The COPPERSTATE Fly-In from inception has been a show place for the builder and restorer. It is a place where owners and craftsman are rewarded for workmanship, ingenuity, and showmanship. While concentrating on the original goals of EAA, which were to support and encourage aircraft homebuilding, COPPERSTATE also encourages the maintenance and restoration of all aircraft in the sport aviation fleet. Areas of support include antiques, warbirds, and classic aircraft.

 

The tradition of the COPPERSTATE Awards Program is unique. Over the years much pride has been taken in making the individual trophies/plaques very special. Each is hand crafted by COPPERSTATE volunteers. The woodwork is original and the copper work of each trophy is carefully handcrafted through processes developed over many years. Each COPPERSTATE trophy is a unique work of art.

 

General rules for qualification for awards are:

 

·        Aircraft must be registered at the event before 11:00 a.m. on Saturday.

·        The aircraft must display a 2007 COPPERSTATE Prop Sleeve with complete information to include a request for judging.

·        The judges must agree that the aircraft qualifies for judging, i.e., be of a quality or era for which an award may be given.

 

 

Award Categories for 2007 will be as follows (Category descriptions are an addendum to this article):

 

Grand Champion Custom Aircraft

 

            Reserve Grand Champion Custom Aircraft

 

                        1^st Place Custom Metal Aircraft

           

                        2^nd Place Custom Metal Aircraft

 

                        3^rd Place Custom Metal Aircraft

           

                        1^st Place Custom Composite Aircraft

 

                        2^nd Place Custom Composite Aircraft

 

                        3^rd Place Custom Composite Aircraft

 

                        1^st Place Custom Wood Aircraft

           

                        2^nd Place Custom Wood Aircraft

 

                        1^st Place Custom Tube and Fabric Aircraft

           

                        2^nd Place Custom Tube and Fabric Aircraft

 

                        1st Place Custom Replica Aircraft

 

                        2^nd Place Custom Replica Aircraft

 

            Non-Custom Aircraft will be judged and awards will be given as follows:

 

                        1^st Place Antique Aircraft

 

                        2^nd Place Antique Aircraft

 

                        1^st Place Classic Aircraft

 

                        2^nd Place Classic Aircraft

 

                        1^st Place Contemporary Aircraft

 

                        2^nd Place Contemporary Aircraft

 

1^st Place Military Aircraft

 

                       2^nd Place Military Aircraft

 

                        Best Rotorcraft

 

Awards Banquet Attendees will be rewarded with a special group of awards designed to encourage attendance and camaraderie. Examples are: “Youngest Pilot” flying to the event, Farthest Distance Flown, etc. Awards Banquet attendance is mandatory for qualification for these awards.

 

As an addendum to COPPERSTATE’s extensive awards program, a long-standing feature is the First Flights Program. Beginning in 2006 this program was changed from an all-inclusive Arizona program to a special fund-raising/support program for COPPERSTATE. Two factors are involved in this decision. The first of course is the tremendous amount of volunteer effort required to create the awards, and the second reason is purely financial. Arizona EAA Chapters may participate in the program by donating $25 per award given to a chapter member. Non-chapter EAA members may request an award with a donation of $50. The request for these donations will be waived for chapters and individuals that directly support the COPPERSTATE Fly-In through volunteering or other contributions. The requirement for receiving this custom made award is to submit the following information about the first flight of the custom aircraft:

 

 

            Date of flight:
            Make and Model of Aircraft:
            Registration # of Aircraft: