Event dedicated to Commander Lt. Col. Richard “Spad” McSpadden to honor all branches of the military; featuring a celebration of Women in Aviation; static military and civilian aircraft displays; Porsche Club cars; children’s activities; live music; food trucks, T-34 Mentor, Fairchild PT-19A, P-51D Mustang and helicopter rides over “The Swamp”
GAINESVILLE, Fla., Mar. 21, 2024 – (UPDATED WITH SCHEDULE and PERSONNEL CHANGES in bold font) 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 23, 2024.
A fly-in is a gathering for pilots who arrive by air. The event takes place from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. (pre-event pancake breakfast at 8:30 a.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 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 Commander Lt. Col. Richard “Spad” McSpadden with a fitting and poignant ‘Flown West’ ceremony with a squadron of beautiful T-6 Texan and T-34 Mentors. This year we are especially focused on celebrating Women in Aviation. And as always, we look forward to sharing this very special celebration at our airport with the community.”
This year’s event will honor Commander Lt. Col. Richard “Spad” McSpadden with a Flown West Ceremony
Celebrating Women in Aviation and our Military
Planned events include opening ceremonies with a color guard and flyovers, most notably the “Flown West” ceremony for the late Commander Lt. Col. Richard “Spad” McSpadden, USAF (ret.), Friend of the Gator Fly-In, who served as commander and flight leader of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flight demonstration team, flying the lead aircraft in over 100 flight demonstrations. Most recently, Spad served as Senior Vice President of Aircraft Owner and Pilots’ Association’s (AOPA’s) Flight Safety Institute. Tragically, Spad lost his life in a plane crash in October 2023. Spad enjoyed the Gator Fly-In and was excited to attend this year’s event. The pre-event fun begins with a continuation of our celebration of the late Col. Joe Kittinger, with the second 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 11 a.m., the gates will open to the public, with all participating aircraft in place. Opening ceremonies begin promptly at 1 p.m., with a color guard from Bucholz High School and drill team from the University of Florida (UF) Gator Guard, followed by the National Anthem, sung by “Big Jim” Adam (USMC, ret.). At 1:15 p.m. the “Flown West” ceremony honoring Commander Lt. Col. McSpadden will commence, with comments delivered by Kollin Stagnito, Senior Vice President of Media and Marketing, AOPA, and participation by the Civil Air Patrol. The flyover honoring McSpadden is planned to include T34 Mentor, T6 Texan and Socata TB-30 Epsilon aircraft. In addition, invited dignitaries will make speeches. (Distinguished Aviators include Lauren Monahan, UF alumna, former officer in the US Coast Guard, also a private pilot, and was just crowned Ms. Florida Senior America 2024; Elizabeth Gray, UF Alumna and Delta Pilot, and AOPA President, Kollin Stagnito.) Veterans’ groups from the North Central Florida region have been invited to participate.
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 2:30 p.m.
Live Music, Classic Cars, Kids’ Activities and All-Day Food Trucks
Activities include touring static aircraft and Porsche Club car displays, 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, Fairchild PT-19A, P51-D Mustang, Robinson 44 Helicopter and Cessna 172; “Swamp Tours”
For a fee, attendees can purchase rides in five different aircraft. Commemorative Air Force, Airbase Georgia will provide Beechcraft T-34B Mentor and Fairchild PT-19A Cornell 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. The Fairchild PT-19A is a historic Tuskegee Airmen Trainer serving at Moton Field from 1943 to 1944. Interested parties may purchase T-34 or Fairchild PT-19 rides in advance of the event at https://airbasegeorgia.org/event/gator-fly-in-gainesville-fl/or walk-up tickets can be purchased at the UAC booth in the Mustang Hangar ($295 for 20 minutes; $395 for 30 minutes.) The Commemorative Air Force is also providing P51-D Mustang Rides ($2500 for 20 minutes). Interested parties may purchase P-51D rides in advance of the event at CAF Gunfighter Rides (p51gunfighter.com)
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 Bell 47-G or Robinson R-44 helicopter ($50).
P51-D Mustang “Gunfighter”
T34-B Mentor
Fairchild PT-19A
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 UH-60 Blackhawk, Boeing P-8 Poseidon, North American T-6 Texan, TH-73A Thrasher, and T-34B Mentor, as well as Shandscair Helicopter and Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Helicopter, and Life South Bloodplane aircraft. 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 and pilots are subject to change due to weather, mechanicals and availability.
A schedule for the day follows:
- 9 a.m. Vendors arrive for set up
- Pre-Event: 8:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. First Annual Col. Joe “Pamcake” Breakfast
- 10 a.m. – aircraft arrive and park; all aircraft parked by 10:45 a.m.
- 11 a.m. – Public Arrive; helicopter and airplane rides begin
- 11 a.m. Live Music, food trucks
- 1 p.m. Opening Ceremony
- 1:15 p.m. Flown West Ceremony for Commander Lt. Col. Richard “Spad” McSpadden
- 1:20 p.m. Speakers begin
- 2:30 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 currently operates 12 daily departures on American Airlines, Delta and Silver Airways with nonstop service to the international hubs of Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale and Miami, providing access to hundreds of destinations around the world in one stop. GNV is served by a full-service fixed base operator, University Air Center (UAC). With more than 400 part- and full-time employees and tenants at the airport, GNV has an annual economic impact on North Central Florida of $556 million. In 2023, 547,457 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/
