Arlington report

I created a minor firestorm last year by posting some negative comments
about Arlington. It is apparently not a good thing to criticize a volunteer
run event. But anyone that knows me knows that my comments are intended as
constructive criticism. This year, I'm going to send my criticisms in a
private email to the Arlington folks.



As normal, Arlington is a wonderful experience. For 50 weeks a year,
Disneyland may be the happiest place on Earth, but for two weeks of the
year, Arlington and Oshkosh have that distinction. The weather was pretty
much perfect this year, there was some rain and wind on Friday (but not as
much as past years), and there was record/near record heat all week long. I
was only there on Saturday, but attendance seemed to me to be down. I'm
going to be curious to see the official data. There appears to be a gradual
decline in both exhibitors and forum speakers. I have a real problem with
this. Exhibitors and speakers should be using Arlington as a trial
rehearsal for Oshkosh. And for Heaven's sake exhibitors, have someone there
who doesn't look like they were Baptized in lemon juice and has some
enthusiasm for the product!!! Some effort needs to be put into beefing up
these parts of the show. I used to have to go back to the car at least two
times with bags of literature and catalogs; this year, I only got half a
bag. The airshow itself was down from past years, due to the continued
fallout over the lawsuit over the accident a few years ago. Hopefully this
will be reversed on appeal.



A new highlight for me was the "Jazz concert". I've avoided it in the past
because at best, jazz bores me. Well, the band played mostly Count Basie,
Stan Kenton, and Maynard Fergusson, none of which I consider "jazz", and the
band was GREAT. I made a couple of suggestions for new year's playlist, and
I'm not going to miss the concert in the future. They are "Meydenbauer's
Ourrageous Jazz Orchestra" and their website is www.mojobigband.com. Very
recommended.



The food was great, the fireworks airshow was great, and the runway movie
was great. But Arlington isn't on the verge of becoming "Big Time", it is
already 'Big Time" and I don't think the people involved in it or the
community at large recognize that.

Ken Finney wrote
As normal, Arlington is a wonderful experience. For 50 weeks a year,
Disneyland may be the happiest place on Earth, but for two weeks of
the year, Arlington and Oshkosh have that distinction.

I take it that you have never heard of "Sun-n-Fun'?

Bob Moore

"Bob Moore" wrote in message
46.128...
Ken Finney wrote
As normal, Arlington is a wonderful experience. For 50 weeks a year,
Disneyland may be the happiest place on Earth, but for two weeks of
the year, Arlington and Oshkosh have that distinction.

I take it that you have never heard of "Sun-n-Fun'?


I'm in Washington State. When I put a map of the US on the table, the
corner with Florida hangs over the edge and I forget about it. At least
that is my story and I'm sticking to it!

;^)

("Ken Finney" wrote)
I used to have to go back to the car at least two times with bags of
literature and catalogs; this year, I only got half a bag.


I do not like gobs of literature.

I want a business card from the booth, that's all - a business card with a
website on it. When I get home, I go through the websites.

Better use of resources, all around.


Paul-Mont

I was at Arlington this year as I usually am. Notably missing, the
Blackjack Squadron. Another one of those insurance/lawsuit
casualities I guess.

I was frequently frustrated by the announcer saying something would
happen and then to find out it happened at another time. Example, We
were told the Heritage Jenny would fly at 10:00am. So we went to the
other side of the airport for something else. When we came back to
see the Jenny fly at 10a, we were told "they decided to fly it at
9:30am instead". That was frustrating.

I liked the Arlington Radio broadcast. Normally it is very weak
signal but this year seemed excellent in the campground where we
cannot hear the loudspeakers.

More Super Cub vendors this year, Cub Crafters (never seen them attend
before) and Turbine Cubs of Wyoming.

The "Military Parade" was way cool. Must have been at least 30
different vintage military vehicles plus the aircraft following them.
I yearn for more warbirds at Arlington. I hope then can keep growing
this part. Don't get me wrong, I am a homebuilder and expect a large
experimental presence.

Overall, still love Arlington and the camping by the runway. They
sure seem to have the campground down to a science.

See you next year.

