2009 Convention Reservation Form

You can download your 2009 Convention Reservation Form here.

Please complete the form and mail it to:

Rev. Allen F. Corrigan
St. Victor Church
3435 Everett Road
Richfield, OH 44286

HOTEL RESERVATIONS must be contracted with the Radisson Akron/Fairlawn directly by the individual attendees themselves. The information is on the reservation form.

National Convention Schedule

Greetings, one and all! The Priest Pilot blog is now established. The main purpose of this blog is to keep members of the National Association of Priest Pilots up-to-date with respect to this year's Annual National Convention. Updated information will be posted here, including a schedule of activities.

Attendees will be flying into the Cleveland/Akron area either by personal aircraft arriving at 1G5 (Medina Municipal Airport) or commercial flights arriving at KCLE (Cleveland Hopkins International) or KCAK (Akron/Canton Regional).

The preliminary schedule is as follows:

Monday, July 6, 2009: Fly In. (There are about a dozen tie-downs available at 1G5.)

Check in Radisson Akron/Fairlawn, 200 Montrose West Avenue, Akron OH 44321 after 3 PM.
Hospitality Room with pizza and beverages upon arrival at Hotel site.

Tuesday, July 7: Wakeup, full cooked breakfast buffet (included).
Departure by motor coach to NASA/Glenn Research Facility
Visitor Center Program on Space Flight
NOTE: Attentees must be U.S. Citizens and have appropriate I.D.

Transportation by motor coach to Cleveland's Little Italy
Lunch in Little Italy (At this point paid by individual/separate check.)

Transportation by motor coach to nearby Cleveland Museum of Art.
About 90 minutes at CMA.
Return by motor coach to 200 Montrose West Avenue.

FREE TIME / DINNER

Locals refere to Montrose West Avenue as "Restuarant Hill,"
there are NUMEROUS eating estabishments nearby.

Wednesday, July 8: Sleep-in day! (Details still being worked out.)

Full cooked breakfast buffet (included).

10:30 AM Annual Business Meeting
11:45 AM Free Time (Will suggest ideas for side trips and activities)
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON FREETIME!
(Optional activies being worked out.)
5:00 PM Annual Concelebrated Mass at St. Victor Church
3435 Everett Road, Richfield, OH 44286 330-659-6591
6:00 PM Cocktail Hour / Preprandials
7:00 PM Banquet (Please advise Allen of dietary restrictions in advance.)


Return to nearby Akron/Fairlawn Radisson.

Thursday, July 9: Checkout by NOON LOCAL

Attendees Depart.

National Association of Priest Pilots

The official site of the NAPP which can be found here; you are now viewing the blog of Allen Corrigan, the Local Site Host of the NAPP July, 2009 National Convention.

HISTORY OF THE NAPP: In the summer of 1963 two Kentucky priest pilots, Fathers Henry Haackeand Bob Wendeln, took a flying vacation to the West Coast. When they stopped for fuel, lodging or sight seeing they asked the airport personnel if they knew of any priests that flew. They were amazed at the number of flying padres they heard about on that trip. By the time they returned home they decided to put notices in some of the flying magazines, inviting any priest pilots to a gathering July 12 - 15, 1964 in Carrollton, Kentucky. Henry and Bob hosted over 90 priests at that fly in.


Priests were invited to recommend noted flyers to grace our presence. Fr.
Jack Lawler had become acquainted with the famous flying grandfather, Max Conrad.
He was the speaker at the first NAPP banquet and "A Flyers Rosary," composed
while flying the Atlantic in a Piper Pacer, were his closing words. That prayer
is on the NAPP membership card and directory. Jerry Mock had just recently
completed her "first woman to fly solo around the world" in her 13 year old
Cessna 180. She was a guest, as was aerobatics champion Harold Krier, who put
on a private air show for the Flying Padres.


During the ensuing year, Msgr. Robert Sennott wrote the NAPP Constitution
which was approved by the membership at the 1965 convention. NAPP incorporated
in the state of Kentucky and Fr. Al Ruschman took over the annual renewal after
the deaths of the NAPP co-founders. Msgr. Sennott was also instrumental in
having Boston's Cardinal Cushing obtain the September 29, 1964 statement from
Pope John XXIII.


At the first three conventions instructors flew with the members to bring
them up to current FAA specs. The instrument portion of a private flight check
ride had just gone into effect. AOPA developed an FAA approved program, which
when completed, entitled the pilot to obtain a Blue Seal that could be affixed
to his license indicating he met the current standards. The organization
purchased instructional materials that could be checked out for 3 months to
assist members in passing the instrument written exam. Many members availed
themselves of this service. At most conventions over the years some form of
continuing flying education has been offered to assist members in maintaining
their skills and keeping up to date on the latest regs and ever changing
technological advances.


The annual convention has taken members to places they never would have
gone and developed a bond with people of similar interests. One of the important
functions of NAPP over the years is the practice of supporting members using
aircraft in missionary work. But in the end, the greatest benefit of being an
NAPPer is the shared priesthood that unites all in a common goal while able to
enjoy the specialness of being not only a pilot, but a priest-pilot.

The Akron/Fairlawn Radisson

The Akron/Fairlawn Radisson is located at 200 West Montrose Avenue, Akron, OH 44321. We have received an excellent price of $79.00 per room, which includes not a Continental Breakfast, but a full cooked breakfast buffet.



Members will be asked to contact the hotel and make their room reservations personally. The convention fee will not include lodging; this will be between the members and the hotel. The special rate is good only until June 5!