Virginia Festival of Flight Complete Success! - Suffolk VA Premier Event

Suffolk Executive Airport broke a historical record when the flight tower recorded more than 240 planes on the airfield at one time

May 31, 2009

SUFFOLK VA NEWS -- This year's 12th Annual Virginia Regional Festival of Flight hosted by the Virginia Aviation Council was truly a successful event with perfect weather and plenty of interesting exhibits. The two-day aviation fly-in event drew more than 300 airplanes. According to Suffolk Executive Airport manager, Kent Marshall, Yesterday's event broke a historical record when the flight tower recorded more than 240 planes on the airfield at one time than at any other given time in the history of the Suffolk Executive Airport. The sky over Suffolk was full of exotic experimental airplanes flying in and out of the Airport, while on the ground various Aircraft were presented on display. Models displayed, included, homebuilt, antique, classic, warbird, ultralight, powered parachute and light sport aircraft. Another interesting display was a full scale model plane showing its construction. Furthermore, these amazing works of aerospace engineering were absolutely a beauty to behold in the air as well as close up in person.

Additionally, the aviation festival drew pilots and planes from throughout Virginia and North Carolina to spend the weekend camping and attend the full schedule of aerospace educational forums. Speaking with one visitor, from Hyattsville, Maryland, just northeast of Washington, D.C., who told us he had driven down to shop for a second airplane. The gentleman explained that very rarely can a person find so many planes on display in one location, and that he can now make a more competent decision when investing in his next purchase of another airplane.

Many of the vendors at the 12th Annual Virginia Regional Festival of Flight were Aircraft dealers, Aircraft equipment and parts' sales representatives, and miscellaneous aircraft related merchandise. However, the most important aspect of the festival was the educational forums, which drew huge groups of pilots and other aviation enthusiasts. Four tents in all where always packed with guests to learn and train in the latest information in avionics. One vendor in particular, Jensen Apparel, deserves high praise. President of Jensen Apparel, Tommy Jensen, designed, manufactured, and sold the12th Annual Virginia Regional Festival of Flight T-shirts at the event. Mr. Jensen donated all of his company's profits from the two-day event to the Virginia Aviation Council, which is an all volunteer nonprofit organization working to promote aerospace education.

Aircraft rides were available from the Ultralight Field. Bay Aviation provided rides in quarter hour increments in an open cockpit 1943 FAIRCHILD M-62, a WWII Primary Trainer (PT-19) airplane. Another pilot was also providing rides in an enclosed cockpit 1928 Beech C17B airplane, which is one of six surviving examples of this classic model aircraft.

Attending the 12th Annual Virginia Regional Festival of Flight was also a charity organization known as the Mid-Atlantic Angel Flight, which will furnish air flight (free of charge) for persons in desperate need of transportation during times of crisis. This noble organization of volunteer pilots, Mid-Atlantic Angel Flight, are based in Virginia Beach, VA., and are the southern chapter of the national organization.

Another commendable group that attended the 12th Annual Virginia Regional Festival of Flight was members of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EEA) Young Eagles Program. They provided a Youth Activities Tent with the assistance of NASA instructors, which provided games and fun activities for young children. For those unfamiliar with the EEA Young Eagles Program, it is a program designed to provide early flight training to children and teens ages eight through 17. Although not every program participant will become a pilot, they will experience flight, giving each child a new perspective of the world. Likewise, EEA Young Eagles Program will also host a Young Eagle Flight on June 13, 2009, at the Suffolk Executive Airport. Interested parents should call 757-876-0978 for more information.

Finally, we would like to specially thank the Virginia Aviation Council for hosting this premier event, the 12th Annual Virginia Regional Festival of Flight in Suffolk, Virginia, at the Suffolk Executive Airport. It was really a wonderful time and we look forward to seeing you next year!

# # #