No, not the rock/blues band. In yesterday's mail I found a small packet containing my 10 year pin -- acknowledging my ten years' membership in the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). Of all the special interest groups to which I've belonged over the years (aviation, birding, environmental activism, natural history, et al.), AOPA by far gives the most bang for each membership buck. The organization publishes two high-quality monthly magazines, and offers member services which include (but are not limited to) political advocacy, air safety seminars, aircraft title and insurance services, medical services, product reviews (both aircraft and pilot equipment), an exhaustively researched and informative airport directory, online newsletters .... the list goes on and on.
AOPA came into being in 1939, and in the 70 years since, has grown to over 400,000 members, including professional pilots (airlines, freight, corporate, police, air ambulance, crop spraying, academic/scientific research, small business, or anyone else who flies for hire), recreational pilots, student pilots, and a scattering of wannabe pilots like me who read and dream and study and breathe aviation while saving for actual flying lessons. Wish me luck ....
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