Chris and Gary DeBraun with their Acroduster
John Vasos is attending his first ever AirVenture Oshkosh. He first learned to fly in the late 60s when he was 18. "Me and my buddy decided we wanted to be bush pilots in Alaska."
So for $7 an hour in a Cessna 150, and another $5 for an instructor, John managed to solo in about 15 hrs. He had a few flying adventures back then, but financial reality eventually forced him to quit flying.
In 1975 he added another 30 hours to his logbook. He flew a Grumman Cheetah, some 172s, and got some more 150 time. But once again, life intervened and he had to leave it behind.
A few months ago the EAA Ford Trimotor was touring the country and stopped in Pontiac Michigan where John works for Ford. He treated his kids, and himself, to a ride and was bitten by the bug again.
"I can do this," he thought as he sat looking up into the cockpit.
John became a member of EAA Chapter 13 at Ray Airport, near his home in Romeo Michigan. He and his family adjusted their plans to spend part of their annual camping vacation here at AirVenture, which is what brings them to Camp Scholler.
He's here with his wife Beverly, and their two kids Natalie, 14, and Brandon, 17. Of the two kids, Natalie is the most interested in flying, and is really looking forward to the week here.
John has his eye on a 140 to resume his flying. "I really like the taildraggers."
Mike and Ed drove to AirVenture 2003 from Los Angeles California. "2100 mile." They declare proudly.
They're members of the A&E Flying Club at Hawthorne Airport in Hawthorne, California. It's a small world, because I spoke to Ed last summer when he told me about how their club's president precipitated the resolution of the airport closure controversy by getting elected to the city council.
This year Ed is here with AirVenture first-timer Mike Bruck.
They had planned to fly out this year in the club's Hawk XP. But it had just gotten a new engine, "and we didn't want to be testing it out over the Rockies."
Ed and Mike are part of a contingent of about 10 members from the A&E club that are here at AirVenture. The club has 50 members.
Mike recently bought an Aircoupe which is fully IFR equipped. "They upgraded the engine to a 100 hp Continental O-200. I think it was mostly to lift all the electronic they added."
Mike's been flying for 35 years, "off and on" but has recently gotten serious about it. "When you turn 50... if you've got some stuff that you really want to do, you do it."
Mike's joined EAA Chapter 11 at Santa Monica Airport, and in addition to the Aircoupe, he's building a Mitchell U2 Super Wing motor glider.
The interesting thing about building the Mitchell is that he's doing it, at least part of it, aboard the 35 foot Cris Craft sailboat he lives on.
Asked what he's expecting from his first AirVenture, "Everything," he says, "and it will be more than that I expect."
There's an interesting story behind Chris and Gary DeBraun's Acroduster.
"We bought it here at AirVenture 5 years ago," she says. "It was a wreck, we only paid $2,000 for it."
Chris and Gary DeBraun with their Acroduster
They bought it in the AeroMart. That was the year that the Mart moved to its current location. As they approached the new spot they saw this wrecked plane and recognized it as a classic. "I bought it on the spot," she says.
She was right, this airframe was Acroduster #1. The original prototype. Over the next 9 months they worked to restore it. "I worked from 10am to midnight, seven days a week, for five months," she says.
Half of each of the biplane's wings were "splinters". "And there are no plans available for this plane," she says, "so I had to use the surviving half-wings as models to build replacements."
Chris is no stranger to flying. She's a 27 year veteran of the Air Force Reserve. As Master Sargent DeBraun she's a C5 loadmaster. She's currently called to active duty and has been flying cargo missions to Kuwait. She'll leave AirVenture early this year, on Thursday, and return to her unit at Travis Air Force base where she'll likely head back to Kuwait.
She and her husband Gary are long-time AirVenture attendees. They spent their honeymoon here in 1973. They currently make their home in Lakeville, Minnesota, about 15 miles south of Minneapolis. Their home field is Airlake Airport.
By the way, Chris's other airplane is a C170 and if you ask to see a picture of it she'll pull back the shoulder of her t-shirt and show you the tattoo on the back of her right shoulder.
Chris's other airplane.
Bill Noel and his son Alex are sitting on the grass next to their silver RV-4. Planes are arriving on nearby runway 36 and they're enjoying the show.
