By Jeff Willoughby, 2001 Fly-in Organizer

The 8th Annual IDPA-USA Fly-In June 17-24, 2001, at the Lee's Summit Municipal Airport in Lee's Summit, Mo., just 20 miles southeast of downtown Kansas City, is almost upon us--and it's time for you to get ready.

A committee of supportive volunteers and I are ironing out the final details ready for what promises to be a fun-filled week.

Be sure to fill out the Fly-In Registration Form that is due to me with all applicable fees by May 16. Don't forget to sign up for the special events the committee has arranged for you and your family.

Also check out the order form for the commemorative Fly-In Shirt. Orders must be placed by May 1 and payment submitted at the time you order. I have redesigned the Fly-In logo for this event, and it shows all countries where IDPA members reside. The shirts are of very high quality and the logo will be embroidered over the upper left side of the chest. Please do not forget to order your shirts in advance so you can pick them up and wear them during the Fly-In.

You also should be well on the way to selling all the raffle tickets you received in the mail. Don't forget to sell the last few remaining tickets if you haven't already done so. The prizes I've arranged will be awarded during the Banquet on June 22:

First prize will be two round-trip airline tickets valid for travel anywhere in the continental United States donated by Southwest Airlines.

Second prize will be a gift certificate for two nights' stay for two adults at any Hampton Inn in the United States.

Third Prize will be the videotape "Recreational Pilot" course set donated by Sporty's Pilot Shop.

A second set of donated items will also be raffled off during the Fly-In Banquet free of charge only to those attending the banquet and include a Garmin GPS III Pilot valued at $599 as well as additional items.

Schedule details

Sunday, June 17: The IDPA officers will have their annual board meeting in the evening at the EAA Hangar at Lee's Summit Municipal Airport. (Information on the airport can be found at www.leessummit.org/airport.htm.)

Monday, June 18: A two-hour tour of the Garmin International factory at Olathe, Kan., has been arranged for Monday at noon for those who signed up in advance. Transportation will be by car and arrangements for car-pooling can be made among attendees in the Hampton Inn lobby the morning of the event. Garmin makes navigation and communications equipment for aviation. (Garmin's web site is located at www.garmin.com.)

We'll visit the Garmin International factory--where the famous GPS III Pilot is manufactured--at Olathe, Kan., on Monday, June 18.

In the evening, the Fly-In Kick Off Pizza Party for all members will take place at the EAA Hangar at Lee's Summit Airport. This will be your chance to get reacquainted with your fellow IDPAers and to find out the latest updates on the Fly-In's activities for the week.

The Fly-in Kick Off Pizza Party will be held in this EAA Hangar at Lee's Summit Airport on Monday evening, June 18.

We're sorry to say the tour of Whiteman AFB announced in the Winter newsletter will be unavailable during the Fly-In due to scheduling conflicts.

Tuesday, June 19: Our first flight of the week will require an early departure from Lee's Summit Municipal Airport. The flight will take you over the Amelia Earhart Earthwork at Warnock Lake, a one-acre earthwork portrait of Earhart created by artist Stan Herd. The arrival field will be the Amelia Earhart Airport in Atchison, Kan. where we will be met by transportation provided by the Atchison Area Chamber of Commerce and taken to the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum near the Airport, through historic Atchison. The museum was the home of Judge Alfred G. Otis, Amelia's grandfather, and was where she was born July 24, 1897. For more information on Amelia Earhart or the city of Atchison, check out www.atchison.org.

The Amelia Earhart Earthwork carved into the land at Warnock Lake near Atchison, Kan., the aviatrix's birthplace.

Between 12 noon and 1 p.m, the group will fly from Atchison to Lawrence Municipal Airport where Roger Watson, owner of Big Blue Bar-B-Q, and his crew will provide an elaborate buffet style bar-b-q meal for those who signed up in advance.

An aerial view of the Lawrence Municipal Airport in Lawrence, KS.

Wednesday, June 20: We will depart Lee's Summit Municipal Airport for an aerial tour of the Lake of the Ozarks in south central Missouri. The destination will be Grand Glaize-Osage Beach Airport where lunch will be available at the Kenilworth House Restaurant. If enough IDPA pilots and planes are not available to carry everyone to this event, a charter plane will be provided at extra cost. The availability of the charter plane and the additional cost will be announced Monday at the Kick-Off Pizza Party.

An aerial view of Grand Glaize-Osage Beach in south central Missouri.

Thursday, June 21: Thursday morning's departure will again be from the Lee's Summit Municipal Airport and the arrival will be at the Gardner Airport in Gardner, Kan., hometown of Jeff Willoughby. Activities include a lunch-time picnic provided by the Olathe Club for the Deaf and an afternoon flying contest. Please make your lunch reservations in advance by filling out the Community Picnic column on the registration form.

