There are benefits to throwing the door open and seeing who comes sauntering through it. If airports thrive on traffic and visitors, perhaps there is benefit to hosting fly-ins both large and small throughout the year, whenever the opportunity presents itself. Failing the willingness of the management to host the event, why not let the public decide? Whatever works for your airport, your tenants and users, just might work for pilots and visitors from farther afield than you would ever imagine.

Most of us have spent a long, cold, snowy winter and would love to find a plausible reason to take a few days off, head south, and catch a few welcome rays of golden sunshine. If you can do it with friends and throw a good meal into the mix, all the better.

I see an opportunity. Actually, a bunch of other people saw an opportunity and grabbed it. I’m just glad to be able to watch from the sidelines and enjoy the benefits of general aviation as a big ol’ brotherhood (sisterhood) of great people.

For the 11th year in a row the Cardinal Flyers are gathering in my neighborhood to swap stories and share a little friendly tech talk. Members of this type club gather annually to revel in the company of other pilots and passengers who appreciate the luxurious speed and sleek good looks of perhaps the sexiest high wing ever made – the Cessna Cardinal. Scheduled for the week prior to Sun ‘n Fun, only 14 miles from show central at Gilbert Field in Winter Haven, Florida – the Cardinals are coming, the Cardinals are coming! What a way to kick off the start of the airshow season, the long awaited arrival of Spring, and visit with friends who know a thing or two about flying cross country in search of a good time.

For more information: Cardinal Flyers Online.

Jamie Beckett is a CFI and A&P mechanic who stepped into the political arena in an effort to promote and protect GA at his local airport. You can reach him at Jamie@GeneralAviationNews.com.