They flew to AirVenture 2003 from their home field, Aero Country Airport near Dallas Texas. The trip took most of the day on Saturday. One of their fuel stops was at Portage Wisconsin. While they were filling up, two Titan Tornados, also enroute the AirVenture, stopped for fuel. Amazingly, when Bill and Alex stopped at Portage last year on the way to Oshkosh, the same two Tornados dropped in that day too.
Bill has been attending AirVenture since 1993, Alex since '98.
Bill bought the RV in 1997. Although it was finished and airworthy when he got it, he's made extensive enhancements to it since then. For example, he's rebuilt the landing gear, added electric flaps, and is building a new horizontal tail.
"The tail is the first thing you build on an RV, so it's the part most likely to be built poorly." On his the vertical part of the tail is in fine shape, but the horizontal is not up to his standards.
Before getting the RV Bill had a Cherokee 180 which he flew for six years.
Bill has been a pilot since 1990. He's also an A&P, and he works for Gulfstream doing certifications. Alex is only 14, but already an avid flying enthusiast. He's logged alot of unofficial stick time, and expects to solo and get his license as early as possible.
Bill and Alex's favorite memories of AirVenture include the visits by the Concorde, and their memories of the performances by the French Connection.
"The planes are cool," Bill says. "But it's really about the people, the friends we meet here each year."
"It's like a big family," says Alex.
Wayne Rogers' airplane looks a little unusual at first glance, until he explains that it is a Tri-Pacer that has be restored to taildragger configuration.
Wayne flew in from Meadow Mist Airpark in Bellingham Washington. Meadow Mist is a residential airpark, and although Wayne doesn't live there, he rents a hangar from one of the residents who doesn't fly.
Wayne and his girlfriend's nephew, Tommie Taylor, are both first-timers to AirVenture. While stopping at Sand Point Idaho on their way to Oshkosh this year they met 3 Cubs, a Champ and a Luscombe all on their way to the Fly-In.
Wayne Rogers serenades classic parking with his "Fireside Pipes".
Wayne first started flying in 1971, but stopped in 1978. A year ago he rediscoverd flying and is loving it.
Tommie is only 14 but is an active member of his local CAP Squadron. Although he doesn't go on actual missions, he's been involved with search and rescue training. His Squadron is located at Bellingham International Airport.
By the way, if you're wandering the flightline south of the Theatre in the Woods and you think you hear bagpipes, it might be Wayne. He brought along his set of "Fireside Pipes" which are a small set of regular bagpipes. Wayne is such an avid bagpiper that his email address is "flyingpiper".
Robert Chavez and Theresa Pacheco have the best boss in the world. With their friend Jim Berget, they flew to AirVenture 2003 in a Twin Bonanza owned by Benson-Montin-Greer Drilling. Robert is the company pilot and spends the rest of the year flying employees of the oil company. But company president Al Greer lets Robert and Theresa borrow the Beech, as well as the company's Cheyenne 40 and Cesna 421, for various adventures.
All three of this group are pilots, Theresa has been flying since 1982, Robert since '72 and Jim is the novice, starting in '91. Jim may not have as great a boss as Robert and Theresa, but he gets by with his own "hot rod 182" with a 300 hp engine.
One of their most vivid memories of past AirVenture is from 1999 when we had multiple days of 100 degree weather. Like so many others they suffered through days of that heat but left early, only to get home and discover that the temp had dropped down into the 70s the day after they left.
All three fly out of Four Corners Municipal Airport in Farmington, New Mexico.
One of the great pastimes here at AirVenture is to sit at the edge of the North 40 camping area, along the fence of the east/west runway, and watch all the planes arrive.
Many AirVenture attendees land and specifically request a parking spot at the end of a row so they have an unobstructed view. Others will hike over with their camp chair, and a cool beverage, to the edge of the fence and settle in for a few hours.
In between landings, spectators will chat with Oshkosh friends, or just enjoy the Wisconsin air.
Doug Prior and Larry Urban are sitting in the shade of the Cessna 182 that they arrived in.
Doug and Larry came to AirVenture with two other friends, Skip and Buddy, who are off buying supplies. Skip owns the Cessna 182, but once upon a time they were 4-way partners in a Cherokee 140. "That was a great plane," says Doug.
It still is a great plane, Larry and Buddy still own their portion. But the others have sold their shares to invest in other planes.
Doug now owns a Decathlon. "Fun airplane," he says, "but not so comfortable for long trips." And Skip has the 182.
The guys flew here from Montgomery County Airport near their homes in Conroe, Texas.
