AOPA twin is given away

triplec76 · February 11th, 2005, 10:16

Just got my email notice from the AOPA that the twin Comanche was given away recently. The gentleman that won it is from South Carolina, and is part owner of a Piper Cub.

This is a copy of what was sent out to members in the email:

==> BREAKING NEWS <==

AOPA TWIN COMANCHE GOES TO SOUTH CAROLINA MAN
"I'm dreaming, I'm dreaming," was all Roy Wilbanks could say Thursday
night when he learned that he is the proud new owner of AOPA's 2004
Sweepstakes Twin Comanche. AOPA President Phil Boyer surprised Wilbanks,
a 12-year AOPA member, during the South Carolina Aviation Association's
annual hall of fame banquet in Myrtle Beach, telling Wilbanks that he
will be taking home the fully restored, updated, upgraded, better-than-
new 1965 Piper Twin Comanche. AOPA worked closely with Kip Pratt of the
SCAA to arrange the surprise for Wilbanks, who thought he had been
selected at random by the group to represent all South Carolina pilots
at the event. Hal Shevers, chairman of Sporty's Pilot Shop, ensured
that Wilbanks was on time by picking him up in Sporty's jet at his home
airport in Greenwood. During the presentation, Boyer asked Wilbanks,
who co-owns a Piper J-3 Cub, if he'd like to step up to a more advanced
aircraft. When Wilbanks responded that he had been looking to step up,
Boyer asked, "How about this Twin Comanche?" as an image of the sweepstakes
airplane appeared on the screen behind the pair. Wilbanks' enthusiastic
response was matched by that of the crowd of nearly 300, who gave the
winner a standing ovation. Wilbanks then telephoned his wife from the
stage to tell her about his good fortune. "I won it, honey! We don't
need the J-3 anymore," he enthused. After the presentation, a red-faced
Wilbanks, 62, realized that he had one more piece of good luck. "It's
a good thing I just had a physical," he said. Because the dinner ended
so late, Wilbanks won't get his first look at his new airplane until
this morning. Don't fret because you didn't win the twin. All current
AOPA members will have a chance to claim the Rockwell "Commander Countdown"
112 during the drawing this time next year (see the project update below).
For more on the excitement surrounding Wilbanks' new toy, see AOPA Online
( http://www.aopa.org ).

Guess I will have to try again next year!

SteveC · February 11th, 2005, 10:22

They are sneaky bastadges over at AOPA, though. For weeks they have had a notice up on the website saying that the winner had already been contacted, but they were witholding his identity per his request, implying that there were some issues he wanted to clear up prior to going public. Looks like it was all a ploy to keep the real winner unsuspecting up until the presentation. Sly dogs.

flyover · February 11th, 2005, 10:36

Well here's wishing him luck. Just hope he gets the point that an engine failure in the J-3 means floating slowly to earth. In the twin-commanche there are many ways to get to earth after an engine failure, some not survivable. Yeah, I'm just jealous.

triplec76 · February 11th, 2005, 11:03

[ QUOTE ]
Yeah, I'm just jealous.

[/ QUOTE ]

Me too! I'm sure 4 or 500,000 other AOPA members are as well.

H46Bubba · February 11th, 2005, 20:27

Nooooooooo!

I was suppossed to win.

Grabo172 · February 11th, 2005, 20:30

I'm in SC, wish it was me!

I'll get it next year though

GaTechKid · February 11th, 2005, 22:29

Would he like a safety pilot?

pilot602 · February 12th, 2005, 20:03

[ QUOTE ]
the twin-commanche there are many ways to get to earth after an engine failure, some not survivable.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's true of any light twin. Hell, for that matter ... any airplane.

