Saturday morning Norma Gerber sits on the porch of the Replica Fighter's Association clubhouse staring at the folded tables. "I'm supposed to pull all the old staples out of the edges of these tables so no one cuts themselves." Staring at the four tables leaning against the post she says with a smile, "When I agreed to do this I didn't know they also meant those too." She points to another stack of about ten more tables.
Norma is one of the hundreds of EAA members who have arrived at Wittman Field long before the fly-in starts to help get things ready. Norma arrived yesterday, but her husband Gary has already been here a week.
Norma and Gary Gerber take a break from their work preparing the Replica Fighter Association's clubhouse and grounds.
Gary is the president of the Replica Fighter Association, aka Squadron 12 of the Warbirds of America. Gary's been with the replica fighters group since 1992, but he's been helping out at Oshkosh for 21 years.
Back in those days he helped out each year with preparing the campgrounds, repainting signs, and lots of other miscellaneous refurbishing.
This year Gary has made all sorts of repairs to the clubhouse. He painted the floor, fixed a leak in the air-conditioner, cleaned all the windows, put in a new counter and replaced a lot of the trim. There's no end to the work needed to prepare for the world's largest fly-in.
Gary and Norma are from Syracuse, Indiana. They fly out of Wawasee Airport on the shores of Lake Wawasee ("the largest lake in Indiana!")
Woody Holmes and Phil Ferrone are sitting in low folding chairs under the wing of their rented Cessna 172. They flew in from Camarillo Airport in Ventura California.
Their plane is parked in the coveted North Forty parking space of Row One Spot One. They arrived on Wednesday, but they didn't plan on arriving that early. They had allowed a few days in their trip for weather delays but didn't need them. Instead, the weather cooperated and they came straight on through to Oshkosh in 20 flying hours spread over three days.
Phil attended his first AirVenture in 1997 and this is Woody's first time. In spite of their early arrival they plan on staying through until the very end. "We're looking forward to seeing every kind of airplane there is."
"We normally wouldn't come this early," they said. But they're not complaining as they relax in the shade and watch the activity on runway 27.
In Row 4 Steve Goulter and his son Jeff are finishing up unloading their 1966 Cessna 150. They made the six and a half hour trip from Brampton Flying Club in Brampton Ontario Canada, which is near Toronto. They arrived Thursday afternoon after taking the "Chicago Route" to Wittman Field.
Steve has been coming to Oshkosh since 1978. Over the years he's traveled here in a Cessna 140, he's driven, he's come in a 172, and now for a third year in his 150.
Steve's very proud of his 150. He talks of its 7000 hours of service and points out the modifications he's made to the aircraft. He's added windows to the lowers part of both doors and skylights to the roof.
"We're from Canada so the paperwork involved in getting these mods approved is even worse than here in the U.S.," he says. He describes the half-inch of paperwork required, but says that his aeronautical engineering background, and the help of a friend who understood the ways of Canada's bureaucracy, smoothed the way.
Eighteen-year-old son Jeff is here at AirVenture for the "4th or 5th" time. He's a student pilot. The Goulters will head home on Friday or Saturday and plan to take the northern route so the will have completely encircled the lake.
Laying claim this year to the coveted bragging rights of being the "first North Forty arrival" is Joe Thomas. When Joe taxied in on Monday there were no other airplanes on the grass. We met Joe, a retired Pan Am pilot, in this column last year.
Joe has taken advantage of his early arrival to lay claim to the runway end of Row 3 where he has a great view of the comings and goings on runway 9-27.
Joe made the nine hour flight from the Wellington Florida fly-in community where he lives. In his 26 years with Pan Am Joe flew DC6s, 707s, 727s, 747s and L1011s. These days Joe flies his blue and white Cherokee Six.
Ann-Marie and Paul Emond have set up their screen house next to red white and blue Grumman Tiger. Now they're relaxing, trying to escape the heat and humidity.
Paul and Ann-Marie are part of that fast growing group of AirVenture couples where she is the pilot not him.
Ann-Marie and Paul Emond in front of her Grumman Tiger.
"About 13 years ago," Paul says, "I came home from work one day and she said 'You know what I'm gonna do? I'm gonna learn how to fly.'"
"The bankbook went downhill from there," he jokes.
