Colorado Pilots Association
FLY-IN Preview 2024!

Welcome, everyone to the tentative 2024 slate of CPA Fly-in events, which were developed at the January 6 planning meeting at Rocky Mountain Metro airport.  

This is a preliminary look at the Fly-ins for this year.  Details are being worked out by the various hosts now. For members, finalized information for each, along with registration forms, will be forthcoming in future Flight Lines issues.  Watch for them!  Every event will appear in the issue sent about two months prior to the event date.  Look at the selection below, choose the ones you might wish to attend and mark those dates on your calendars now!  Contact hosts if you wish.  The Nucla trip is unique.  It is being sponsored by a local resident who is not a CPA member and not a pilot but loves the beauty and camaraderie of her small town where people don’t have to lock doors and the surrounding terrain is red rock canyons and mountains.  Her B&B is incredible.     

Non-members, for the princely sum of $20 a year, an amount you would likely pay for fuel just to reach cruise altitude, you too can join the CPA and take advantage of these many annual events designed to meet just about any area of interest.  Frankly, I cannot imagine why a Colorado private aircraft owner would not be a member.  And if you don’t own an aircraft, what a great way to meet people who do and who fly them!  You have no idea where this can lead – more flying opportunities and maybe even an option to become a part owner of one.  Admittedly I’m biased but to me the Fly-in program alone justifies joining.  CPA has traveled to just about every state in the west.  When you add in the Mountain Flying Course and access to so many of your fellow pilots, it’s just a downright bargain!  Sign up and take advantage of it.   

May 17-19 – Gallup, NM.  We’ll be staying at the historic El Rancho Hotel on Route 66.  Friday arrival will feature CPA’s famous Happy Hour followed by dinner on your own in one of many local restaurants.  Saturday morning we’ll head to the El Morro National Monument, including the Inscription and Headland Trails, petroglyphs and Atsinna, the 355 room Ancient Ancestral ruin.  Saturday afternoon features a visit to the Navajo Code Talkers Museum, plus one or two others, followed by Happy Hour and a group dinner at the hotel.  Plus, there’s ice cream too! Host Bill Gust (719) 482-6810.

June 28-30 – Gunnison, CO.  Two-day trip to Gunnison- Crested Butte. Includes gentle raft trip to dinner at Garlic Mikes Italian restaurant, a wildflower hike to lunch with a view then dinner at our home high above the East River Valley. Finish up at the Gunnison Pioneer Museum before flying home on Sunday.  Host David Ladd (303) 915 5877, Dladd765@yahoo.com. 

July 19 -- Pueblo, CO.  One-day trip to tour the USAF Initial Flight Training Facility in the morning followed by lunch at Peter’s In and Out, both right at the airport.  Maximum of 30 attendees.  Afternoon tour of the United Launch Alliance Propulsion Shop and Test Facility.  Depending on timing, it may also be possible to visit the excellent aviation museum at the airport.  Both dates are confirmed.  More detailed information will be forthcoming in the May issue of Flight Lines.  Host Bill Marvel (310) 293 2013, rv8tor@msn.com. 

August 3 -- Ft. Collins, CO.  Day trip to tour two popular breweries in this location well known by beer lovers.  We’ll have a group lunch and then visit the Gilded Goat and New Belgium ``house for happy hour and dinner if you choose to stay the night in a local hotel.  Or, return to the airport for your flight home.  Max attendance is 20!  Host Jan McKenzie (970) 568-6411.  
   

September 12-15 – Bentonville, Arkansas.  A not to be missed three-night trip to the most beautiful part of this equally beautiful state. Lunch at the airport will follow our mid-day arrival on Thursday.  That afternoon a visit to the Walmart Museum and town square will precede our `boat prior to dinner at the beautiful Lake Point Restaurant.  Friday, Dogwood Canyon Nature Park is our destination.  A remarkable tram tour of this 10,000 acre property in the Ozark mountains will climax with a private chuckwagon lunch in the woods. Saturday our destination is the world-class Crystal Bridges Art Museum and its associated nature area.  A short visit to the magical Cooper Chapel in the woods will finish our afternoon prior to happy hour and dinner.  Sunday we’ll all wing our way home to beautiful Colorado.  Visit www.dogwoodcanyon.org and www.crystalbridges.org

Host Bob and Shawn Kinney (303) 887-3328, twinlake1@aol.com or atlarge@coloradopilots.org

September 27-29 – Nucla, CO.  Hopkins Field Airport lies on beautiful Tabeguache Park near the Town of Nucla in remote Southwestern Colorado.  "Tabeguache" is Ute for "Place where the snow melts first".  Where the Tabeguache Creek meets the San Miguel River is the historic Town of Uravan, population 0.  Come tour the townsite of the once thriving company town and the Hanging Flume and share in our enthusiasm for mining past and mining future.  Stay at the gorgeous Vestal House B&B.   Host Aimee Tooker (970) 428-7750, vestalhousenucla@gmail.com.

October 4-6 -- Alamogordo, NM.  Visit White Sands National Park, Pistachio Farm Tour, Tularosa Museum, and possible Space History Museum. Still a work in progress with lots of moving parts. Host Bill Gust (719) 482-6810.

October 18-20 – Truth or Consequences and Socorro, NM. Tour historic Trinity Site, location of the world’s first nuclear detonation.  Visit Spaceport America, where Richard Branson will be launching future space tourists into earth orbit.  We’ll fly into both Socorro and Truth or Consequences, NM.  Last trip to Trinity/Spaceport!  Attendance limited.  Contact host to get on list. Host Bill Marvel (310) 293-2013, rv8tor@msn.com.

TBD:  Oklahoma City.  A free two-day FAA training class for pilots at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center.  It involves disorientation training with a simulator ride, altitude chamber hypoxia experience and land and water survival training.  There are many other activities for non-pilot attendees.  It is a great opportunity but still awaits coordination for a date.  Due to this, contact host ASAP if interested!  Host Bill Marvel (310) 293-2013, rv8tor@msn.com.   

The Ten Fly-In Commandments