The event was graciously hosted by Sennheiser at their very well-appointed tent.  Below are a few photos from the event.

Sennheiser was the host location for this evening event.  Nice digs, and lots of people!

Airventure is about new and old friends.  Met and reaquainted with many, like Milford Shirley of “FlightTime Radio” (red shirt with the devilish smirk) and Grant and Steve from “Plane Crazy Down Under” ( wearing black shirts left of Milford, they’re Australian, mate).  So many good people, but too many names to remember, and I blame it all on the Jeremiah Weed (whiskey) samples being passed around…

The party got so rowdy, the cops came.  Ok, it wasn’t the real cops.  It was a prop car announcing Da Blooze Bros, performing at the Ford stage at Airventure.  Cool car, and dig the HUGE speaker on top.  A hit!

I’m sure each of the podcasters will have their own stories and pictures to post, but I wanted to get something out there as well.

Thanks for the invite!!

The flightline is very active (and the spectator area is very busy at airshow time.) Been here a good part of the week and finally starting to feel I’ve seen a good part of the show.  But there are still surprises, particularly when the shuttle buses take different routes and I discover new areas to visit!  Some of the sights on the flightline:

U-2 Spyplane

V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor

Jam-packed flightline. Weekend will be even more jammed.

Also spent some “quality time” at the Seaplane Base, just south of the main Oshkosh airport.  This lagoon on Lake Winnebago is owned by a local farmer and airplanes only operate there for the week of Airventure. Shady and compact, but quite busy little area.  I highly recommend spending some time there.

Seaplane Base at Oshkosh

One of the latest things at Oshkosh is the “Fly-In Theater” where they are playing aviation-themed movies every night (tonight is “Broken Arrow“, starring (and the film introduced by) John Travolta.  I’ll avoid DMCA concerns and only show the 5-story inflatable screen they use for the movies.  Very cool, actually.  Even free popcorn!

Cheers!

First two Airventure 2008 installments are here and here.

Here’s a TINY sample of what I saw that struck my eye, anyway.

RVs.  Not recreation vehicles, but homebuilt aircraft from kits by Vans Aircraft.  Hundreds, maybe a thousand of them!  The largest is the RV-10 a relatively new 4-seater.  And there were rows and rows of just RV-10s; some unpainted and looking like they just finished the last rivet, and others looking pristine in perfect paint, avionics and interiors.

Yeah, there are a huge number of the other kind of RVs (land-yachts) at Airventure too. But you can see them anywhere.

How about the Boeing Dreamlifter.  This is one big damn airplane, filling Aeroshell Square the days it was at the show.

The Red Bull Helicopter, used on the worldwide circuit of the Red Bull Airraces, putting on amazing displays of aerobatics that virtually no other copter can attempt.

Rows and rows of virtually any kind of airplane. From warbirds like P-51s.  More than you could imagine. And civilian aircraft; not just current planes, but classics like the Cessna 195.  Again, rows and rows of them.  Almost all in pristine condition too. 

How about your own personal Jetson jetpack?  That is, a Martin Jet Pack.  Flew for a couple of minutes (up to 6 ft high, and tethered per FAA requirements). Only $100K for your very own.

More weird stuff. And haven’t even gotten to the Fly Market yet!  Saw this PETA nightmare of a prop cover. The vendor was selling airplane floats, but the “prop-pelts” sure drew some attention.

Finally, tons of formation flying (interested in this because I’ve started formation training, maybe to participate at OSH next year).  Lots of formations.  Warbirds (US and overseas aircraft) and warbird wannabees (apparently RVs love formation flying…)  Some better than others.  So much formation flying (good and not-so-good) that it would fill its own DVD.  

More soon.  Cheers!

Kevin was able to get an exhibit spot at Oshkosh (#52) so be sure and visit if you are planning to attend Airventure.  He provided an update on Tiger production, with installation of production lines into their building scheduled to start in a couple of weeks.

True Flight Aerospace at Airventure 2008

After discussing some serious potential maintenance issues with our aging Grumman airplanes, John displayed a couple of new items related to the front air vents (where you currently have those vintage, usually broken, automobile design louvered vent openings). He has a replacement vent insert that includes 2 eyeball vents that pop right into existing opening. John said the price was about $80 for a set of pilot and copilot sides.  Contact him if you want them.