Is that what happenned? Ann-Marie smiles tolerantly and says, "Some of it. I used to go flying with his brother, and I discovered I really liked it. I started lessons and gradually worked my way up to an IFR rating."
Ann-Marie now has 1600 hours, and she and Paul do a lot of recreational flying from their home in Nashua, New Hampshire. They fly to Nantucket or Block Island, they visit their daughter in Pittsburgh, or they just meet a bunch of airplane friends at the field on Saturday morning and decide where to fly to for breakfast.
They've been coming to Oshkosh for 11 years, during that time missing only last year. They arrived this year on Friday after leaving New Hampshire at 5:30 am.
Sitting with them in the shade is Jerry Taylor, friend and Ann-Marie's IFR instructor. He's made the trip from Nashua in his green and white Archer.
Also part of this group, but seated outside under the shade of the Archer's wing, is 71 year old Don Mathieson. When the others tease him about sitting all alone, he points out that sitting in the shade of your airplane's wing is what the Fly-In is all about. He should know, he's been attending since the days when the Fly-In was in Rockford.
Don's been flying since 1954. Some of the favorite planes he's owned were a Piper Vagabond and a Swift. But for years now he's been flying his 1950 Beech Bonanza.
He's traveled to Oshkosh this year in Jerry Taylor's Archer because there's more room for luggage. He's especially happy to have brought a pair of bicycles for getting around the area. "When you arrive early, and there's no food yet on the field, it's good to be able to get around on the bikes."
Don's seen a lot of EAA Fly-Ins over the years. "For many years," he says, "there was a great sameness about them. But in the last few years a lot of interesting things have appeared. Now there are airplanes that weren't there before. And things like GPS."
Don's been coming to Oshkosh for a long time now and he plans to keep it up. When he retired from his work at Lockheed, as an Electrical Engineer, he decided that he would "attend Sun 'n Fun and Oshkosh every year until it's not fun." He's still having fun.
Young Eagles Barnstorming on the way to Oshkosh. Chuck Whitt and Lenn Richter flew into AirVenture 2001 from their home field of Bremerton Airport near Tacoma, Washington. But the adventure of that long trip wasn't enough for them. They also stopped twice along the way to participate in Young Eagles rallies. Stopping in Spokane and Helena, Washington they gave rides to a total of 12 kids.
Both Lenn and Chuck are passionate about the Young Eagles program. They both rave about the positive reactions they get from the kids who they introduce to aviation. The kids never fail to leave the aircraft beaming with delight.
Lenn tells of a little girl who was disabled by Muscular Dystrophy. Her dad timidly asked Lenn if it would be possible to give her a ride, to which Lenn said, absolutely yes.
She rode in the right seat with dad in back to keep her jerky uncontrolled movements from interfering with the controls.
Halfway through the flight the girl suddenly leaned forward and grasped the yoke. Her dad lurched forward to restrain her but Lenn said no, everything was under control. She "flew" the plane for a few minutes and spent the rest of the flight in silence.
After the flight, when Lenn was about to present her with her Young Eagle Certificate, she unexpectedly leaned forward and gave Lenn a big hug, with a happy tear in her eye.
Lenn has flown a total of 82 Young Eagles, Chuck 43. Before they get back to Tacoma those number will probably be higher still.
All of the tents and canopies here at AirVenture are set up each year by trained installers from the tent rental companies, right? Nope, not even close. On Saturday I pitched in to help a gang of EAA volunteers set up a canopy in front of the Replica Fighter Association clubhouse.
We began with an unlabelled pile of varying length metal poles, and a plastic crate full of different shaped joints.
"How does this thing go together," someone asked.
"Well, it's 60 by 20 feet. I think."
Working as if it were a big jigsaw puzzle, we laid out the pieces and parts on the grass, trying about 5 different possible configurations, until all the parts had all been used up. Of course, don't forget that all of this is taking place in 90-degree heat and 300% humidity.
About 50 minutes (and four dozen iced teas) later we have the unwieldy, 60x20 foot frame of the tent roof, consisting of lengths of metal pipe that are now too hot to be touched by bare human hands, assembled and ready for the canvas to be attached. At this moment, Replica Fighter President Gary Gerber returns from some errands, surveys our work and says, "It's in the wrong spot. Move it 4 feet to the left."
