Industry excited about AOPA Aviator Showcases

The one-day consumer-focused events will connect pilots and aircraft owners with aviation businesses ranging from aircraft and avionics manufacturers to product stores and service shops, financiers, and insurers.

The showcases will feature an exhibit hall, aircraft display, and educational seminars—the three most popular offerings at AOPA events.

“We are so excited to be getting back to face-to-face interaction with our customers,” said Katie Church, head of marketing at Air Plains Services, the latest company to commit to exhibiting at both events. “We’ve been very lucky to have kept a steady workload the past year, but we really miss being around our fellow aviators at events like this.

“We’ve added new products over the past year and we’re eager to show off our expanding product line to new and current customers alike.”

Air Plains said its most popular new product is the Lycoming drop-in electronic ignition system for its Cessna 172 180-horsepower engine upgrade option. The company also added a supplemental type certificate for its Hartzell Trailblazer propeller 300-horsepower engine upgrade and stand-alone angle of attack systems to pair with several types of avionics.

“Aviation manufacturers, service shops, and suppliers are as excited as we are about the AOPA Aviator Showcases bringing the aviation community together,” said Chris Eads, AOPA senior director of outreach and events.

AOPA has designed the events to meet and exceed requirements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the local governments to ensure a safe place for the aviation industry and members to come together.

“We plan to provide a unique show layout that will allow for increased social distancing, appropriate face coverings and barriers, and enhanced cleaning,” Eads explained. “It is important to note that these events are not the large-scale AOPA Regional Fly-Ins of years past, which we are not conducting in 2021. Rather, the showcases provide a much smaller, more focused experience aimed exclusively at the consumer.”

To ensure a safe number of attendees, both events will require advance registration; no walk-ups will be allowed.

Attendee registration will open June 22 for both showcases. AOPA is currently accepting exhibitor registrations for both events.

AOPA Aviator Showcase sponsors

Special thanks to Platinum sponsors:

Thanks also to Gold sponsors AssuredPartners Aerospace, ATP Flight School, Breitling, Genesys Aerosystems, and Western Skyways.