I have an AEIO-540 that starts every time, hot or cold, with the following
procedu

1. Mixture full rich
2. Throttle full forward
3. Boost pump on until getting a pressure indication (a few seconds at most)
4. Mixture ICO
5. Throttle cracked
7. Crank
8. Once fired, advance mixture

"

On 2007-07-16 11:37:17 -0700, "Ken Finney" said:


As normal, Arlington is a wonderful experience. For 50 weeks a year,
Disneyland may be the happiest place on Earth, but for two weeks of the
year, Arlington and Oshkosh have that distinction. The weather was pretty
much perfect this year, there was some rain and wind on Friday (but not as
much as past years), and there was record/near record heat all week long. I
was only there on Saturday, but attendance seemed to me to be down. I'm
going to be curious to see the official data. There appears to be a gradual
decline in both exhibitors and forum speakers. I have a real problem with
this. Exhibitors and speakers should be using Arlington as a trial
rehearsal for Oshkosh. And for Heaven's sake exhibitors, have someone there
who doesn't look like they were Baptized in lemon juice and has some
enthusiasm for the product!!! Some effort needs to be put into beefing up
these parts of the show. I used to have to go back to the car at least two
times with bags of literature and catalogs; this year, I only got half a
bag. The airshow itself was down from past years, due to the continued
fallout over the lawsuit over the accident a few years ago. Hopefully this
will be reversed on appeal.

This was pretty much what I heard -- smaller than last year. I did not
go last year because I was in the Philippines, and this year I was
preoccupied with other stuff. My brother says it is still a great
fly-in, though. Since he bases his plane at the field he was there for
the whole week. Now, if he ever finishes building it -- well, let us
just say it will be beautiful.


--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor

The food was great, the fireworks airshow was great, and the runway movie
was great. But Arlington isn't on the verge of becoming "Big Time", it is
already 'Big Time" and I don't think the people involved in it or the
community at large recognize that.




I was there Thursday through Saturday and I agree with most of what you
wrote with the exception of "the food was great." The vendors there have
the worst food the can possibly be made. The caterer that was doing the
breakfast had the hash brown potatoes so salted that they were not
edible, that is just one example. My girlfriend and I flew in in my
RV-6 so don't have a lot of extra room to carry groceries with us.
They did fix one of the complaints I have sent them over the years they
finally put showers down by the Van's RV aircraft parking area which is
nice for the ultra light folks and all of the RV pilots that camp there.
It is still a great fly in and I always enjoy it, I have probably flew
there about 30 times over the life of the fly in. I remember the first
time there it was few few airplanes parked along the taxi way and a big
community pasta feed, that was fun also.


Jerry

"Jerry Springer" wrote in message
news:jKnni.6072$ct5.4407@trnddc06...



The food was great, the fireworks airshow was great, and the runway movie
was great. But Arlington isn't on the verge of becoming "Big Time", it
is already 'Big Time" and I don't think the people involved in it or the
community at large recognize that.




I was there Thursday through Saturday and I agree with most of what you
wrote with the exception of "the food was great." The vendors there have
the worst food the can possibly be made. The caterer that was doing the
breakfast had the hash brown potatoes so salted that they were not edible,
that is just one example. My girlfriend and I flew in in my
RV-6 so don't have a lot of extra room to carry groceries with us.
They did fix one of the complaints I have sent them over the years they
finally put showers down by the Van's RV aircraft parking area which is
nice for the ultra light folks and all of the RV pilots that camp there.
It is still a great fly in and I always enjoy it, I have probably flew
there about 30 times over the life of the fly in. I remember the first
time there it was few few airplanes parked along the taxi way and a big
community pasta feed, that was fun also.


I've only been to Oshkosh once (2004), but that was the worst food
I've ever had at a fly-in. I didn't have breakfast at Arlington, but at
lunch I didn't hear anyone complaining about the food. I heard a
couple of complements, actually. My bratwurst was good, and one
of the places was selling about a 2 pound bucket of curly fries for $6
that everyone was raving about.

"Ken Finney" wrote in
:

.....

A new highlight for me was the "Jazz concert". I've avoided it in the
past because at best, jazz bores me. Well, the band played mostly
Count Basie, Stan Kenton, and Maynard Fergusson, none of which I
consider "jazz", and the band was GREAT. I made a couple of
suggestions for new year's playlist, and I'm not going to miss the
concert in the future. They are "Meydenbauer's Ourrageous Jazz
Orchestra" and their website is www.mojobigband.com. Very
recommended.


Maybe you liked jazz all along and just didn't realize it :-)

Rob

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