Russell Sauer and his eight-year-old son Caleb arrived at AirVenture Oshkosh 2001 on Saturday. When asked how long the flight was, Russell immediately answered, "8 hours and 950 miles." You see, this is Russell's first time to the Fly-In, so like most first-timers he's been carefully planning the trip for some time. He has it memorized.
Russell and Caleb live in Fredricksburg, Texas and traveled to Oshkosh in their Cessna Skylane. The longest trip Russell has flown before this was to the Grand Canyon. Coming to Oshkosh this year he especially enjoyed seeing the gorgeous farmlands of Arkansas ("green everywhere!") and the Mississippi River as it zig-zagged under their wings.
Russell and his wife have three children. They decided that just Caleb should accompany Dad this year, but Russell looks forward to someday bringing his daughter Emmy, who is now just five years old. "She loves to fly," he says. "She's my little pilot girl."
During the arrival of Monday's big thunderstorm, a lone Citabria raced inbound on left base and final for a landing on runway 36, amidst the threatening clouds, lightning strikes and gusty winds.
"He's gonna have quite a crosswind there." Said one observer.
"But at this stage of the game," said another, "he probably doesn't care if he lands backwards, as long as he gets on the ground."
Next year everyone will have one. The first thing you notice about this North 40 campsite is that they have a large electric fan sitting in the grass outside the door of their screen-house. On closer examination Tina, Karl and Mike will proudly show you that they also have multiple smaller fans mounted inside their tents, as well as some lights, and a hair dryer.
All this is powered by a 55 pound, 1000 watt generator that they brought along with them to AirVenture this year.
Mike Meng shows off his North 40 generator.
During the day the generator powers all these North 40 creature comforts, as well as charging a battery that powers the tent fans at night. The battery is necessary since campground rules don't allow generators to be run after 10 pm.
The inventive trio made the trip from Festus Municipal Airport ("it's spelled just like the Gunsmoke character.") in Festus, Missouri. They came in Mike and Karl's Red, White, and Blue 1971 Cherokee Six.
Tina Beckett has been flying for three years and this is her third AirVenture. Tina is engaged to Karl Blum, the really serious pilot of the bunch. He's been flying since 1980 and has ratings up to an ATP. He's checked out Lear Jets and Helicopters. This is his 5th Oshkosh Fly-In.
Mike Meng is the generator expert of this crew. He picked the right combination of weight and capacity. He's a 3 year pilot and this is his 2nd AirVenture.
Tina intends to spice up the week by planning some exotic menus. In addition to the more common camping fare they'll also be having Elk one night and Deer burgers another.
All three of them really love coming to Oshkosh. They love "all the planes, the atmosphere. It really gets you pumped up."
Mike says he likes that it's "very educational," and Tina raves about how it's, "a big motivator to go home and learn more about flying."
Karl says, "Sitting around and talking, that's really what it's all about."
Bob Pegram, Paul McKean and Tom Merrill arrived at Wittman Field this year on Sunday just before one of that day's thunderstorms. They made the four-and-a-half-hour trip from Martin State Airport near Baltimore in their Blue and White Cessna 210.
On the last leg of their trip, "the Stormscope was lighting up with all these storms." But the arrival was otherwise uneventful and they reached their North 40 parking spot minutes before the storm hit.
Bob is a 15 year pilot and 8th year attendee of the fly-in. Paul has been flying since 1964, but has only been to AirVenture three times.
Tom is Paul's son. He is attending his second AirVenture. The first time he was here was in 1995 in his Navy F-18 that he flew here to be on display on the West Ramp. These days Tom flies 737s for American Airlines.
They're planning on staying "most of the week," says Paul. "If we get bored we'll volunteer for something."
It's not pretty, but it's fun. Mike and Rinda Williaford arrived at AirVenture on Sunday as part of the Bonanzas to Oshkosh flight. They're from Pecan Plantation Airport, a fly-in community in Granbury, Texas.
They made the 4.5 hour flight from Pecan to Rockford, Illinois where the Bonanzas were staging before the flight to OSH. Mike has made the Bonanzas flight into AirVenture many times, and although he admits that it is not the most elegant of formation flights, it is a safe and fun event.
Mike has been coming to Oshkosh since 1981. "I love it," he says. "I love how it's changed. It's gotten bigger and better over the years."
Rinda, Mike's new bride (they were married this past year), is here at AirVenture for the first time. She did some flying many years ago and expects this week to re-ignite her interest in flying. She and Mike live in the right place for it. Mike estimates that just from Pecan Plantation there are 20 Bonanzas here at AirVenture, not to mention many other type aircraft as well. Pecan Plantation is also home to the Brazos Valley EAA Chapter 893.
On their flight from Granbury to Rockford, Mike and Rinda stopped at the Lake of the Ozarks. "For 20 years I've flown over these interesting looking finger lakes. But I never stopped to visit them."
This year, he says, he decided to make this area one of his fuel stops, and rent a car. "It was beautiful," he says. "We looked at all the boats on the lake and had dinner at a restaurant with a beautiful view over the lake."
The Powered-Parachute Pilot from Central Missouri is sitting on the tailgate of his truck watching the approaching thunderstorms. High winds have been forecast and lightning can been seen in the western sky. "I covered mine up real good, I don't think it'll be any problem. These other ultralights may have some problems if it get as windy as they say."
"I really like the parachutes," he goes on. "Wind is the thing though. More than 10 miles per hour and I don't go... dawn and dusk, those are good times to fly. And in the spring and fall there are more times you can go... Low and slow, and they almost land themselves. I like that."
They have a picnic table! Campers at AirVenture bring along all sorts of folding picnic tables. But not many campsites have a real wooden, full-size picnic table in the middle of their site. Susan and Dwayne Trovillion say they got theirs by "getting here early".
Dwayne and Susan Trovillion relax at their campsite in the Vintage parking area.
They are camped in the grove of trees among the Vintage Aircraft parking south of the Theatre in the Woods. There are a few picnic tables in this area, and if you're lucky/early you get to pitch your tent near one of them.
Dwayne and Susan are from Fenton, Michigan where they are part of EAA Chapter 77. Dwayne came to his first EAA fly-in in 1970, the first year it was held here in Oshkosh. He says he enjoys coming to the fly-in because of the "common interests" of the attendees. He describes his fellow EAA members as his "chosen family".
Like so many others, he first joined EAA because he wanted to build an airplane. He built a Pitts Special. But that's just one of the many planes Dwayne has owned over the years. He's had 27 in all.
Among his many aircraft were a 185, a Pacer (which was an award winner here at Oshkosh many years ago), a Tri-Pacer, the Pitts, an L5, Stinson, Taylorcraft, 182, 172, 180, 140, a Pietenpol and a UC78 Bamboo Bomber.
When asked which was his favorite he says, "All of 'em. I didn't have a bad airplane."
These days Dwayne and Susan, who is also a pilot, fly to Oshkosh in their Bonanza A36. They fly out of Bishop International Airport in Flint, Michigan. They don't fly in with the Bonanza group because they are volunteers in the Vintage Red Barn and need to arrive earlier.
Dave Guinn is holding court from his lawn chair in Row 29 of the North 40.
Dave flew for United for 33 years. He retired six years ago and now he flies his Bonanza on adventures all around North America. He's been coming to Oshkosh since 1975 and he's a fixture in the annual Bonanzas to Oshkosh flight.
"Part of what makes this fly-in great is that it gathers all these diverse people in one spot. It's cordial, peaceful, friendly. I think a lot of people come here for those feelings."
"People come to Oshkosh to meet other people; to talk with them. Not so many come for the airplanes. They'd probably disagree with that, but I think it's true. If you come here repeatedly, you probably come for the camaraderie."
Dave is part of the contingent from Pecan Airpark in Granbury, Texas. They have an active EAA community down there too.
"EAA is the cohesive force there," he says. "I'm not a builder, but I go to the meetings every month anyway. They have some good presentations and I get to meet all my neighbors. In our community if you want to meet your neighbors you go to the EAA meeting."
One of the things Dave uses his Bonanza for is to fly, at least once a month, to an orphanage in the State of Chiapas, Mexico. He's the president of the U.S. Corporation that supports the orphanage, which is called Hogar Infantile. It is home for 85 kids.
Dave's also something of a curmudgeon. Walk up and ask him something about airplanes he'll turn around and start quizzing you about your political beliefs. But it's all in a good-natured way. And I noticed, while I was talking to him, the women kept wandering by to say hi.
Thumbs up, thumbs down. Sitting by the side of a runway and watching planes land & takeoff is a major-league sport here at AirVenture. On Monday afternoon two enthusiastic participants were Keith and Claudia Paterson from Huntington, Indiana.
The Patersons made the eight-hour drive to Wittman Field on Sunday and plan to stay at Oshkosh until Saturday. This is their second time to the fly-in. Keith is a pilot but hasn't flown in awhile. He hopes to change that soon. He's here at Oshkosh looking for a plane. "We're thinking about a STOL series plane. We like that low and slow."
Although their guilty pleasure this day was to have seen a taildragger ground-loop in runway 36's crosswind, the things they really like best about Oshkosh are the seminars, like the Theater in the Woods, and the hands-on session. He's looking forward the welding seminars, and she likes the fabric wing covering.
Hey kids, let's build an airplane. A year ago John Hartgerink and some others in the Replica Fighters Association (RFA) thought it would be fun to build an airplane during the week here at AirVenture.
After some discussion they decided to use Fred McCallum's design for an LM5X-W, which is a full-sized Super Cub replica built from wood. "Fred jumped on board right away," says Hartgerink. "He provided the plans, helped select the lumber and has been overseeing the construction."
Members of the Replica Fighter Association work on the wings of their AirVenture project Cub replica.
Last year, at AirVenture 2000, working under a tent behind the RFA clubhouse, they finished the frame of the fuselage. Over the winter this completed piece was stored inside the RFA clubhouse. Also over the winter, RFA members started to collect the pieces to continue work in 2001.
This year the project has taken center stage under a tent at the front of the Replica Fighter area. "We're working on the wings and the tail surfaces. Someone else built and donated a fuel tank for us, and another guy else made the landing gear."
In 2000 about five EAA members did the work. This year the team has grown to nine.
Visitors to the RFA area can get up close and personal as the team assembles the wing and tail. "We've been attracting quite a crowd here." Says Hartgerink. Sometimes, he says, they have more people watching the RFA building project than there is in the AirVenture Forum area's regular wood and fabric demonstration tent.
The plan at AirVenture 2001 is for the team to complete the framing of the aircraft. On Saturday, at the annual RFA BBQ, the project will be auctioned off to the highest bidder. As of Thursday bids were up to $2,500. Hartgerink expects the bidding to exceed $3,000. All proceeds will go to benefit the Replica Fighter Association.
AirVenture is a little bit like New York City in that it's so big it's hard to appreciate it as a whole. Instead you need to look at it as many individual neighborhoods. One of those neighborhoods is the "Cajun Condo", located in the woods near the Vintage Parking area.
Joe Champagne is the mayor of this particular neighborhood, although some of his buddies might say 'mostly benevolent dictator'. Joe has been organizing this group of campers for 24 years. They've pitched their tents in the same spot for the past 18 years. They come from all over the country and even the world. Flag from many of their home states and nations hang along the front corner of the site.
Joe Champagne and some members of the Cajun Condo group relaxing during AirVenture 2001.
The group varies in size from year to year, as various members skip a year here and there, but many of them have been with Joe for over 20 years. Joe estimates there are about 50 in the settlement this year, though it's been as high as 75 in the past.
Part of the Cajun Condo tradition is their big annual party. One night each year Joe will cook up a big batch of his legendary Gumbo. "I borrow two 25 gallon pots from the local National Guard Armory and we cook it up here at the campsite. Last year we used 35 chickens, 50 big links of sausage flown in from New Orleans, as well as lots of other secret ingredients."
Invitation to the big Gumbo feast is by word of mouth, and it invariably draws a big crowd. This year though, Joe's decided to give the Gumbo a rest and will be fixing Red Beans and Rice instead.
Joe flies a King Air for the San Juan Regional Hospital, but he made the trip to Wittman Field this year in a more modest aircraft. He flew his Champ for 17.5 hours, making 14 stops, from his home in Farmington, New Mexico. If you see him, ask him about the close encounter that the seat of his pants had with a barbed wire fence during one of those stops.
Because it's big. Mike Gehrmann and his 7 year old son Joe are sitting at a picnic table near the ultralight area during the daily airshow. Joe is eating french fries and watching the aerobatics.