The flight was a little longer this year than in the past since they made a side trip to Mobile, Alabama to pick up Larry who was visiting family. From there it was on to Oshkosh.
Larry's been coming to AirVenture since 1981, and Doug "six or seven times over the past 12 years."
When their not sitting in the N40, Doug and Larry work for the FAA, they're "Flight Watch Specialists" based at the Conroe, Texas AFSS. They're two of the guys you talk to on 122.0 to get briefing updates and other info while in flight.
"Every year you see something new," says Doug about their passion for visiting the fly-in. "You're always walking along, looking, and thinking to yourself, 'I've never seen one of THOSE before.'"
He describe how in the old days he would drive along Knapp Road (the road that now passes along the front of the Forum's Plaza) looking over the fence and thinking, "Look at all those planes! What is THAT? Look at that! I LIKE that."
Mike and Mike are right at the edge of the North 40. They have their aviation radio at hand, and are keeping things under control. Mike Rudik has attended AirVenture "off and on" since 1989. This is his tenth time to the fly-in. Mike Schofield is here for the fourth time, and he loves it.
"We wait all year to come here," says Schofield. "Then in April we start counting the days."
Mike Rudik & Mike Schofield
When asked what is their favorite part of the fly-in they quickly say "This! Sitting here and watching the planes land."
Rudik has been flying since he was 16, but didn't get his license till 1988. Schofield only started six years ago. They flew out here in Rudik's 172, Schofield has a 150 that he loves and he's restoring another.
Another plane that Schofield owned was a Skyhawk he bought on eBay. He saw the auction listing, which had no bidders. He used his computer expertise to research the plane, and the seller, on the web. Then, just as the auction was about to expire with no bids, he jumped in and made an offer. He won the auction, flew down to Texas with a mechanic friend to inspect it, and closed the sale. He then made some improvements to the plane and sold it at a profit.
Both Mikes agree that over time, the intimidating AirVenture arrival procedure get easier. "Doing it many times helps you to learn the landmarks."
Although Schofield only learned to fly recently he was bitten by the bug early on.
"When I was a kid I lived only a few blocks from the airport. I would sit on my deck and watch them fly by. I used to think that they were all going someplace important. I didn't realize that they were all just going out for breakfast."
His other plane is a Nighthawk. Mike Engle and Michelle Olenoski are keeping an eye on the arrivals. They arrived at AirVenture from Arlington, Virginia, as part of the Mooney Caravan.
Mike was part of the Mooney Caravan last year too and he likes that it helped him to meet so many other Mooney fans, many of whom he kept in touch with throughout the year.
Mike and Michelle do alot of travelling throughout the year in the Mooney. They've visited all over the east coast, and recently visited some Caravan friends in Toronto, Canada.
On the weekends Mike is a member of the Army National Gaurd, based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He flies Nighthawks, and has flown Hueys in the past.
Before buying his Mooney three years ago, Mike flew a variety of other planes. But he ended up buying the Mooney because, "it's the sexiest one there is."
Al and Debi Cornyn are from Pincher Creek in Alberta, Canada. We found them sitting in front of an empty parking space just to the south of the east/west runway.
"Our plane is parked over in the RV area. We're saving this space for some friends who are arriving soon."
Their route this year to AirVenture took them first to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, then to Waukegan, and finally here to Oshkosh. Last year they came to the fly-in by way of Nova Scotia.
"We don't navigate so good," says Al. "We basically fly back and forth till we find something that looks familiar." He was joking, I think.
Their home airport in Pincher Creek is due north of Glacier National Park. Heading west, it is the last airport before the Rockies.
Debi's been a pilot for 22 years. Al's been flying as a hang glider instructor for that long, and became a private pilot seven years ago.
They've been coming to AirVenture for 12 years. "We only missed one year in that time. It just seemed like something was missing from our lives that year."
Al and Debi are the President and Secretary of the Pincher Creek chapter of COPA, the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association. They group is affiliated with EAA's Young Eagles program. They fly about 50 kids each year.
At AirVenture Al and Debi know what they like. "We love sitting here with the handheld and watching planes land. We like the museum too."
They flew to AirVenture in their RV-6. It's white with purple flames. When the flaps are down, from the front, you can see the words, "The Other Woman" on them.
"While I was building it," says Al, "that's what Debi said it was, the other woman."
