Sporty’s Concludes Successful Fly-in and Awards Sweepstakes RV-12

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Sporty’s Concludes Successful Fly-in and Awards Sweepstakes RV-12

Showers didn’t dampen spirits for hundreds of attendees

A few lingering showers didn’t keep pilots from Sporty’s 11th annual fly-in. Hundreds of attendees enjoyed a full static aircraft display, exhibits, seminars and introductory flights. Sporty’s promised a fly-in “rain or shine” and that’s exactly what happened.

The fly-in hosted the largest number of exhibitors ever. Seminars from Sporty’s, ForeFlight, and Garmin were near capacity. While fly in traffic was down, drive in traffic was up – and Sporty’s loyal customer-attendees enthusiastically consumed upwards of 700 free hot dogs. Lots of interest was shown in new aircraft on display which fly-in participants could examine up close.

“We had people flying in to Sporty’s the following day, on Sunday – of course, a clear, sunny day – just to visit and shop at our retail store,” says Sporty’s President Michael Wolf.

Happiest Customer of All
A highlight of the fly-in was Wolf’s annual phone call to the Sporty’s customer who won Sporty’s Aircraft Sweepstakes – this year a 2015 RV-12. The winner is Rick Okikawa of Sacramento, California, who is a relatively new pilot. He began as a customer with Sporty’s two years ago when he purchased Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course for his training. Last year, he earned his private certificate. A ForeFlight subscription qualified Okikawa as a customer for this year’s sweepstakes.

When informed by Wolf that he is the 2015 Sweepstakes winner, a stunned Okikawa laughed and replied, “This is kind of surreal,” and then added, “I’ll be pinching myself making sure I’m awake.”

Okikawa will travel to Batavia in the weeks ahead to claim ownership of his airplane. Sporty’s announced its next sweepstakes airplane will be a Legend Cub.

In case you missed it
Whether you arrive by aircraft or car, the welcome mat is always out at Sporty’s. The Sporty’s campus includes its pilot shop, flight school, FBO and more. And if you visit on a Saturday, you can enjoy Sporty’s famous weekly cookout from noon to 2pm. For more information, visit http://www.sportys.com/pilotshop/visit-us/.
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