SWRFI 2008 cancelled
EAA TEXAS FLY-IN CANCELLED FOR 2008
Stan Shannon, Chairman and CEO of the Southwest Regional Fly-In, Inc., also known as the EAA Texas Fly-In, announced that the officers and directors of the SWRFI voted to cancel the fly-in scheduled for October 10-11, 2008 and to ultimately cease operations.
The board made this decision as a result of the following:
1. EAA headquarters decided to cease branding regional fly-ins as EAA events.
2. EAA will no longer insure regional events.
3. Dwindling attendance numbers
4. Fewer volunteers
The board felt that losing the EAA brand would make it increasingly difficult to obtain
sponsors, exhibitors, and volunteers.
The SWRFI, debt free and in sound financial condition, will support youth in aviation. The board of directors voted to create a youth scholarship fund. Scholarships will assist deserving young men and women in attending aviation related educational programs. Chapters will be notified of the scholarship application process in the coming months. In addition, the SWRFI sponsored EAA Young Eagles, Hondo Aviation Day, will continue as planned and is scheduled for March 15, 2008.
As the direction of the SWRFI changes, and as an exciting 46-year aviation era ends, we look back with gratitude to Tony Bingelis who founded the fly-in, Paul Poberenzy who founded EAA, the many chapters, dedicated EAA volunteers, sponsors and the exhibitors who made this fly-in possible.