Airventure 2008 at Oshkosh - It’s About Planes!

July 30, 2008

Lots of time (and miles) in the last couple of days looking at planes at Airventure 2008 at Oshkosh.  I can believe there are 10,000 planes here.

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!

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Airventure 2008 at Oshkosh - Hog Wild for Flying!

July 27, 2008

Arrival day at AIRVENTURE 2008, Sunday July 27!!  Or, simply, “Oshkosh”.  Thank you, EAA! This truly is the spirit of “Hog Wild for Flying!  500,000 people and 10,000 airplanes in one week at one airport. Awesome!

Airventure 2008 at Oshkosh!

Airventure 2008 at Oshkosh!

More after the break:

Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by brianflys

Hog-Wild for Flying!…Let’s Show It!

April 13, 2008

Ok, enough about motorcycles.  I’ve talked about what we can learn from that community and some interesting safety comparisons.  But this blog is about flying!

Time to apply the lessons.  And I need your help for this!

We’ve all seen the doom and gloom articles.  Will the cost of flying and the shrinking pilot population result on the end of General Aviation as we know it?  Will we be priced, aged, and legislated out of existance?

I say NO!  We will not go quietly!  In fact, It’s Time to Grow!

 

Ok, so how do we grow?

Two separate but related strategies:

1.  Create a real, vibrant, active, exciting Flying Community.  Build on the good work of the EAA, the 99s, and local flying clubs.  But take it to the next level.  Think “COMMUNITY” not just “organization”.  The internal glue that binds us and the identity that we show the world.  And use the media (like FlightTime Radio, for example) to grow awareness and excitement about GA flying and our Community.

2.  Entice and introduce potential owners/pilots to flying.  Think EAA “Young Eagles” program, but focused on adults.  Introduce them to our Community!  Cast a wide net, with activities and incentives to plant their butts in that right seat for the first time. You know, flying really sells itself!  It includes resources like ”Be A Pilot“, but it’s much more than that.  Then, build on the AOPA “Project Pilot” program to mentor these new recruits.

What ideas do you have to build and grow our GA Community?  Please share and I’ll include them in future posts.  What works (and doesn’t work?) for you?  What is YOUR favorite part of flying? 

Next up:  Building a Real Flying Community.

After that:  Let’s Get Growing!

Prior Posts in the series:

Hog Wild for Flying…Now We’re Talking!  (FlightTime Radio)

Hog Wild for Flying…Comparing Safety (GA Flying versus Motorcycles)

Hog Wild for Flying…Part 2  (what is it about the Harley image…)

Hog Wild for Flying…Part 1  (What aren’t more people excited about Flying?)

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Hog-Wild for Flying!…Now We’re Talking!

January 28, 2008

If you are one of the tens who have been reading my series of posts about getting more people “Hog-Wild for Flying” (learning from our friends who are part of the Harley community), I have Good News!!  A flegling commercial radio program has begun for GA, and by the looks of the hosts, sponsorship and content so far, I think their future is bright!

I discovered this link in my EAA e-newsletter that led me to a new weekly broadcast radio program out of Jacksonville, Florida.  It’s called FlightTime Radio, and the focus of the show is general aviation, particularly the small GA planes that most of us fly.  Plus a heaping helping of Sport Pilot and aircraft discussion.  The show is broadcast on AM 1320 (WBOB) Saturday mornings.  Starting February 2, the live broadcast starts at 10am, Eastern time, and they seem to have settled on a 2-hour show. 

 flighttime_pic.jpg

 Like every good Web 2.0 endeavor, you can also listen to the show live using a link at their website, or you can download (and soon subscribe to) the shows as podcasts.

The two hosts are Milford Shirley and Brian Kraut, a couple of local guys who love aviation and are having what sounds like one heck of a good time breaking into the radio biz.  It’s great to have this positive, enthusiastic image of GA being communicated to the general public on a weekly basis 

Milton and Brian are thinking ahead, too, seeking to grow their radio broadcast market and helping local EAA chapters at the same time.  Get the program broadcast on your local station, and your EAA chapter can get a piece of the action.

Now if every pilot tells two people, who tell two people, who tell two people….about this radio show….maybe we can plant some seeds….   Did my part.  I’ve told, what, maybe 10 people who read this blog :-)

Bravo, Milford and Brian!  Best of luck to you!

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Posted by brianflys