February 11th, 2005, 10:16	#1
triplec76 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 934	AOPA twin is given away Just got my email notice from the AOPA that the twin Comanche was given away recently. The gentleman that won it is from South Carolina, and is part owner of a Piper Cub. This is a copy of what was sent out to members in the email: ==> BREAKING NEWS <== AOPA TWIN COMANCHE GOES TO SOUTH CAROLINA MAN "I'm dreaming, I'm dreaming," was all Roy Wilbanks could say Thursday night when he learned that he is the proud new owner of AOPA's 2004 Sweepstakes Twin Comanche. AOPA President Phil Boyer surprised Wilbanks, a 12-year AOPA member, during the South Carolina Aviation Association's annual hall of fame banquet in Myrtle Beach, telling Wilbanks that he will be taking home the fully restored, updated, upgraded, better-than- new 1965 Piper Twin Comanche. AOPA worked closely with Kip Pratt of the SCAA to arrange the surprise for Wilbanks, who thought he had been selected at random by the group to represent all South Carolina pilots at the event. Hal Shevers, chairman of Sporty's Pilot Shop, ensured that Wilbanks was on time by picking him up in Sporty's jet at his home airport in Greenwood. During the presentation, Boyer asked Wilbanks, who co-owns a Piper J-3 Cub, if he'd like to step up to a more advanced aircraft. When Wilbanks responded that he had been looking to step up, Boyer asked, "How about this Twin Comanche?" as an image of the sweepstakes airplane appeared on the screen behind the pair. Wilbanks' enthusiastic response was matched by that of the crowd of nearly 300, who gave the winner a standing ovation. Wilbanks then telephoned his wife from the stage to tell her about his good fortune. "I won it, honey! We don't need the J-3 anymore," he enthused. After the presentation, a red-faced Wilbanks, 62, realized that he had one more piece of good luck. "It's a good thing I just had a physical," he said. Because the dinner ended so late, Wilbanks won't get his first look at his new airplane until this morning. Don't fret because you didn't win the twin. All current AOPA members will have a chance to claim the Rockwell "Commander Countdown" 112 during the drawing this time next year (see the project update below). For more on the excitement surrounding Wilbanks' new toy, see AOPA Online ( http://www.aopa.org ). Guess I will have to try again next year!

February 11th, 2005, 10:22	#2
SteveC Moderator Join Date: May 2003 Location: GRR Posts: 8,362	Re: AOPA twin is given away They are sneaky bastadges over at AOPA, though. For weeks they have had a notice up on the website saying that the winner had already been contacted, but they were witholding his identity per his request, implying that there were some issues he wanted to clear up prior to going public. Looks like it was all a ploy to keep the real winner unsuspecting up until the presentation. Sly dogs.

February 11th, 2005, 10:36	#3
flyover Old Skool Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 3,389	Re: AOPA twin is given away Well here's wishing him luck. Just hope he gets the point that an engine failure in the J-3 means floating slowly to earth. In the twin-commanche there are many ways to get to earth after an engine failure, some not survivable. Yeah, I'm just jealous.

February 11th, 2005, 11:03	#4
triplec76 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 934	Re: AOPA twin is given away [ QUOTE ] Yeah, I'm just jealous. [/ QUOTE ] Me too! I'm sure 4 or 500,000 other AOPA members are as well.

February 11th, 2005, 20:27	#5
H46Bubba Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: CVG Posts: 4,095	Re: AOPA twin is given away Nooooooooo! I was suppossed to win.

February 11th, 2005, 20:30	#6
Grabo172 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Peterborough, NH Posts: 1,269	Re: AOPA twin is given away I'm in SC, wish it was me! I'll get it next year though

February 11th, 2005, 22:29	#7
GaTechKid Old Skool Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Frigid NWA Hub Posts: 1,882	Re: AOPA twin is given away Would he like a safety pilot?

February 12th, 2005, 20:03	#8
pilot602 Old Skool Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: who haa Posts: 3,750	Re: AOPA twin is given away [ QUOTE ] the twin-commanche there are many ways to get to earth after an engine failure, some not survivable. [/ QUOTE ] That's true of any light twin. Hell, for that matter ... any airplane.

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