Eenie, Meenie, Miney, MO.....

[devon532]

I don't get much time off, but I really want to attend a rotorcraft event to be around all the different types of gyros, meet all the great people on the forum, etc. so if I could only attend one event in a year, which one do you think is the "best" one to attend (and why)? I'm also going to try to create a poll for this. I live in NJ so that kind of enters into things, but for the purposes of this discussion, distance doesn't matter - could even be overseas.

Looking forward to your comments!

[Brian Jackson]

I voted for Mentone only because I live so close. As finances (and business) improves (duh) I hope to attend more fly-ins.

[PW_Plack]

Vince,

If you want to see all the different types of gyros, you'll need to attend more than one event. Even in this age of the worldwide web, certain kits and designs are still concentrated in certain geographical areas. (Except RAFs, they're plentiful everywhere. SparrowHawks soon will be, too.)

If your interest is in small experimental gyroplanes, scratch the two EAA events off the list, for starters. Small gyros are discouraged at SNF and Airventure/Oshkosh.

If you go to Bensen Days, you'll see lots of Dominators and Air commands, and a sprinkling of others. Ironically, you won't see many Bensens and their clones at Bensen Days. For that, you'll need to come to The Ken Brock Freedom Fly-In at El Mirage, CA in September. I saw about a dozen older Bensen and Brock machines there, some unique one-of-a-kinds, a beautiful GyroBee, Scott Heger's Sport Copter, and more.

If you go to Mentone, you'll see yet a different assortment.

[barnstorm2]

This was hard choice. Interistingly I had to make this choice this year due to a slowdown in my industry ($)/Time=1 event

Bensen Days A bit of travel but you get to have a dose of spring fevor medication. For me another attraction is that I get to see people that don't live in my region and I get to fly over some unfamiliar terrain.

Sun 'N Fun Not a gyro only event....

EAA Oshkosh Not a gyro only event.. BUT Miss Champion calls this year. I wish I could go.

PRA Mentone Large event, close enough for me to take my gyro, makes this the winner for me this year.

Rotors over Carolina Maybe I will get to go this year if biz picks up over the summer. I have several ROC videos and would very much like to see what this fly in is like.

[Harry_S.]

Vince: To pick *only one* event is a bit unfair...ref the afore mentioned reasons. It's a nobrainer for old codgers like me...it's the closest one to home. ;)


Cheers :)

[devon532]

You're right, Harry. It IS unfair that I can only get to go to one event ... that's why I'm calling on the huge knowledge base here to give me some input so I can make an informed decision. I'm not concerned about politics or popularity, or distance, or time of year, etc. It's just an information gathering excercise. Oh, and by the way, just because one event gets more votes than another does not mean it's "the best event"..... it just means it got more votes.