Over 100 LPBA members and guests met in Orlando, Florida from Wednesday March 5th through Sunday March 9th.
The meeting began with our traditional welcome party, held poolside at the Caribe Royale Resort.
Our CLE presentations were diverse and interesting, covering topics that ranged from legal ethics, tax issues, warbird restoration, aircraft wire strikes, certification of GA aircraft of the future, aircraft valuation and Transportation Security Administration protocols. The presentations were as well attended, as they were informative.
Our schedule gave our members time to explore Orlando, and we took advantage of the opportunity to visit theme parks and even attend a spring training major league baseball game.
Our trap-shooting event was held on a nearby sporting clays course, and the golf tournament was held at the nearby Bermuda Dunes Course. No photographs of these events have surfaced, so you will just have to take our word for it.
One of the highlights of the meeting was our Saturday tour of Kermit Week's Fantasy of Flight aircraft museum in Polk City, FL. Housing the world's largest privately held collection of aircraft, Kermit was present and gave our group a lecture on one of his many historic aircraft. Kermit then gave us a flight demonstration of the 1939 Fesler Storch, a STOL aircraft that was way ahead of it's time. Many thanks to John Yodice and Jack Harrington for convincing Kermit to allow our group to visit and even land a few of our aircraft at the museum.
Following Kermit's flight demonstration it was time for our LPBA spot-landing event. The competition between a Mooney, Cherokee and Pressurized Twin Cessna was fierce. We have held this event in a variety of unique locations over the years, and this was the first time it was held on a grass runway. Not any grass runway, but a 5,000+ foot manicured sod runway considered one of the finest in the world.
After some spirited discussion between the judges concerning whether the actual touchdown point, or the start of the "divot" thrown up by the touchdown was the reference point, the order of finish was determined:
First Place: Ed Booth,Jr.(assisted by Karen Griggs)-1968 Piper Arrow N56EB
Second Place: Tim Coonts (assisted by Kathy Yodice)-1967 Mooney M-20E N221ES
Third Place: Bill Berger-1980 Cessna 340A N340FK
Our meeting concluded with our Saturday night banquet at the Caribe Royale. Awards were presented and we made plans to see each other at our Summer 2003 meeting in Branson, MO.
On Sunday March 9th a 300 mile long and 50 mile across squall line stretching from New Orleans to off the coast of Jacksonville prevented our northbound pilots from returning home, requiring another day in Orlando.
Make plans now to attend out meeting in Branson,MO July 16-20, 2003.
(Photographs courtesy of Ed Booth, Glenn Cook and Kathy Yodice)