"We live in Brooklyn Wisconsin," says Mike, "which is just south of Madison. We just drove up for the day to see the show."
"I have a Private Pilot license but I haven't flown in awhile. I'm looking around here because I'd like to find an older plane that we could afford, to take the family on short trips. I kind of like the Wag Aero Sportsman 2+2. It's like a Tri-Pacer."
This is Mike's fifth visit to AirVenture. For young Joe it's his second time here. He was last here was three years ago when he was four.
"Last time he was here the pedal airplanes were a big hit. We couldn't get him out of it."
This year Joe's equally clear about his favorite. "I like the C-17, because it's big!"
Growing up at the Oshkosh Fly-In. "I've been flying since before I could see over the glare-screen. Flying with my Dad. I was flying IFR 'cause the instruments were all I could see. But I loved it." Mike "Gorilla" Goransky is telling us about his introduction to flying.
Mike came to his first Oshkosh Fly-In in 1970 when he was 15 years old. "I flew gliders at 14, I flew in the military, for U.S Airways, and now I'm into the Replica Fighters." In the Air National Guard Mike flew C-130s, A-7s and F-16s.
These days, in addition to U.S. Airways, he flies his 1962 V-Tail Bonanza, and is building a Stewart-51. He's dividing his time at AirVenture this year between the Replica Fighter clubhouse and talking with other S-51 builders at the Precision Aero Engineering tent.
Mike says, "I've been flying for as long as I can remember and I just can't imagine doing anything else."
In the 30+ years he's been coming to Oshkosh he's seen a lot of things. "Once, a lot of years ago, we were here a month early doing setup for the fly-in. It was a hot, hot day and we were working near the edge of the field. Paul Poberezney comes on by and asks us how things are going."
"'Pretty good,' we say. 'But we sure could use something to get us motivated.'"
"'I'll see what I can do,' Paul says."
"Well, we return to work and a little bit later we hear a Merlin engine in the distance. We run out and see Paul's Mustang make a screamin' low pass and sharp banking turn right over our heads."
"Later Paul drives by again and says, 'Hey, you guys.'"
""Yes Sir," we say."
"'You motivated yet?'"
Dana & Jan Ham are from Claremore, Oklahoma. They arrived at AirVenture this year on Saturday before the show began and planned to stay until Friday.
They drove to Wittman Field this year, making the 16 hour trip in their camper which they've parked in Camp Scholler. In some years they've made the trip in their Cessna 172.
They've come to the Oshkosh fly-in "seven or eight" times since the mid 80s. During the rest of the year they fly "a lot of short trips for supper or lunch. To places about 100-200 miles away."
Their home base is a private strip called Sageeyah near Claremore. It's a 2500 foot grass strip that has about 8-10 planes based there. They are members of EAA Chapter 10 in Owasso. "We do lots of Young Eagles flights and weekend fly-out. It's a fun chapter"
Toys, toys, toys. The man from Cincinnati had spread his blanket out in the shade of the C Exhibits Hangar and was having a GPS picnic.
With the box and packing material spread to his left, he had his new color GPS in his lap, and the open manual at the ready. He was happily pressing the buttons on his new toy.
"They gave me a deal," he said. "I already had the older version and I liked it. But they let me trade it in on the newer model so I did."
He who takes-off with the most toys in the cockpit wins.
Seaplane Friends. Way down south, past the hangar cafe, past the ultralight area, past the little creek, is the South 40. Late arriving visitors to AirVenture park and camp down there next to final for runway 36.
Warbirds were departing over our heads, getting ready for the big afternoon show, as I chatted with Bob Ziegler and Faye Ness who, with their spouses, Barbara and Jerry, are Oshkosh friends who meet here each year.
Bob has been attending the fly-in for 23 years. Although he still loves coming here, he misses the days when Paul Poberezney was more involved. "Paul is a very warm guy. He would make you feel like you're a good buddy."
Bob has been flying for 30 years. He first came to Oshkosh in a Cessna 195. He and his wife are from Nauvoo, Illinois. This year he's here in his Lake Renegade amphibian. He also owns a Cessna 441 Conquest.
Faye and her husband have come to Oshkosh since 1973. Although she's not a pilot herself she enjoys the amphib lifestyle. They came to AirVenture 2001 in their J3 Cub floatplane, from their home in Rapid River, Michigan.
Faye and Jerry's Cub is parked over at the Vette Seaplane Base. Bob and Barbara park their Lake here at Wittman. But both couples divide their time between the two locations. "The two places have a very different feeling," says Bob. "The seaplane base is very quiet and laid back. But this is where all the action is."
Bob is a member of EAA Chapter 700. He's been with the chapter the longest of all its current members. "I've done just about everything in the chapter at one time or another."
Chapter 700 has about 50 members and is pretty active. They visit every member's project at least once each year, they do two Young Eagles rallies, and they do about three fly-outs for lunch each year.
Some things never change. Dave and Kit Croson came to AirVenture this year in their Cessna Turbo 206 amphibian float-plane. They fly out of Fairfield Field, near their home in Lancaster, Ohio.
Dave says this is his first time to the Oshkosh fly-in, although he did attend many years ago when he was a teenager. His strongest memory of that visit: "It was hot!" His reaction now, many years later? "It's awesome!"
Kit and Dave Croson with their Cessna 206 Turbo amphibian floatplane.
Dave has recently become involved with the AirLifeline program, flying patients and medical supplies around the country.
He's owned land-based aircraft in the past, including Grumman Cheetah and Traveler, but he enjoys the amphibian lifestyle. "Recently we were visiting near Toronto, and it was pretty cool to be able to pick up my IFR departure clearance while floating out in the bay."
Although this is their first Oshkosh, Dave and Kit have attended Sun 'n Fun for a few years. They enjoy the Lakeland fly-in but are definitely impressed with AirVenture. "It's clearly bigger. So much more going on here." His favorite thing this year: "The B-17 is always the best."
Lee Bradshaw is sitting in a low folding chair under the wing of his Lake Buccaneer amphibian, watching the planes fly by. He came to AirVenture this year for four days from his home in Forest Lake, Minneapolis.
Lee took his first flying lesson in January 1952 and retired a few years back as a 747 Captain for Northwest. As an istructor he talk his first student in the mid 50s and he says, "back then all the training for the Private license including dual and solo only cost $300." He's also an seaplane and glider instructor.
He came to his first Oshkosh fly-in in the early 70s. He says it's a little more commercial now than it was when he started coming. "Now you can get anything from Brats to Fords," he says.
When asked why he keeps coming back to AirVenture he jokes, "I love the heat." But seriously, "I love aviation. The ambience here is great. When you get downwind on 27 it's a real thrill to see everything."
Lee's home airport is Osseola, Wisconsin. "Where they built the Champ."
Danger: Fly Market ahead. On a personal note: I should not be allowed in the fly-market. Every year I go in there to just look around, and I end up having to buy my way out.
This year, on numerous visits, some of the things I bought included: a pulley system, 30 feet of rope, a plastic brush, a bag of tiny cable ties, two clevis pins, a battery charger, 12 AA batteries, and an alligator clip.
The last row. There's a sign along the taxiway way down at the south end of the field that says, "Fond du Lac County Line". It not really that far away, but those who arrive at the height of the convention get to park way down beyond the three-six numbers.
This year the highest row where planes were parked was number 140. Two of the planes in that row were a pair of Kitfoxes from EAA Chapter 1169 in Rochester, New York.
Representing Chapter 1169 are Russ Worthington, Jeff Ely, Ken Stein, and Chapter President Bill Dominiak. The Chapter meets at a grass strip located at Dominiak's Company Cuestock, Inc.
Members from EAA Chapter 1169 parked in Row 140 at AirVenture 2001. l-r Russ Worthington, Jeff Ely, Bill Dominiak, and Ken Stein.
The Chapter has two project planes under construction. A Cubby, an orphan project that the Chapter took over, and a Starduster.
The guys left for Wittman Field on Wednesday morning, expecting to arrive later that day. But thunderstorms caused them to make repeated precautionary landings. As a result, they didn't arrive in Oshkosh until late Thursday. "It's OK though," they say. "Some of the most interesting airports are the ones where you end up waiting out the weather." For example in Tiffen, Ohio the FBO opened up the hangar for their planes, and loaned them a car to get a bite to eat while the storms passed through.
This is Russ's first visit to the Oshkosh fly-in. "I love it," he says. "It's great. Everything is here. It's really sensory overload."
