GAINESVILLE REGIONAL AIRPORT AND UNIVERSITY AIR CENTER SET FOR
GATOR FLY-IN AND ARMED SERVICES APPRECIATION DAY MARCH 25, 2023
Event dedicated to Gator Alum Col Joe Kittinger to honor all branches of the military;
static military and civilian aircraft displays; Gainesville Street Rods; children’s activities;
live music; food trucks, T-6 Texan, helicopter and plane rides over “The Swamp”
GAINESVILLE, Fla., Mar. 9, 2023 – Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV) and its FBO, the University Air Center (UAC) will once again host the Gator Fly-In and Armed Services Appreciation Day Saturday, March 25, 2023.
A fly-in is a gathering for pilots who arrive by air. The event takes place from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at University Air Center, 4701 NE 40th Terrace, Gainesville, Fla. (Enter at General Aviation Entrance, Waldo Road) and is open to the public. Admission and parking are free, and a complimentary shuttle will be provided.
“Our annual Gator Fly-In and Armed Services Appreciation Day is our way of honoring all branches of the military, including some great Gator dignitaries, military and civil aviators who will be flying in many different types of aircraft to the UAC for the event,” says Allan Penksa, CEO, Gainesville Regional Airport. “It’s an exciting day for our community — especially anyone who is curious about flight — to learn more about aviation. We are honored to dedicate this year’s event to our dear friend and Gator Aviator Col. Joe Kittinger with a fitting and poignant ‘Flown West’ ceremony with a squadron of beautiful T-6 Texan and T-34 Mentors. We always look forward to sharing this very special celebration at our airport with the community.”
Celebrating our Military and Distinguished Gator Alumni
Planned events include opening ceremonies with a color guard and flyovers, most notably the “Flown West” ceremony for the late Col. Joseph W. Kittinger, USAF (ret.), Vietnam Prisoner of War (POW), Purple Heart Veteran, UF Alumnus and holder of the world record for the highest skydive (102,800 feet) from 1960 until 2012. The event begins with the first annual “Col. Joe ‘Pamcake’ Breakfast” at 8:30 a.m., with donations going to Col. Joe’s favorite charity, the International Sky Diving Museum & Hall of Fame (www.skydivingmuseum.org). In addition, Col. Joe’s autobiography, “Come Up and Get Me,” will be available for purchase at the event for $25. At 10 a.m., the gates will open to the public, with all participating aircraft in place. Opening ceremonies begin promptly at 11 a.m., with a color guard from Bucholz High School and drill team from the University of Florida (UF) Gator Guard Drill Team, followed by the National Anthem, sung by Mary Jo Wheeler (USAF, ret.) and “America the Beautiful,” sung by Gosia and Ali. At 11:15 a.m. the “Flown West” ceremony honoring Col. Joe Kittinger will commence with participation by the Civil Air Patrol. In addition, invited dignitaries will make speeches. (Distinguished Aviators include retired Navy Fighter Pilot and former UAC General Manager Bill Pokorny and retired USAF Col. Michael Hare, as well as renowned American Aviator and U.S. National Aerobatic Champion Patty Wagstaff, and Jamie Beckett, AOPA Foundation High School Aero Club Liaison. Veterans’ groups from the North Central Florida region have been invited to participate.
Col Joe Kittinger with UF ROTC at the 2022 Gator Fly-In
Static Display:
All branches of the military have been invited to fly in and participate in the event’s static display. We also expect aircraft manufacturers, privately owned aircraft and law enforcement aircraft to be on display.
Best Aircraft Contest and People’s Choice Awards
A “Best Civilian Aircraft” and “People’s Choice: Best Aircraft” contest will be held, allowing event attendees to vote for their favorite aircraft at the Gator Fly-In. The two winners will be announced and presented with awards at 1 p.m.
Live Music, Classic Cars, Kids’ Activities and All-Day Food Trucks
Activities include touring static aircraft and Gainesville Street Rod displays, classic motorcycles, military trucks, a kid’s corner with face painting, toy airplanes and coloring, arts and crafts vendors, and food trucks. Live Music by The Treetop Flyers will take place throughout the event. In addition to the “Col. Joe ‘Pamcake’ Breakfast” from 8:30 a.m. – 11 a.m., food trucks and a variety of food vendors will operate throughout the event.
