Copperstate Fly-In - October 22-24, 2009

[Matt Ottosen]

COPPERSTATE is the largest Fly-In of its type in the western United States and the fourth largest Fly-In in the United States. It is held at the Casa Grande Municipal Airport (KCGZ) in Casa Grande, AZ. Casa Grande is located approximately halfway between Phoenix and Tucson.

Copperstate Fly-In Flyer

[Joe Copalman]

Seriously, can they pack any more awesome aviation-related stuff in the southwest into the month of October?

Coolidge fly-in, Red Flag 10-1, WTI,  Miramar Airshow, CAF Midland, and now this. 

Busy month.

[Dave S.]

... and I'll be running the Marine Corps Marathon (in DC) the same weekend of the Copperstate Fly-In.

[John S]

Also Edwards AFB Open House and Airshow, Oct 17.

[Joe Copalman]

Oh yeah.  PhanCon at Holloman as well.  That's the one I couldn't remember.

[redsox223]

I will have to put this down on my calendar, looks like an awesome event to attend.

[Jay Beckman]

I will have to put this down on my calendar, looks like an awesome event to attend.

It's a great three days.  I shot 2nd last year under Rick Fernau (the official EAA photographer and Mayor of Show Low)
Rick shot all the planes and people who were competing for awards and was kind enough to have me just wander and shoot "color."

My gallery from 2008

[Joe Copalman]

Jay, those are awesome shots.

What is access like for non-2nd-shooter-for-the-main-EAA-guy photographers?  Seems a bit more controlled than Coolidge, but can you still get pretty close?

Is anybody else planning to attend on the 24th?

[Matt Ottosen]

I'll be working, it's my trade for my day down in Yuma for WTI.

[redsox223]

I am probably going to head down there on the 24th(Saturday) and I just saw on their website that they are going to offer rides in the Ford Tri Motor. I found a website that lists the price of a ride at $60, which if its correct doesnt seem that outrageous to me.

I was also reading that if you can reserve the plane for a group ( 9 people), I dont know how many planned to go down there, and also spend the money. There is also the risk of everyone being on the plane if it goes down and there goes the forum activity, hehe...

[Jay Beckman]

Jay, those are awesome shots.

What is access like for non-2nd-shooter-for-the-main-EAA-guy photographers?  Seems a bit more controlled than Coolidge, but can you still get pretty close?

Is anybody else planning to attend on the 24th?

Sorry I missed this earlier... 

Access is very good.  Provided you don't walk into a prop or sumpthin' you can wander pretty far and wide.  Shooting from near the base of the temporary tower is a good place to get touchdown and taxi off shots.  I haven't tried walking toward the approach end of RWY 5 much further than the 45 degree taxiway where they park transients though.

[Jay Beckman]

Copperstate's this coming Friday and Saturday.  Anyone else planning on going down to CGZ on Friday?

Tri-Motor will be there Friday and Saturday.

[Joe Copalman]

I'm in for Saturday, though I'm unsure of the time.  Send me a PM with your cell number so we can hook up down there.
-Joe

[redsox223]

I plan on being down there Saturday as well.

[Paul Dumm]

I'm planing to be there on Firday and saturday.