Tim Statler and Paul Sullivan are from Harbor Springs, Michigan. Tim has been coming to AV for 10 years, and Paul for over 20 years. They're sitting in front of their tents at the edge of the runway.
"Sitting here watching the planes is one of our favorite parts of the day," says Tim. "I like to looking at all the different planes, but the best part is to see them fly."
"Sometimes you wish it was a month long instead of just a week," says Paul.
Tim flew here in a 1964 Cherokee 140 that belongs to a friend. Paul caught a ride in a 1955 Twin Bonanza that is based at his home field.
Paul is the owner of Harbor Springs Airpark, and is in the process of expanding it into a residential airport. He's been working on planning, and getting approvals, for three years. He's just recently reached the point where they are now selling building lots.
"We had the normal amount of resistence from the airport commission. But I pointed out to them that studies are showing that residential airports make good neighbors, and generate considerably fewer airport complaints."
You can see more about Harbor Springs Airpark at www.sullivansharborspringsairpark.com.
Paul is a member of EAA Chapter 1087. They have a very active Young Eagle's program. During one Young Eagles Rally, Chapter 1087 flew 225 kids in one day. Paul has flown over 135 kids since the program's start.
Tim and Paul are also members of Chapter 560 in Cheboygan, Michigan.
They love coming to AirVenture. "It really brings it all together," say Tim. "It's like a big family."
Philippe Heer and his two boys, Patrick and Michael are here for their first EAA AirVenture.
Although they're originally from Switzerland, they now live in Kenner, Louisiana, which is near New Orleans.
Philippe has been a pilot for 15 years.
"The American air system keeps amazing us Europeans," he says. "It's so friendly, and simple, and at no cost!"
Patrick, 12, and Michael, 9, are just as excited as their dad about their first visit to AirVenture. When asked what they like best so far they both instantly say, "The Airshow!"
"I like the jets," says Michael. "The jets, the warbirds, and the aerobatics."
"They decided they were going to be pilots after yesterday's airshow," says their dad with a smile.
"There's nothing comparable to AirVenture in Europe," says Philippe. "Maybe the Paris Airshow, but that's so commercial. It's really not the same."
Although Philippe has done most of his flying in the States, he has also flown in his native Switzerland, and had some interesting experiences in Columbia, South America, where he has worked as a Petroleum Geologist for Shell, and where his wife is from.
"It's surprisingly easy to go flying in Columbia," he says. "You become a member of an aero club, then you just file a flight plan and you can go all over the country."
"The first time you land it's a little intimidating though, because two big, armed guys come out to greet you. But they just want to see your papers, and then they are very friendly."
"The flying there can be interesting. Bogata is at 8,000 MSL and the density altitude can make it 12,000. The ground roll in a 152 was incredible, but it eventually got airborne. I also flew a 172 which was better."
Frank and Sylvia Trofimchuck are from Potosi, Wisconsin, down in the southwest corner of the state, "across the creek" from Dubuque, Iowa.
They've been attending the EAA fly-in since its days in Rockford, Illinois. Frank's had alot of roles in the fly-in over the year, for example, he used to teach welding.
Frank and Sylvia Trofimchuck
They've seen alot changes over the years. We're sitting in the North Forty and he gestures over the all the aircraft. "The parking used to be one-tenth of what it is now. And there were only four forum tents, now there are like 30."
"The safety has increased too," he continues. "It's all due to all the great volunteers. The average EAA member couldn't afford the admission charge if all the people who are volunteers had to be paid."
These days Frank and Sylvia own a 1974 Bellanca Super Viking. In the past he's owned many other planes including a J3 Cub and a Cardinal. He once ran the airport in Morris, Illinois, where they sold Cessnas and Citabrias. So he's flown alot of planes, but the Viking is his favorite. "Because it's FAST!"
"I have the best wife in the world," he says, warming up to a favorite story. "A few years back, before we got the Viking, we were visiting family. It was a four hour flight in that plane."
After one particularly long flight home, they shut down the engine, Sylvia turned to Frank and said, "Find a faster airplane."
"Later when I told my buddies what she said, they all wanted to know if she had any sisters."
"At AirVenture I really enjoy meeting all the people," says Sylvia. Her eyes light up as she describes the many interesting folks she's met over the years here.
Although it is not a formal EAA Chapter, they are part of what they describe as a "ragtag group of EAA members" at Platteville Municipal Airport, which is 20 miles from Potosi. Frank's very impressed with the new management at that airport.