The gang had planned to stay until Saturday. But the forecast bad weather on that day was making them think about leaving earlier, on Friday night. "But we'll be back," they say.
It's a family affair. Dell McCoy, Priscilla Kenney and their four girls are part of a community of planes that gather at AirVenture each year. They fly their 1963 Cessna 205 into Wittman Field from their home in Aurora, Illinois.
Priscilla is here for her 15th Oshkosh fly-in, Dell has been coming for 30 years. Dell learned to fly just before his first time here. He got his license just two days before he flew here with his Dad, that first time in 1971.
Dell and Priscilla enjoy meeting old friends here at Oshkosh, and now-a-days, like so many Oshkosh friends, they stay in touch throughout the year via email.
Their girls enjoy meeting and playing with old friends here each year too. Fiona is 10, Bridgett is 8, Colleen is 6, and Shannon is 4. "Can you see the pattern?" Priscilla asks. But when it's pointed out that they're missing a 2 year old they reply. "We had to stop. All the plane's seats were full."
Although the kids aren't old enough to start flying lesson yet, they all love aviation, and Mom, who is a CFI, is planning to teach them when they're old enough.
Dale and Priscilla are members of EAA Chapter 579 in Aurora. He's a Past Treasurer of the chapter, and between them they've flown 300 Young Eagles.
Well that's it for another AirVenture. It was a year of extremes. Hot & humid and cold & rainy. Big jets and little jets. Boeing 307s and Vicker's Vimys.
In past years I've written about how Oshkosh is about history, and old friends, and memories. This year we can add neighborhoods and camaraderie to the list.
A lot of us at AirVenture are part of many little neighborhoods that exist here for ten days each summer. It's Brigadoon, it's Shangri La.
Dave Guinn, who I spoke to earlier in the week, said it best. "If you come here repeatedly, you probably come for the camaraderie." There's the Bonanzas group, the Replica Fighters, and the Cajun Condo. And those are just the tip of the iceberg.
Next year, if you aren't already a part of one of these Oshkosh communities, I suggest that you seek one out. At AirVenture 2002 hook up with some people with the same plane, or who camp in the same area, or have kids the same age. As we've seen this year, it will make the fly-in experience richer than ever. And when you arrive each year it will give you someone who will say, "Welcome to Oshkosh".
If you're one of the AirVenture dawn patrol, one of those early risers who beats the crowds by heading to the field early in the day, then you probably know about Bill Stiedemann and his Fresh Baked Donuts. Or, if you don't know you should.
Bill Stiedemann scrapes the mixing blade on this crucial piece of equipment.
Every morning Bill, and his crew of four, mix up the batter, cook the donuts in the big donut fryer, and coat them with sugar, cinnamon, or just leave them plain. And sell them with orange juiice and coffee to the hungry fly-in early birds
Stiedemann arrives at 4:30 a.m. each morning during the fly-in. Donuts are served from 6 - 10 each day. And Bill also puts together orders for many of the volunteer committees here at EAA AirVenture.
AirVenture's Fresh Donut Master Bill Stiedemann prepares the batter for making these AirVenture treats.
The equipment Bill uses to make the donuts definitely qualifies at "Vintage". But it's as solid as a Stearman. Well, almost.
On the first day of this year's fly-in, the crucial batter mixing machine broke down at 9 am. "With a couple hundred people waiting in line," says Bill. "For a few minutes there I was the least popular guy on the field."
Jennifer Dietenberger of Fond du Lac squirts batter into the fryer.
For many years the donuts were made and sold in the Ace's Cafeteria near the NASA buildings. But two years ago it moved to its current location. "At first people had a devil of a time finding us. One poor lady walked all the way from ultralights to Ace's, and then had to walk back here. She had walked right past us."
Bill's not really sure how long he's been making donuts for the fly-in. "I forget when I started. I think it was about 18 years ago." He estimates that he and his crew will make around 20,000 donuts during the convention.
Muzaffar Janjua of Oshkosh covers the donuts with sugar or cinnamon.
You can say good morning to Bill, and pick up a fresh baked donut, each day at Classic Cafe which is located out on the flight line just north of the AeroShell Sqaure.
AirVenture early risers line up for coffee and donuts.
— ATF