By Bill Paolini

The IDPA 2002 Fly-In committee, led by John Yeh, is rapidly moving to lock down plans for our next Fly-In to be held July 14-20, 2002, immediately following Deaf Way II, to be held close by in Washington D.C., July 8-13, 2002 (www.deafway.org). Frederick Airport (FDK) in Maryland, home of AOPA Headquarters, will be the center for our activities.

Hotel accommodations have been worked out with the Holiday Inn-Fort Detrick, 999 West Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21702 (1-800-465-4329/V, 301-663-5290/Fax, email: GMFRE@Lodgian.com). This Holiday Inn has 158 newly renovated guestrooms designed to accommodate everyone. Each room has an iron/ironing board, coffee/tea maker, 27" color television with free HBO, and a desk with a data-port phone for connection to your PC or laptop. Some of the amenities include: recreation area, fitness center, on-site guest laundry facilities, and outdoor pool in the courtyard.

Special group rates have been negotiated: 1 king bed for 2 people for $75 per night and 2 double beds for 4 people for $75 per night. To obtain these rates, please make reservations before June 7, 2002, and refer to Confirmation Code "DPA."

The itinerary of events that the committee is considering for the Fly-In have not been finalized so may be subject to change. However, the current event plans being considered are as follows:

SUNDAY: Arrival and Ice Breaker Party at the Holiday Inn.

MONDAY: Parachuting in the morning, a flight to Penn's Cavern, Penn's Cave Airport (N74) in Pennsylvania which is 90 miles from Frederick and home of America's only all water navigable cavern, and an evening pizza party.

TUESDAY: Flight to Tangier Island (TGI) in Virginia 115 miles from Frederick. The island sits out in the middle of the Chesapeake bay, is quaint and has three restaurants. Alternatively, we may fly to Sky Bryce Airport (W92-Private) in Virginia's scenic Shenandoah Valley 75 miles from Frederick. Bryce resort has a golf course, tennis courts, swimming, boating, fishing, and a 3-mile hike around the lake. Evening plans include a social at the Brewery Alley Pub on Market Street in Frederick.

WEDNESDAY: Flight to Potomac Airpark (W35) in West Virginia 40 miles from Frederick for the IDPA flying competition. An IDPA general meeting and picnic will be scheduled later in the day with an evening outing to Griffs Pub on Market Street in Frederick.

THURSDAY: Morning activity TBD (possibly soaring/gliding for this morning or Saturday). Afternoon flight to Atlantic City Municipal/Bader Field (AIY) in New Jersey 143 miles from Frederick for beach/boardwalk fun and gambling at the local casinos.

FRIDAY: Flight to Garrett County (2G4) in Maryland 90 miles from Frederick. The area around Deep Creek Lake is very scenic and offers water-skiing, rafting, mountain biking, hiking, golfing, and more. In the evening the IDPA Banquet at the Holiday Inn will be held. Entree choice will be Chicken Piccata, Sliced Roast Beef au jus, and Flounder with Crabmeat at a cost of $40 per person for members and $45 per person for non-members.

SATURDAY: Possible morning soaring/gliding if unable to coordinate this activity on Thursday's schedule. IDPA picnic at AOPA Headquarters and departure.

For those members arriving by commercial airline, the region has three major airports to service your needs: Dulles International (IAD), approximately 43 miles south-southwest of Frederick via non-major roads or 54 miles via interstate roadways; Baltimore Washington Inter-national (BWI), approximately 51 miles southeast of Frederick via interstate roads, and Reagan National (DCA), approximately 49 miles south-southeast of Frederick via major roadways.

Given the close proximity of DCA to the congestion of Washington, D.C., and the present political situation, we would recommend that travelers coming by commercial airline use either BWI or IAD for greater convenience. For more information on these regional airports and to determine which would be most convenient for you to use, please go to www.metwashairports.com and www.bwiairport.com on the web for more information.

We look forward to an exciting event for both flying and non-flying members alike, as the area around Frederick and Washington offer interesting sights, locations, and history easily reached by car. If you have comments, questions, or suggestions regarding the Fly-In, forward them to John Yeh at john@webbynation.com.