In addition to the Great Alaska Aviation Gathering in Anchorage May 4-5 at the FedEx Maintenance hangar, there are several other aviation events planned statewide this spring.
Here is a round-up:
The 23rd Annual Valdez Fly-in and Air Show is scheduled for Friday, May 10 through Sunday, May 12. It includes lectures, the Alaska Air Show Association Warbirds celebration of 100 years of Alaskan flight, "flour bombing" on Sunday and an air show with acrobatics, demonstrations and a C-130 fly-by.
Fairbanks Aviation Day will be held in the new University of Alaska Fairbanks Aviation Technology hangar Saturday, May 18. While information on this event is limited, the press release touts "Airlines, flight schools, tour companies and a number of aviation groups will be on hand to describe their products and services." Young Eagles will also be available for free flights for children ages 8-17. See the event's Facebook page for more information.
That same weekend the Hudson Memorial Fly-in will be held in Talkeetna with events scheduled May 18-19. A flight simulator will be provided by the Medallion Foundation, Build-A-Plane will be open for tours and live music will be provided on Saturday night at Twister Creek restaurant. There is also an "Aerial Scavenger Hunt" scheduled which sounds like way too much fun and a Poker Run, both of which have some impressive prizes (gas cards, GPS, wing covers, etc.) Young Eagles will be offering flights in Talkeenta as well.
The AASA are also scheduling barnstorming events across the state with their "mobile museum" as part of the Alaska Aviation Centennial Celebration. Events are scheduled in places such as Cordova on May 9-10, Bethel on May 26-27, Nome on June 9 and the final stop of Fairbanks on July 4. See the Alaska Air Show website for a full schedule of all the villages on the itinerary.
Contact Colleen Mondor at colleen(at)alaskadispatch.com