"They've really cleaned up the place. It's a really nice airport to visit."
Their ragtag group puts on many pancake breakfasts and Young Eagle rallies throughout the year.
Since the Young Eagles program started, they've given rides to over 1,000 kids. Frank has flown over 200 himself.
A few weeks ago they had a pancake breakfast with 84 planes in attendance.
This year at AirVenture Frank and Sylvia are driving around the aircraft camping areas, visiting pilots and giving out information about the Young Eagles program. They say they've found that lots of attendees are already participating, but many haven't heard about it.
Frank has had a long and rich life of flying. He solo'd in 1954, next year he will celebrate his fiftieth anniversary as an active pilot.
Jim Beisner is a character. One of those feisty, fun, friendly EAA characters that you meet if you talk to lots of people here each year.
Jim and his cohorts, Tim Pinkerton and Janet Barnard, are from Troy, Ohio. "The birthplace of the Waco biplane", they are quick to point out.
The threesome arrived to EAA AirVenture 2003 in a pair of planes, a 1961 Cessna 172 and a 1961 Piper. They stopped on the way here at Morris, Illinois, the airport that used to be run by Frank and Sylvia Trofimchuck who we met yesterday.
"It has a really great restaurant," says Jim. "That's one of the most important parts of an airport."
Jim has been attending the EAA fly-in since its days in Rockford, Tim is attending his 5th AirVenture and Janet is here for the first time.
"It's just awesome," she says. "You see all the airplane, and to be with all the pilots, is great."
She especially likes the Waco biplane. "I like the open cockpit and history of it. It's big and substantial. And I like to think about the barnstorming era and what that must have been like."
Wacos are a big part of this gang's flying world. Jim and Tim are in the process of restoring one. They got is as a wreck and are gradually getting it back in shape.
"We're ahead of schedule," reports Jim. "We don't have a schedule. But if we did, we'd be ahead of it." Remember I said he's the smart aleck.
"We got the Waco from a guy in New Hampshire who had landed it in a tree," continues Jim. "That's a bad thing. Not so good for the tree either."
As if attending AirVenture every year, and restoring the Waco don't keep them busy enough, all three are teachers at a aviation summer camp for kids.
"We try to cover the whole history of flight," says Tim. "The kids fly kites, and ride in a hot air balloon. Then they do gliders, powered planes, and even rockets and radio controlled planes. We finish the whole thing with a Young Eagles rally."
They call the camp simply, "The Waco Summer Camp" and it's held at Waco Field in Troy. This is the 6th summer they held it, and it consists of about 20 4th through 8th graders.
Tim and Jim are members of Vintage Chapter 36.
Frank Garletts and his family are visiting AirVenture from their home in Pocahontas, Mississippi, near Jackson. They made the trip this year in their Cessna 182.
With Frank is his wife Tammie and his two youngest kids Julia, 4, and Francis, 16 months. They have two other kids, an 18 year-old daughter and a 19 year-old son, who have attended the fly-in in the past but couldn't get off work this summer.
Even the girls are AirVenture vets. Francis was here last year for her first time at age 4 months, and Julia is here for her third time.
The Garletts live in an aiport community in Pocahontas that's called the Slobovia Outernational Aerodrome. It's a 4,800 foot grass strip. There are 12 homes and about 20 planes based on the field.
"My wife's letting me live my dream," says Frank.
Frank's been a pilot for 11 years, and has owned the 182 for 9. He attended his first AirVenture a few years ago with his son, who was 16 then.
"When I first arrived I didn't want to pitch my tent, I just wanted to watch the airplanes," he says. "The Bonanza group was just coming in and I was amazed by all the planes."
This year the girls are enjoying the youth-oriented activities like KidVenture and the Crafts Tents. Julia especiallu liked the Nesquick bunny.
Frank is a member of the EAA Chapter at Hawkings Field in Jackson. He recently hosted a group of 42 Chapter planes to a cookout at Slobovia Outernational.
Franks not building a plane right now, but he has his eye on the RV-10.
"This seems to be a really big year. I arrived the same day as last year, and now I'm parked 50 rows further south."
David Novak is from Hortonville, Wisconsin and Ron Donner is from Northfield, Minnesota. They live a great distance apart and yet are the best of friends.
