AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2023 - 6

PRESIDENT 'S POSITION
AOPA at AirVenture
It's my favorite time of year
BY MARK BAKER / President and CEO
AOPA Foundation Legacy Society member
I SAY THIS EVERY YEAR because I mean it every year: It's almost
time for EAA AirVenture and I cannot wait! This will mark my...
well, let's just say many years at OSH.
There is nothing like the week at AirVenture. It means I
get to see lifelong friends and thousands of our members, but
I also have the opportunity to meet many new people from all
over this great world of aviation. It also never fails that I get to
see exciting new aircraft and gear. Even for someone who has
been flying as much as I have, I always see something new at
AirVenture, and that's one of the big reasons why I love going
back every year.
There's nothing like putting the airplane down on the yellow
dot-or when they tell you it's now the purple dot. Taxiing
and seeing the folks lining the runway and waving means I have
come home.
I am always amazed, as we take our place among the
thousands of airplanes for the week at Wittman Regional
Airport, to see the incredible range of aircraft that represent
all corners of this passion we share. Walking up and down the
rows is like a living history, a museum that represents the past
100 years of flight-from the pioneers of the early 1900s to
the newest experimental or turbine aircraft. It shows that we
have come a long way and that we have many more miles to
fly. The evolution of aviation is on full display, and I encourage
everyone at AirVenture to take the time to soak up all that
amazing history.
The show marks another chapter in a great aviation event year
for us so far in 2023. We had a wonderful time with the AOPA
team at our fly-in at the Buckeye Air Fair and, of course, Sun 'n
Fun in Florida. But while there are hundreds of aviation events
across the country, there is only one AirVenture. As EAA founder
and general aviation pioneer Paul Poberezny once said so powerfully,
" It's the airplanes that get us together, but it's the people
that bring us back. "
And that's why I go back. And will keep going back.
For fellow veterans of the Oshkosh scene, and for aviators
experiencing their first AirVenture, I invite you to visit the
AOPA tent for everything you need to enhance your aviation
life and member experience. We'll offer lots of engaging content
6
AOPA PILOT / August 2023
and events, valuable information, and discussions with AOPA
and industry experts, as well as meet-and-greets with noted
aviation personalities.
As you've come to expect, our AOPA program pavilion will be
buzzing once the week kicks off Monday morning. We'll be hosting
lots of informative sessions from AOPA and our partners, covering
a wide range of topics from safety to procedures, product intros
and updates, inspiring stories, and so much more.
AOPA will have staff on hand to provide you with everything
you need to protect and expand your aviation and membership
experiences. I invite you to talk with our experts in advocacy to
learn about the ways we are protecting your freedom to fly on
Capitol Hill and in regions across the country-everything from
keeping your airport open and ensuring a smart transition to
unleaded fuel to aircraft certification, safeguarding your place to
park on the ramp, and FBO transparency.
If you have any questions regarding your medical certification
or have a thorny legal issue, our teams will stand ready to provide
you the resources to stay safe and current in the skies. And, of
course, we'll hold our annual Pilot Town Hall on Thursday morning,
where I invite you to hear from AOPA leaders on our major
priorities and the many ways AOPA protects your freedom to fly.
Whether you're new to aviation and looking for the best way
to get that pilot's certificate, or a rusty pilot who is looking to get
back into the skies after some time off, we'll have the people and
information to fuel your aviation passion.
And speaking of passion, wait till you get a look at what we
have done to our (and maybe your) sweepstakes Cessna 170. She
is a real beauty, and just waiting to take a lucky winner into the
exciting backcountry.
I fly away from AirVenture every year with renewed energy
for this uniquely American freedom to fly we all share. And,
as usual, I expect my souvenir bag to be full; I always have to
tweak that weight and balance
for departure.
I wish you all blue skies in
your journeys to AirVenture. See
you there!
mark@aopa.org
MARK BAKER is a
commercial pilot with
single- and multiengine
land and seaplane ratings
and a rotorcraft rating.
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2023

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