More interesting is a prototype John has developed that replaces the entire air vent plenum box on each side below the instrument panel.  This is still a prototype and John wants to know if there is interest among Grumman owners to purchase these replacement vent boxes.  Here’s a shot of the prototype hot off the Oshkosh forum today:

What is pictured is a right-hand side vent with the narrow end that matches up with the ventilation opening in the fuselage.  It will have two eyeball vents as shown that close tightly (for you cold-weather pilots).  This lightweight design will just snap into place beneath the outer edges of the instrument panel. And it opens up the area below the instrument panel for more leg room or for you and your A&P to install a supplemental panel for switches or instruments that people are now installing in the air plemun boxes (and subject to dirt and moisture).  If you are interested in these new boxes, contact John directly at his website above, or leave a message on the AYA Maintenance Forum, or use the Grumman Gang email system to make your thoughts known.

Thanks, John for this innovation.  Also thanks to Kevin, Gary, Erik, and all the folks who participated in the forum today.

Aeroshell Square early in the day, before many of the other star attractions arrive. But there is already one plane drawing a crowd. “Terrafugia” – a convertible plane-automobile!  Hasn’t flown yet, but it’s here and getting lots of attention.  This is apparently one of those innovative ideas that has many lives.  I remember as a kid watching grainy 16mm film footage of a similar “Air-Car” with detachable wings.

Of course, this is OSHKOSH, so there is not just one, but several manufacturers of these convertible airplane-automobiles at the show, with front and center placement and coverage. Wonder what the mileage is on these bad boys?

A bit of nostalgia for long-time Oshkosh visitors, seeing the old FAA ControlTower for the last time.  The new control tower is operational, and the daily Airventure news says the old one will be demolished sometime after the show ends.

Dumbest exhibit at Airventure?  There are many strong candidates (and haven’t visited the Fly Market yet where there are sure to be contenders.  But my vote goes to FORD.  Specifically, the silly-ass mechanical bull riding exhibit right on the main drag between the main gate and Aeroshell Square.  Bull riding? This is an airshow!  Can you please let “Urban Cowboy” rest in peace in Netflix?  Maybe they think they can attract John Travolta to their exhibit.

Things that work: The trams. Powered by good ol’ John Deere tractors, these trams give you a break, some shade, and quick transportation across the miles of exhibits and themed aircraft parking areas.

Things that don’t work so well: the EAA buses to the dorms.  Waited an hour yesterday for a bus that’s supposed to run every 1/2 hour.  And the last bus leaves for the dorms BEFORE the movie is over at the Fly-In Theater. Duh. Please fix this, EAA.

But Airventure-Oshkosh is about planes and people, and there are both in overwhelming numbers.  Each theme area (homebuilts, vintage, warbirds, etc) are larger than any other airshow I’ve experienced. Just scratched the surface here. How about not just one, but rows of Cessna Caravans as RVs?  Red Bull helicopter doing loops and rolls!  Lots more to see this week.

Oh, remember, I call this series “Hog Wild for Flying” for a reason, comparing flying to the motorcycle culture.  Seems Harley understands the connection, too.  They have a nice exhibit at Airventure to make sure any hunger for ground-based excitement can be satisfied.

Finally today:  Dorm life.  Like college, but with a 401K plan and somewhat older crowd.  But they are creative!  Some of our enterprising “dormies” set up an impromptu movie theater in the lounge area on my floor.  Laptop, LCD projector, bedsheet for a screen, and mixture of YouTube and DVDs.  Very cool way to pass the evening.

Cheers from Airventure!  More next time.

Airventure 2008 at Oshkosh!

More after the break:

Tanked up on fuel at Dubuque, Iowa to make sure I had plenty in case I had to hold on the way in.  There were a bunch of warbirds staging and practicing at Dubuque for a mass arrival tomorrow (Monday).

Warbirds at Dubuque

But the arrival was smooth.  Weaved through thunderstoms from Arizona to Missouri.  Then the legendary arrival procedures (30+ page instructions!) Busy, way too busy to even think about shooting pictures on the approach (head on a swivel the whole time).  Last minute change from Runway 27 to Runway 36 Left.  “Land on or beyond the Green Dot.”  An Oshkosh exclusive procedure, but no problem!  Taxi in and tie down with, oh, maybe 10,000 other planes this week!

Tied down at Oshkosh, Airventure 2008

Top drawer accommodations.  Dorm room at UW, Oshkosh.  No A/C, fourth floor room, men’s rest rooms on the 3rd floor.  Paradise!

VERY BUSY on the airshow grounds, considering the show doesn’t really start till tomorrow! Lots of visitors mixed in with trucks, forklifts, and workers setting up the acres and acres of exhibits.

More to come.  This place is absolutely Hog Wild for Flying!