Warbird Information Exchange

Friday night was pretty hard. Went out to dinner at fish restaurant out in the country with Steve and Carol, but not much fun. I felt a little better this morning and had aleady signed up for the airshow so I flew, although my heart wasn't fully in it. It was a pretty day with lot's of planes of all types flying. All we, the fighters, did was the same old low passes north to south on 36, no formation, no acro, no photo turns. I thought about Gerry as I passed over the end of the runway. It was nice to be back in the air and there was a large crowd watching. After a few passes I left to practice some rolls which went well and I landed at Fon Du Lac. Had a hangar dinner with the local EAA chapter. I'll probably do a practice flight there tomorrow and then head home.

_________________
Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

This has been a darn odd year at OSH. I havnt really noti?ced any enthusiasm from the crowd. Even before the incident on Friday, something just didnt feel right about the whole bit. Am I the only one who thinks that the EAA has gotten so"fat" that it does not know what to do with its self?


Anyways me thinks that attendance is down this year. Mostly the lower(my self included) and lower middle class just can't afford to make it this year.

84, It seemed to me that there was plenty of enthusiasm, at least on Sat. There were crowds to hear vets like Gen Rall, Sen. McGovern etc. and Steve Hinton speak as well as lot's of folks at the warbirds around the fly market, at displays like light sport aircraft. Perhhaps being aq volunteer mihgt give you some access at no cost or less cost.

_________________
Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

I agree Bill. Plenty of enthusiasm and busy as usual. Your laps in the Spit yesterday looked very graceful. Thanks for flying.

_________________
Life's a Pitts

Actually attendance is up this year and At thegathering of Eagles we raised 1.5 million..

My dad drove up from the Chicago area on Saturday and REALLY liked the military portion of the show. He said the C-17, the B-2 and the Raptor were really impressive. He spent most of his time walking around and looking at planes so I guess only the really noisy stuff got his attention during the flying part of the show. That's a problem with Oshkosh, you can't look at the static aircraft AND see the airshow when you are there for only one day (6-1/2 hours at the show for him). He said the act with the 4 T-6s was really cool too. My dad is 70 and in pretty good health- nonetheless it is still a pretty grueling day. Luckily he checked the forecast on Yahoo because it was raining in Chicago when he left.

I got to enjoy all day Thursday at the show, Thursday night at t he cookout(which was awsome), half a day on Friday, and then I ended up taking one of my friends to the ER. Sat. was fun, but was still worried about my pal in hospital.

_________________
Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

I thought this year was excellent, except for Friday afternoon. It was great meeting all fellow WIXer's. The gathering Thursday evening was fantastic, then afterwards a few of us had some fun too, which you may see in a later post. All in all, I am already going into Airventure depression. Oh well, I'll just have to wait another year. Photos will be posted later today.

_________________
P-51, The Cadillac of the Sky!

I second Bill's suggestion about volunteering at OSH. You get to work with fellow aviation enthusiasts (aka Plane Nuts)...never a bad thing. You can also get your admission and parking gratis in exchange for your time. "Speak to your tax professional" but if you volunteer enough hours/days, you may be able to write off certain related costs of attending since the EAA is a 501C3 group (IRS recognized non-profit).

I have volunteered for 9 years and enjoyed almost every minute of it (when it is r-e-a-l-l-y hot & humid or when I am dodging real frog-strangler thunderstorms I am a little less enthusiastic about my work). I have made good friends and continue to learn more about the a/c and the people who flew them in combat and the people who fly them now.

On a side note, the owners of one "new" mustang restoration actually posted "touch me" signs on their a/c and put almost everyone they could up in their cockpit. (I am sorry but my memory fails me as to the name of the a/c at this moment - growing old ain't easy, until you consider the alternative!)

PM me for more information about volunteering. OSH would not happen without volunteers.

john

I could certainly use some more volunteer help during AirVenture doing everything from helping staff a booth/tent out in Warbirds to actually interviewing WWII veterans. I require at least 4 hours of time per day, for which you will receive a daily pass, parking pass, and box lunch. If you volunteer for 4 days or more I give you a weekly pass. Volunteers are also able to attend the EAA wine-down (get it?) party on the last day.

Regarding the side note, the name of the P-51 with "touch me" signs was "Quick Silver" but I do not know who the owner/pilot was. I can tell you it is one heck of a beautiful paint scheme though. Black on silver really looks amazing.

Zack

_________________
Volunteer Coordinator/Curator - Military Aviation Museum - Virginia Beach, VA
"America's Flying Museum"
http://www.militaryaviationmuseum.org

I left Fon du Lac this morning about 9, first stop was Norfolk Nebraska, and then got the plane back to Ft. Collins Loveland late this afternoon, where Ray will take a look at what is the problem with the gear indicator lights.This pilot wiil be taking a few days rest, at least.

_________________
Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

EAA Releases Attendance Figures For AirVenture 2007
Tue, 31 Jul '07

"The Best Ever" Following Adjustment To '06 Numbers
It was a banner year for attendance at AirVenture 2007... but with an asterisk attached. That's the word from the Experimental Aircraft Association, which estimates some 560,000 people took in the festivities at the weeklong event.



"After seeing the tremendous week of activity at EAA AirVenture 2007, I believe we can use the term 'the best ever' in describing this year's event," said EAA President Tom Poberezny. "The number of aviation innovations and introductions we saw at Oshkosh were unprecedented, and there was a very positive feeling among pilots and aviation enthusiasts.

"In addition, exhibitors throughout the grounds noted strong interest and, in some cases, record sales," Poberezny added.

The numbers represent a 3.2 percent increase in attendance over 2006... and this is where that asterisk comes into play. During a detailed review of prior years' attendance calculations, the EAA says it discovered a segment of attendees that had been counted in two categories. That led to a revised 2006 attendance figure of approximately 545,000.

"Among the reasons for this year's attendance increase were a strong lineup of features and attractions, a large number of significant announcements within the aviation community, and good weather nearly every day of the event," Poberezny added.

The EAA also notes over 10,000 planes visited Wittman Field and other airports in east-central Wisconsin, including 2,647 showplanes at OSH. More than 38,000 people camped out in Camp Scholler

At the airports I stopped on the way back I met a lot of people who knew about EAA and had either been in previous years or wanted to go. Most asked how was it this year? There's no way I could describe it as good with a fatal accident, so I just told most of them about the generally good weather.I'd say perhaps a third of the years I have been there for the last two decades someone has been killed, but not always someone you know. Gerry was at the Mustang forum on Thur. I would have liked to talk more about safety, but it didn't seem to be the mood of the group. We did have a fairly detailed bit about engine out landing practice. It motivated me to try to do a practice flight, so I went to FLD fairly early Sun am, but they have a temporary tower there these days which had everything gummed up, along with a Citation jet that taxied to the runway and sat for 20 minutes waiting for IFR clearance on a CAVU day, while a number of planes stacked up behind it as the taxiway is too narrow to get around. I never left the ramp, shut down twice, and finally gave up and taxied back. Sure miss the old days when FLD was full of warbirds and there was no tower. It seems I am about the only one that goes there anymore. I saw one L bird stay overnight, and one T-6 stop in for a ride, far outnumbered by the diesel burners..

_________________
Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

Bill - re: safety discussion...

A few years back during the warbird's forum day (Thursday - 2001?), Vlado led the Mustang forum which featured a Jack Roush safety presentation. Extremely well done relating of a "it happened to me and it could happen to you" incident that was well received by the assembled pilots - not easy to do with a largely type A crowd. Jack is an excellent "safety speaker": clear, compelling & low-key. I agree with you and wish they did more safety presentations at those Warbird forums.