They met in 1974 when the were both attending A&P school at the same time. The friendship that was born back then is reinforced each year here at AirVenture.
This year they joined forces to fly to AirVenture in David's newly purchased Skyote homebuilt. The plane only has one seat so they need to alternate flying the plane. When coming to this year's fly-in they flipped a coin, "and I won!" crows David.
Ron got to drive the car here carrying the camping gear and supplies.
The Skyote was designed and built by Edward Harrier in Pennsylvania, and had its first flight in 1996. It was purchased in the past year by David after Harrier's death. David thinks that the Skyote is "the perfect flying-machine."
"It's perfect because, first, it's a biplane," says David. "It's single-seat. So you share that with just you and the plane. It's very sensational."
"It's a dream to fly," agrees Ron.
David came to his first AirVenture in 1973 and has made it here every year since. Ron's first was 1972, but he did miss a couple over the years.
When Ron came to his first AirVenture he brought his Dad. They flew in in Ron's 1949 Piper Clipper. His dad is now in his mid-70s and unable to attend the fly-in.
"My Dad was never a pilot, but he did a lot of flying with me. He has always been very supportive."
David's first AirVenture experience after arriving was to just think, "Airplanes!"
David's home airport is, "'Rocket City Airport' which happens to be my backyard."
Ron's home field is Stanton Airfield, which is the home of the Minnesota Soaring Club. He's involved with a small FBO on the field that has three Cubs, and teaches tail-wheel flying. Stanton was a WWII primary flight training base.
Both Ron and David also own Luscombes. David's is a 1939 model, and Ron's is 1946. David also has a Casper Wing Ultralight. He shares his private field with a neighbor who co-owns it. The neighbor has a Skypup ultralight and is building a Pitts.
David is usually here for the entire week of AirVenture. He enjoys all it's moods. For example he looks forward to the quiet of the final Monday. Some years he will fly home on Sunday and return by car the next day with one of his grandchildren.
"I like it because it's quiet and relaxing. You have a chance to see a few more things, and do some last minute shopping."
Some say it's a badge of honor, some say, not so much.
One of the folks who ended up parked in Row 159, the most distant parking row, was Victor Grahn of Muskegan, Wisconsin. Row 159 is more than half-a-mile south of the runway 36 numbers.
Victor has been attending the EAA fly-in since 1967 during the Rockford era.
"Obviously the show has gotten really big since then," he says. "But they are doing the right things for aviation in general."
Victor flew in this year in his 1947 Cessna 120. The 120 has been in the family for many years. His dad bought it in 1965. His brother flew it to the Rockford fly-in in '67. Victor got the plane in 1991.
In 1991 the 120 was totally wrecked in a windstorm. Since then it's been completely rebuilt, and it now has a stunning yellow and blue paint job.
"My dad always used to say, anytime the plane didn't work, 'your airplane needs to be fixed,' but when it was OK it was his."
After the '91 repairs, Victor just kept it for good.
Victor is a member of EAA Chapter 585 of Watervliet, Michigan. "They are an older chapter enjoying each other's company alot." The Chapter is currently building a Flybaby as a group project.
Victor is here at AirVenture 2003 as part of a group of four people from Muskegan Airport. The other three drove here and he heads over in the evening to spend the night at the Camp Scholler campsite.
This final Monday is the quiet day here at AirVenture Oshkosh. It's a day to wind down, relax a bit, visit a few of the rows of planes that you missed in the earlier excitement, finish that last minute shopping, and spend some time with some of your Oshkosh friends before heading home.
Let me introduce you to a few of my Oshkosh friends.
Geoff Peck is a friend from San Jose, California. I first met Geoff when we both worked at Apple Computer back in the early 90s. We first crossed paths at gatherings of Apple pilots, and we also were regular contributors to the rec.aviation newsgroup back in its heyday.
Geoff has been coming to the EAA fly-in since 1987. He became a pilot in 1985 and has earned many ratings and certificates over the years. He's ATP MEL CFII-ASME, IA, GCA. There's a swell prize if you know what all those are. Most of the years he's been coming to Oshkosh he's flown in his 1978 Arrow which he bought in 1988.
Over the years he's sampled just about every form of housing here at AirVenture. His first year he flew in with a friend in his Mooney 201. They stayed in the guest room of a local family and it was a wonderful experience.
"They were very sweet," he says of his hosts that year. "They told us about all the places around town, and they made sure we had the only air-conditioned room in their home."
