A capital day for a flyover

As the Potomac River snakes its way south to the Chesapeake Bay, our aircraft follows its flow until the Kennedy Center passes off our left wing. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) grows large in the windshield and we prepare to enter P-56, some of the most guarded airspace in the nation.

Welcome to the National Celebration of General Aviation DC Flyover!

Orchestrated by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the event celebrated AOPA’s 85th anniversary, while shining a light on the history and contributions of general aviation.

On Saturday, May 11, 2024, nearly 60 aircraft took part, representing 14 “chapters” of aviation. Beginning with four “Golden Age” aircraft led by AOPA President Mark Baker in his Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing, other chapters included the post-war aviation boom, trainers, vertical aviation, seaplanes, homebuilts, public service aircraft, air show planes, and six other groups. For the grand finale, three T-6 aircraft of the Titan Aerobatic Team left a trail of smoke up Independence Avenue.

Aircraft ranged in size from the diminutive RV-12 up to a colossal HU-16 Grumman Albatross. Imagine the shadow that big boy cast over the National Mall.

My friend Paul Mercandetti flew his 1946 Globe GC-1B Swift in the post-war “Boom” chapter, and I was privileged to ride shotgun.

The route stretched from Frederick Municipal Airport (KFDK) in Maryland south to the Potomac, down the river to the Lincoln Memorial, along the National Mall, over the Smithsonian Institute, then south and outbound back to Frederick.

The conga line of aircraft penetrated first the Washington DC Special Flight Rules Area, then the Flight Restricted Zone (where most general aviation operations are excluded), and finally P-56A, which guards the Washington Monument, White House, and US Capitol building.

To say planning and training were crucial is an understatement. Because inbound aircraft essentially flew a portion of the “River Visual” approach to DCA, and some outbound aircraft flew directly over that airport, the field was closed for an hour.

AOPA’s Vice President of Airports and State Advocacy Mike Ginter led the planning that began in January 2023. The first step was to solicit the support of congress, and Mike credits Congressman Sam Graves, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and a long-time general aviation pilot, for championing the flyover.

Mike also praised FAA leadership, noting that their attitude from the beginning was, “We will work towards yes.”

In all, 11 government entities were involved, including the FAA, TSA, the U.S. Secret Service, and Capitol Police.

Pilots in command were required to complete online training for flight within the Washington DC Special Flight Rules Area, and all flyover participants underwent a background security check.

A “proof-of-concept” practice flight took place March 24, with four AOPA aircraft following the identical flight path of the May 11 flyover. That was one of the last hurdles leading to the FAA issuing the required waivers, which included permission to enter the Flight Restricted Zone and P-56, as well as a waiving minimum safe altitudes over a congested area.

With rain and low ceilings forecast for Friday, May 10, most pilots arrived by Thursday to be in place for a mandatory mission briefing Friday afternoon. FAA ramp checks of all pilot credentials and aircraft were completed by noon Friday, and we were “Go” for the briefing.

Gathering nearly 60 pilots from around the US and melding them into a cohesive flight group is no mean feat, and hats off to Mike Ginter for putting all the pieces together and answering everyone’s questions during the 2-½ hour session.

Saturday morning the weather gods smiled, and at 7:30 a.m. Paul and I were downing coffee while Mike Ginter and air boss Wayne Boggs conducted the final flight briefing.

Security was thorough, and as we were concentrating on mission details, explosives detection teams were checking aircraft for any suspicious materials. By 10 a.m. a security perimeter was in place, requiring everyone to clear a TSA checkpoint on the way to our aircraft.

Kudos to all the law enforcement personnel who made the flyover possible — they were courteous, cheerful, unobtrusive and, above all, professional.

Each aircraft had a designated takeoff time to ensure orderly spacing in trail over the National Mall. Most were parked side by side in order of departure, with Mark Baker’s Staggerwing, call sign “Golden 1,” leading the pack.

As our start time arrived, Paul fired up the Continental IO-360, then followed the leader of “Boom Flight” to the runway.

Soon after takeoff at 11:43, we were southbound toward the river under the watchful eye of Potomac TRACON, following our leader, Adrian Eichorn, in his V-35 Bonanza. As we descended to 1,000 feet, I was pretty confident that, having flown the V-35 around the world and over the North Pole, Adrian would have no trouble finding the Lincoln Memorial, the entry point into P-56.

Paul did a masterful job as wingman, and we were soon sailing past the Kennedy Center, then pivoting left-wing-low around the Lincoln Memorial and heading up the National Mall with the Washington Monument on our left side. Passing the Smithsonian “Castle” we began a right turn to avoid overflight of the US Capitol building. Our entire capital overflight lasted about three times as long as it takes to read this paragraph.

Boom flight’s assigned P-56 exit route led south directly over DCA, affording an expansive view of the airport from 1,000 feet.

From there, we continued northwest over the Virginia and Maryland countryside back to Frederick, where air boss Wayne Boggs played ringmaster to the aerial armada of arriving aircraft, managing to get everyone safely on deck.

Looking back, it was a once-in-a lifetime experience — a flight the pilots, passengers, and crewmembers will never forget.

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