In the evening, we will have a get-together dinner at Habanero's Mexican Restaurant in Lee's Summit. (For more information on the restaurant, check out www.habanerosmexr.com.)

Friday, June 22: In the morning, we will have free time to explore the air over Kansas City or the city itself. After lunch, the IDPA Membership Meeting will be held at the EAA Hangar at Lee's Summit Airport.

In the evening, the Banquet for IDPA members, friends and family will be held at the Hereford House Restaurant in Leawood, Kan. Please arrive at 6 p.m. and don't forget to sign up on the registration form for advance reservations. The Hereford House is one of the oldest family owned steakhouses in Kansas City and has a fantastic Kansas City Strip Steak. A cash bar will be available. We will be taking group photos, so please wear nice clothes.

The Hereford House Restaurant in Leawood, Kansas.

Saturday, June 23: EAA Chapter 91 will host a pancake breakfast in their hangar at the airport. IDPA pilots and their families are invited to attend, as well as the general public. In conjunction with the breakfast, EAA members will offer free plane rides to 8- to-17-year-olds in the Young Eagles program.

Sunday, June 24: Good-bye and safe flying!

This overview map summarizes the week's fly-in schedule.

Additional activities

If scheduling permits, seminars on aviation topics will be provided during the week. If enough interest is expressed, children's activities will also be arranged during the week, possibly including a trip to Missouri's Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun theme parks. Costs for these activities will be the responsibility of the parents.

Travel notes

For those of you who missed or lost the Winter issue of the newsletter, we'll repeat the following information:

Southwest Airlines is offering a 10% discount on fares for air travel to and from Kansas City International Airport (MCI). Call Southwest Airlines Group and Meetings Reservations at 1-800-433-5368 and reference the assigned ID Code (J1007). You must make reservations five or more days prior to travel to take advantage of this offer.

Major rental car companies offer rental counters inside the MCI terminals. Rental cars are also available from the Lee's Summit Municipal Airport if reservations are made in advance. Here are the numbers of companies servicing the Lee's Summit Airport:

Enterprise: (816) 246-8185 or (800) 736-8227
Hertz, (816) 347-0997 or (800) 654-3131

The Lee's Summit Municipal Airport is conveniently located at 2751 NE Douglas, Lee's Summit, MO 64064 with easy access from everywhere in Lee's Summit. The airport can be reached at (816) 969-7492 or on the Web at: www.leessummit.org/airport.htm.

Lodging

The headquarters motel for the fly-in, located one mile south of Lee's Summit Municipal Airport, is:

Kansas City-Lee's Summit Hampton Inn
1751 NE Douglas Street
Lee's Summit, MO 64086
(816) 347-8600
(816) 347-8755 Fax
1-800-HAMPTON.

Special group rates have been negotiated as follows:

1 Queen/King Bed, 1-2 persons: $69 per night
2 Double Beds, 2 persons: $69 per night
2 Double Beds, 4 persons: $79 per night.

To obtain these rates, be certain to refer to Confirmation Code "DPA" when making your reservations, or identify yourself as registering with the International Deaf Pilots Association.

If the Hampton Inn becomes fully booked, you can try reserving a room, at the regular rates, at Fairfield Inn, 1301 NE Windsor Drive, Lee's Summit, MO 64086; (816) 524-7572. The Fairfield Inn is located within a few miles of the Hampton Inn.

Aircraft rentals

These organizations offer rental aircraft at Lee's Summit Airport:

Air Charter, (816) 525-3330:
Cessna 152, $45/hr
Cessna 172, $60/hr

Midwest Executive Aircraft, (816) 246-4560:
Cessna 152, $ 46/hr
Cessna 172, $60/hr
Cessna 172SP, $80/hr
Piper Cherokee 180, $69/hr
Piper Archer III, $88/hr
Beech F33A Bonanza, $140/hr.

Additional aircraft may be rented from Aero Stadt, (816) 246-6949.

Additional information

For more information, check out the IDPA web site at www.deafpilots.com or contact Jeff Willoughby at 30190 Pinecrest Dr., Spring Hill, KS 66083, or call via TTY (913) 856-3903, or email him at moowilly@blitz-it.net.

A few Kansas City Web sites

www.visitkc.com
www.ci.independence.mo.us
www.experiencekc.com
www.countryclubplaza.com
www.saveaconnie.org

World of Fun or Oceans of Fun: www.worldsoffun.com
Science City: www.sciencecity.com
Kansas City Zoo: www.kansascityzoo.org/zoomhome