On his second year to the fly-in he was supposed to stay with a different family. But at the last moment a family emergency made staying with them impossible. Geoff decided to rough-it and pitched a small tent under the wing of his Arrow.
Of course it poured that year. "I was miserable. It was wet and cold."
Before his third year Geoff visited his local sporting goods store. "I told them I wanted a tent that could withstand monsoon rains, hurricane winds, and that I could stand up in. The sales guy looked at me like I was crazy, 'We've got one like that, but you'll never be able to carry it,' he told me. And I replied, I didn't say anything about weight."
Geoff bought that hefty tent and for years it served him well camping in the North 40. A few years back Geoff scored one of the coveted hotel rooms in town and carefully renews that reservation each year.
When not flying, Geoff is a senior computer scientist, specializing in Operating Systems and Advances File Systems. Over the years he's applied that cpmuter expertise to help pilots in amny ways.
In the late 80s he developed one of the first computer programs that would translate online weather briefing information into plain language. That product, MacBriefer, came to the attention of the DUATS folks, and they built Geoff's stuff into their system. Later Geoff created an online flight planner for that system, and after that helped them create the duats.com website. Geoff's weather briefing and flight planning software is also used by AOPA's website, and he's recently created his own company to offer these services and more.
For the past few years Geoff's new company, enflight.com, has been an exhibitor here at AirVenture.
Geoff's home airport is Reid Hillview in San Jose, California. His beloved Arrow, '06C' often causes a small sensation since it has the white w/ orange, red, and blue paint scheme that used to decorate the fleet of his favorite airline, United.
Jack Copeland is a relatively new friend. We're both members of EAA Vintage Chapter 15 back at North Hampton Field, New Hampshire.
Jack lives in Northboro, Massachusetts. And he's been attending the EAA fly-in for 28 years.
Jack decided to get involved here as a volunteer from the very start. He started out as part of the crew parking planes in the vintage areas, and after three years was rewarded by becoming a co-chairman of Classic Parking.
He's held other jobs at the fly-in over the years, but for the past 15 years his passion has been the Vintage Division's Participant Plaque Program.
"We take pictures of every vintage or classic plane that is registered, and if you're a Vintage member you get the picture for free. Non-members can purchase it for $10."
Thinking back over the many AirVentures he's attended he says he especially remembers the many interesting planes that Burt Rutan has brought here.
Jack flies here in his Cessna Skylane 182. It is STC'd to have 35 more horsepower than the usual version. It's known as a "Super Eagle". He flies out of Sterling Airport in Sterling, Massachusetts.
Here at AirVenture Jack camps in a grove of trees just to the south of the Theatre in the Woods. He's gathered a group of about 10 friends who camp there each summer. Some of this 10 are part of his photo plaque team, and some are just other Oshkosh friends.
Jack learned to fly back in the mid 50s as part of Air Force training class 56-O. He flew T-6s and T-33s in the military. His first personal airplane was Cessna 140 that he flew when he first came to the Oshkosh fly-in.
Back home Jack is Vintage Chapter 15's Young Eagles coordinator and he has a rally planned for two weeks after we get back home. If you're in the Northern New England area you can learn more about Chapter 15 YE program at www.vaa15.org.
As you might imagine, Jack has fond things to say about EAA and AirVenture.
"The thing that keeps me involved, and brings me back every year, is that EAA is such a high quality organization. They do everything right.
"It's a good group of people. It's like a reunion, and you're making new friends every year."
Last but not least. I don't want to make too much of a big thing about this last group of friends, but they deserve mention. The people who put out publications like AirVenture Today, prefer to be invisible; it's about the stories, not the authors. But an important group of my Oshkosh Friends are the writers, photographers, editors, and production folks who put out this paper.
I won't attempt to name them here, but they're all listed somewhere in the first few pages of this issue, and I encourage you to take a moment to read their names. Their passion for planes and flying brings them together each year from all over the country to create this publication.
They're a fun gang of people. I enjoy their company, and value their friendship. It's a privilege and a pleasure to be part of this group of Oshkosh Friends.
Well, we're on short final for the end of AirVenture 2003. It was another great year. Too many airplanes, not enough days. It was sunny, it rained, the wind blew, we sweated and we shivered.
Please have a safe trip home, enjoy your flying this coming year, fly some Young Eagles, and let's meet back here again next summer.
— ATF