February 2 - 5, 2006 was this years date for the Arizona Powered Paragliding Association's annual Arizona Flying Circus, Light Flight Festival. Arizona's February weather is a delight for northerners and those who attended generally found it difficult to leave when the time to return had arrived.
This is the first year the Flight Festival has been held at the legendary Francisco Grande Hotel & Golf Resort located in Casa Grande south of Phoenix, Arizona. The hotel is a marvelous PPG friendly oasis in the middle of the beautiful Sonoran desert. Although its location is remote, located roughly between Phoenix and Tucson, it is handy for both air and auto travelers.
The facilities include large spacious hotel rooms, or smaller economy rooms, meeting rooms, a hundred-foot long heated outdoor pool and adjoining spa, a bonfire pit complete with wood and overseer, and spacious grass areas for relaxing and/or commercial displays by equipment manufacturers and flight schools. This is in addition to the golf facilities and large flying field that, in a former life, was the pre-season training facility for the San Francisco Giants. (From the air the long slender pool and round spa resemble a baseball bat and ball.) All participants look forward to a continuing relationship between the resort and the PPG community.
The event had over a dozen vendors and 73 registered people from all over the Continent including Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, Wisconsin, California, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, New York, Ohio, Arkansas, Kansas, Idaho, Washington, Alberta, Saskachewan, Ontario, and Mexico. All those that attended this event enjoyed the lovely weather, Arizona sunsets, mountain and desert scenery, fun fly and competition as well as an organized cross-country flight to an open pit mine only four miles away.
This was not the typical ultralight event consisting of tent accommodations in the dust or mud with overpriced vendor cold food and warm beer. This was a first class event. The entry fee included reduced room rates or RV parking, use of the facilities and tickets for the trike grand prize and other vendor donated prizes.
Did I mention the Saturday night singing cowboy and his lovely horse? This is one fly-in that your wife and kids can enjoy also. Light fixed wing aircraft are welcome also.
Reflections on the 3rd Annual Flying Circus
From all the feedback I have heard, the 2006 3rd Annual Arizona Flying Circus was a huge success. I personally had an incredible time and am already looking forward to next year. The weather for the event could not have been better: light winds every day, with mild temperatures, and clear, blue skies.
The Fly-in offered a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy flying and the company of other like-minded folks, partaking in some of the planned events. These events included seminars of engine maintenance and understanding airspace, to enjoying the amenities of the hotel such as the outdoor heated pool, the fire pit, or simply basking in the warm weather.
Additionally, the hotel management has been extremely pleased with the results of the event. We are in planning to have the event at the same location for next year's event.
AZPPG: Events: 3rd Annual Arizona Flying Circus
The event had over a dozen vendors and 73 registered people from all over the Continent including Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, Wisconsin, California, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, New York, Ohio, Arkansas, Kansas, Idaho, Washington, Alberta, Saskachewan, Ontario, and Mexico. All those that attended this event enjoyed the lovely weather, Arizona sunsets, mountain and desert scenery, fun fly and competition as well as an organized cross-country flight to an open pit mine only four miles away.