Last year, Kevin and I flew to AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI (OSH). Being the first time that I had been to Oshkosh, since a single trip in high school, we only planned to stay for three days. On Friday afternoon, we left tired, sore, and wishing we had had a lot more time. For the last 12 months, my kids and I have been looking forward to going back, this time for a full week.
Kevin was not able to get more than a couple of days off of work but David and I left home on Saturday and will be in Oshkosh through Friday. The first stop, as is always the case for trips such as this, was Costco to load up on health food. The fare at AirVenture will clog arteries faster than an SR-71 will fly from here to there. We stocked up on cashews, pistacios, cookies, hot cocoa, and a few good things like coffee and instant oatmeal. I also grabbed a couple of six-packs of Trailhead’s Missouri Brown beer, our entry “ticket” for a party scheduled for Wednesday night.
Three o’clock on Saturday saw us in the air, headed for the Alexis Park Inn in Iowa City, IA (IOW). Jay and Mary Honeck run this aviation themed hotel and the hospitality, food and camaraderie at the pool party were unparalleled. This is one place that I need to bring Candy back to for a little R&R on our own.
Several of us from the Cherokee Pilot’s Association and rec.aviation had been planning to fly
from IOW to OSH, not really “in formation” but arriving in a “loose gaggle,” as Jay put it. I gained a new respect for formation flying, though what we did certainly didn’t qualify as formation anything, let alone flying. We did, by some mirable of the fates and winds, arrive together and FISKE Approach cleared us in as a “flight of six.”
On the way up, I lent my camera to Andrew (who’s father, Ray, was flying a Cherokee Six) and he shot the first air-to-air photos that I have of our Arrow. (Click on the thumbnail to see it larger.)
We are camped in the North 40 at AirVenture in the usual intimate setting with about 6,000 of our closest friends. More later when I have more time.
Oshkosh used to be great until the EAA mafia turned the whole event into a corporate sponsor circus and ran all the little guys out that made them a great event in the past.
I guess money will do that to you though the EAA used to be an advocate for the little guy now they are all about greed, power, and control.Sad but true. they use the volunteers like slaves while Poberezny & the EAA pay themselves millions.