Aircraft Rides for purchase – North American T-34B Mentor, Robinson 44 Helicopter and Cessna 172; “Swamp Tours”
For a fee, attendees can purchase rides in three different aircraft. Commemorative Air Force, Dixie Wing will provide Beechcraft T-34B Mentor flights for purchase. The Beechcraft T-34B Mentor is an American propeller-driven, single-engined, military trainer aircraft derived from the Beechcraft Model 35 Bonanza. Interested parties may purchase T-34B Mentor rides in advance of the event at https://airbasegeorgia.org/warbird-rides/ or walk-up tickets can be purchased at the UAC booth in the Mustang Hangar ($250 for 20 minutes; $320 for 40 minutes; $380 for 60 minutes.) Walk-up tickets can also be purchased at the event. In addition, UAC is offering “Swamp Tours” lasting about 15 minutes, in which passengers can fly over the UF Football Stadium in a Cessna 172 ($50) or a Robinson R-44 helicopter ($50).
Pilot Seminars
Jamie Beckett, AOPA Ambassador and Pilot Safety Expert will offer a pilot seminar at 10 a.m. at the UAC Conference Room.
A wide variety of general aviation, corporate, aerobatic, glider and homebuilt aircraft are expected at the Gator Fly-In.
All branches of the military have been invited to fly in and participate in the event’s static display. As of this news release, confirmed military aircraft include C-130 Hercules, UH-60 Blackhawk, T-34B Mentor, Shandscair Helicopter and Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Helicopter. Confirmed military aircraft will be updated as they are scheduled. We also expect aircraft manufacturers, privately owned aircraft and law enforcement aircraft to be on display. All aircraft are subject to change due to weather, mechanicals and availability.
North American T-34B Mentor rides will be available for purchase at the Gator Fly-In
A schedule for the day follows:
- 7 a.m. Vendors arrive for set up
- 8:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. First Annual Col. Joe “Pamcake” Breakfast
- 9 a.m. – aircraft arrive and park; all aircraft parked by 9:45 a.m.
- 10 a.m. – Public Arrive; helicopter and airplane rides begin; Pilot Seminar with Jamie Beckett
- 11 a.m. Opening Ceremony
- 11:15 a.m. Flown West Ceremony for Col. Joe Kittinger
- 11:20 a.m. Speakers begin
- 12 noon Live Music, food trucks
- 1 p.m. People’s choice and Best of Show Airplane Contest Announced
- 3 p.m. Final thank you and prep for departures
Please tell your flying friends and anyone who would rather be “flying in.” For more information on the Gator Fly-In and Armed Services Appreciation Day, please contact Pam Landis at paml@universityaircenter.com or phone (352) 416-0787, visit the Gator Fly-In Facebook page or https://www.flygainesville.com
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About Gainesville Regional Airport:
Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV) serves North Central Florida and the Heart of Florida through all facets of aviation: commercial airlines, general aviation, military operations, medical missions and air cargo. Located in Gainesville, Florida, just minutes away from the University of Florida, GNV provides a close, convenient and competitively priced “gateway” to the Heart of Florida. The airport normally operates 16 daily departures on American Airlines and Delta with nonstop service to the international hubs of Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas Fort Worth and Miami, providing access to 343 destinations around the world in one stop. GNV is served by a full-service fixed base operator, University Air Center (UAC). With more than 350 part- and full-time employees and tenants at the airport, GNV has an annual economic impact on North Central Florida of more than $374 million. In 2022, 535,694 commercial passengers flew in and out of GNV. For more information, please visit flygainesville.com
About University Air Center:
University Air Center (UAC) is the Fixed Base Operation (FBO) at Gainesville Regional Airport (KGNV). We are a full-service FBO and charter operator with Citation 500/550/560 series jets; Eclipse 500 series jets and a Cirrus SR-22. We maintain aircraft from multi-engine jets to single engine and Multi Engine piston aircraft. UAC operates an FAA approved, Part 141 flight school. We offer booking of rental cars, hotel rooms, catering and aircraft fueling services, with JetA and AvFuel 100LL. UAC is open 24 hours, a day, seven days a week, and we are proud of operating over 30 years with a perfect safety record. For more information, please visit http://uac.aero/
