have a topless on static display as well. If you love aviation, this day is a gas. Let me know. Bacil

[davidtheamazing1]

Thank you Bacil! I emailed you the contacts the club has received about the event. I attended this before and was impressed with all the cool displays that there are at the event. Despite the presence of V-22 Ospreys and other vintage and exotic aircrafts, being a glider pilot at the event is like being a star because everyone really want to know about the most accessible form of free flight. Plus get free lunch in the pilots lounge with a serious flavor of aviation.

[XCanytime]

I have been accepted to do a static display at the 6/19 event. Margy Natalie needs me to forward the names of anybody else who wants to participate by 6/12. Contact me via PM if you want to participate. Like I said before, it would be nice to have a topless glider on static display. For the static display you have to fill out the form mentioned by Dave above. Time is running out on anybody else doing a static display.

Bacil

[DanTuck]

I signed up for this and got the acceptance confirmation also. It ain't topless but I'll be there with my U2.

[CraginS]

Bacil,
Put my name on the list to take part. I have the paper glider activity sheet from Brian V-H that we used there several years ago, and will be prepared to run that activity. It was a big hit with
I can also bring either of my gliders for display, although neither is topless.
The simple HS science fair posters I have are getting a bit old but I can bring them. Better, though...
Do Joe & Janet still have their big display boards? If so, let's try to coordinate bring them, too. They ought to fit in my truck OK.
As I recall, we may need to be on the list in order to park for free up near the hangar for unloading gear.

Cragin

[mingram]

I'm in possession of the club banner and swag, if needed. Paragliders aren't very sexy to look at all balled up on the ground, but I may come to the event.

[CraginS]

Dan Tuckw and I rendevouzed at the back gate at Dulles at a few minutes pat 8 a.m. We made it past two security checks, and then drove out onto the field next to the tarmac to set up our gliders. We set up next to a sailplane, for the non-powered synergy. The sailplane pilot, Frank, knows Hugh McE from his training at Front Royal.

Dan an I spent the day in 90 degree-plus sun, extolling the pleasure of taking part in the least expensive way to fly. We talked all day, gave out dozens of flyers, and even met an old early 70's pilot who asked if we had ever flown a Standard (he had).
We were outside in the sun and wind, not inside the hangar like on Women in Aviation Day. Also, the crowd was individuals and familes, no young youth groups. AS a result, we never broke out the paper hang glider activity kit that Brian V-H had designed.

Finally, the show closed down at 3, and for half an hour we watched helicopters depart right next to us, Once they wre gone, we broke down our gliders and packed out about 4 p.m.

Dan and I are realistic - we know this effort does is not really likely to recruit any new students. Nonetheless, we had sveral folks express some interest. Maybe, just maybe...

It was fun, but I was totally exhausted from the day in the sun. I even had taken a half hour lunch break inside, which Dan passed up. Yes, I'll do this again.

[mcelrah]

Thanks for representin', you guys!

Cragin, in particular, because of your background in Scouting - but anyone who is interested: there is another opportunity coming up to participate with the Aviation Merit Badge project at the Jamboree at Ft. A.P. Hill 26 July - 4 August. Mark Knight (mark@knight3.net) has already managed to insert hang-gliding into the hitherto powered airplane-oriented Merit Badge. He just came to USHPA for money to buy the patches with a hang-glider depicted (all kinds of gobbledegook from USHPA about filling out a form and submitting a written proposal to the Executive Committee, so several directors just kicked in $100 apiece - he only needed $500 for the 700 patches he figures he needs - yup, at the Jamboree, they crank out 800-1000 Aviation Merit Badges!). Some 300,000 people circulate through the site during the Jamboree. There is a requirement to visit an aviation museum or other facility - such as Blue Sky, right down the road. I will talk to Steve Wendt about what the considerations are, but there is some thought that we could actually get some Scouts in the air at a training hill (Taylor's? on a paraglider even?) or by scooter tow. In addition to static display of hang-gliders (I think Mark already has that in hand) someone could kite a paraglider if there is wind.

USHPA still has work to do to become as bureaucratic as BSA and DoD: there is some paperwork overhead to be dealt with: to teach, one must have done the child abuse prevention training (on-line - I need to get it done anyway as a Merit Badge counselor for my son's troop) and there is a security clearance process for getting onto Ft. A.P. Hill (you and 300,000 of your closest friends) - home of CIA's "Farm" and other special ops things.

Please let me and/or Mark know if you (anyone, not just Cragin) are willing and able to participate. Although time is short, we are still feeling out the limits of what is doable. Cragin, you have already been generous with your time; this is just to advertise an opportunity; I'm not trying to draft you.

- Hugh