COVID-19 Forces AOPA to Cancel Rochester, NY Fly-In

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COVID-19 UNCERTAINTY FORCES CANCELLATION OF ROCHESTER, NY, FLY-IN

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots COVID-19 is expected to have on largeAssociation has canceled its Sept. 11-12, scale events in New York State, and 2020, fly-in in Rochester, New York, as a staffing issues related to the health crisis result of ongoing issues associated with and resulting slowdowns,” Baker added. the COVID-19 pandemic. “The serious challenges and potential

“As we have anticipated the reopenrestrictions ahead of us just won’t allow ing of most activities following the early us to create the type of member and COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, our exhibitor experience that would meet our AOPA events team has worked hard to high standards.” maintain the viability of our Rochester Those who registered for the event fly-in with the hopes that it could be our will receive a full refund. Registrants don’t first big event of this unique year,” said need to take any action to initiate refunds; AOPA President and CEO Mark Baker. AOPA will process credit card refunds. “This decision was not taken lightly, and Please expect delays for refunds by check. it was made in close coordination with all “The ROC community is saddened event partners, including Monroe County we aren’t able to host the September executives, local and state health departAOPA fly-in,” said Andrew G. Moore, ments, and airport/ATC management. Airport Director. “We certainly under

“A number of factors went into this stand the decision and look forward to decision: the continuing constraints that Continued on Page 18 Editorial: Get out of Town

Continued from Page 9

areas seldom read FAA standards. The more rural you get, the more variations encountered. Sod surfaces often have ruts and potholes; grass runways are often not well mowed and wet. While a published runway length may seem quite adequate, surface damage, large puddles of water or mud, critters (grazing sheep, maybe?) or other considerations may kick in. Don’t count on being able to fly a normal pattern. Rising terrain, trees, canyon topography, dissimilar departure and approach ground cover (causing convective variations) can all kick in. You may also have to adapt an early missed approach point (MAP), with many mountain strips having “one way in and one way out” characteristics. Yes, a lot to consider, but STOL skills are applicable to everyday flying in virtually any plane you fly.

So, what about that dedicated STOL plane? Got to be a tail dragger, right? Actually, no! An intelligently designed tri-gear can offer better takeoff and landing performance than a tail dragger. A trigear plane can obtain a higher angle of attack for both takeoff and landing, resulting in greater lift at slower speeds. The main concern with a tri-gear is the runway surface, protecting the prop and preventing nose gear damage on exceptionally rough or rocky surfaces. Given these rough conditions, tail wheel configuration, maybe with large balloon tires, makes a lot of sense.

In a perfect world, your ideal STOL plane would have a convertible landing gear and the availability of a dedicated STOL wing. Specialized designs, like the Kitfox this writer has enjoyed for so many years, offers all of the above. But even contemporary Cessnas and Pipers (plus others) can be significantly improved for STOL operations with STOL kits that utilize technology such as leading-edge modifications, wing fences, vortex generators and other aerodynamic tricks that lower approach speeds and improve slow speed handling. Having recently flown such a modified Cessna 182, this writer was impressed, with typical approach speeds being reduced by 10 knots, resulting in a significant reduction in the kinetic energy that must be dealt with by the brakes… it stops shorter and takes off sooner. Vortex generator technology is relatively inexpensive and easy to install.

The bottom line is that “getting out of town” can take on a whole new meaning when one is professionally trained and flying a plane that is modified or dedicated to offer airport or backwoods type flying. Just think, your pals are river rafting down the rapids in the mountain country of Idaho, so you plan to land on a sand bar with a case of suds to refresh the tired crew, impressing them with your skill and daring… at least that is what you saw in the YouTube clip. Actually, this writer sort of did that once… but it was a plane full of doughnuts… my camper buddies are not what you would call, “hard core.”