Oshkosh Reflections

One of the problems with a 1 gig camera memory card is that it is possible
to take virtually unlimited pictures at OSH. If you figure it takes a
minimum of 1 minute per pic to look at, adjust, and save -- and I took 250
photos -- we're looking at a minimum of four hours just to save the pix onto
my computer!

Then they must be resized, captions added, webpages created... Sheesh, in
the old days, I sent the film canister into the processing place, and a few
days later -- voila! -- I had my pix... But I digress.

I will have a full write-up on our Oshkosh experience in a day or three --
with pix -- but I want to make a few points about OSH while they are still
fresh in my memory.

The Best of Times:
***************************
1. Our Iowa City fly-in pool party was a real gas, and -- with temperatures
approaching 100 degrees -- the pool was actually *used* throughout the day,
rather than being merely a pretty prop. (And stay tuned for pix of the
DOUBLE CANNON-BALL JUMP, executed by none other than our own Jim Weir and
John Osterhout!)

2. FREE BIKES! Goodwill (yes, *that* Goodwill) has revolutionized Oshkosh
for us. Here's how:

They have built a new Goodwill Store adjacent to the North 40 camping area.
On our first day at the show, we hiked over to the Pick N Save for supplies,
only to walk past dozens of used bicycles -- all on sale for (get this!) $10
apiece!

These weren't junkers -- there were 10-speed racers, mountain bikes, bikes
for the kids -- and all in good working order. Needless to say, we
immediately picked out four of them, paid our $40, and spent the next seven
days riding our bikes EVERYWHERE, in comfort, speed and (sorta) style.

In fact, we only rode the internal North 40 bus once, and that was only to
be sociable with folks who didn't have bikes. It was ASTOUNDING how much
this single act saved our feet and legs -- Oshkosh was never better, and my
feet were barely stressed by the end of the week!

Then -- best of all -- on our last day, we returned the bikes to the
Goodwill store, and they gave us a receipt for a $40 tax write-off! Free
bikes for the week!

3. THE SHOW. I've grown pretty jaded with the Oshkosh air shows, after 22
years. And with the loss of the "Masters of Disaster" it promised to be
pretty lame.

Not! Although not technically a part of the air show, the arrival of "White
Knight" with "SpaceShipOne" on its back, ranks high up as one of the most
thrilling moments at OSH. The Concorde arrival, the Voyager fly over, the
first appearance of the F-117 Stealth, and the SR-71 in OSH are the only
events that come close.

Global Flyer was pretty cool too -- and the flights of "Glacier Girl"
brought a tear to my eye. (And, best of all, the pilot wasn't babying that
ol' P-38. There were some high-G turns, steep pull-ups, and a few "Heritage
Flights" with dissimilar aircraft -- all of which must have had their
insurance agent crapping his pants... :-)

4. THE PEOPLE As always, Oshkosh was about airplanes and the people who
fly them. And what a bunch of people they are! For an entire week we were
immersed in the whole aviation experience, and the people we met -- from the
84 year old former WASP, to the Usenet lurkers at the rec.aviation party, to
Paul Poberezney himself -- EVERYONE was outstanding.

This extended to celebrities as well. One morning we found ourselves eating
breakfast at the Hilton, one table away from Harrison Ford, his kid, and his
wife, (who everyone tells me is Callista Flockhart? She looks starved!).

I am proud to say that -- with the exception of one guy and his son, who
begged an autograph -- NO ONE bothered the man. He was able to eat his eggs
and read "Airventure Today" just like the rest of us, enjoying the fly-in
and not (for once, I'm sure) being "Han Solo" or "Indiana Jones" for the
public. (This was truly a test of character for my 14 year old son, who
idolizes the man, but he came through without making a scene!)

5. The REC.AVIATION PARTY. On Wednesday night, we held our third annual
cookout/party at our campsite in the North 40. With the incredible help of
Jim & Tami Burns, and the inimitable Montblack, we were able to feed and
entertain 50 people from all over the world. Chris Blythe and his son were
there from jolly old England, Blanche Cohen was there from Colorado, the
Allison Brothers and the Weirs were there from the Left Coast, and Margy
Natalie was there from the Eastern Seaboard.

And folks were there from everywhere in between. Jim C, Edwin and Jim were
there from down South, Aaron Coolidge was there from, well, wherever Aaron
was from, Eric Rood was there (with some little French girl pilot who he
SWEARS is just a "friend" :-) -- and dozens of others were there from all
over the country.

It was a wonderful, happy, special evening, and everyone had a great time --
especially Mary and me!

The Worst of Times
*********************

1. No Bikes on the Grounds. I understand that bikes amongst the planes
could be a disaster -- but why not a "bikes only" path from the western part
of the North 40 (say, roughly near the shower building) running straight
South to the Ultralight area?

This path, located maybe 1/2 mile West of the flight line, would, of course,
have to cross the main roads into Airventure, from the main entrance all the
way down to the Ultralights. This "express bike lane" to the air show from
the North/South camping areas would REALLY help get us to the flight line,
the museum, and *might* even allow us to attend the "Theater In The Woods"
presentations each night.

2. SCOOTERS! This has already been beaten to death in another thread, but
what the hell is up with these things? We went from having NO scooters to
having hundreds of them, many driven by untrained, uncouth, inconsiderate
asses. Each day we had to dodge these damned things, and I was always
concerned about having one running over my toes -- or my children.

3. Golf carts/Gators/Cars -- This has become an OSH cliché, but JEESUS H
CRIMMINY -- are there *really* that many VIPS in OSH that require their own
cart/gator/car?

We had no problem forgiving the gators full of pop and ice, on a mission to
replenish the on-field restaurants, or the golf carts full of tired North 40
campers (being picked up by "ambassadors" who were simply outstanding) --
but that doesn't explain the other 80%. Why are we CONSTANTLY being run
down by these people?

4. Food/Supplies. Once again, there were no provisions made for the campers
in the North 40. Why?

There used to be a camp store in the Warbirds area that charged outrageous
prices for the basics -- but at least it was there. We were able to buy
coffee, ice, soda, and breakfast items without hiking off-field. I'm sure
the logistics of a store with a one-week lifespan are daunting, but, damn,
with Piggly Wiggly gone it's a LONG ways to Pick N Save!

5. NO SMALL VENDORS. As Jim Weir pointed out, there are damned few
innovative vendors left on the field, simply because EAA has priced them out
of the market. Where were the little guys who were selling cool stuff?
Where was AvTek, with their slick wig-wag flasher for my wing tip landing
lights? Where was Dick Russ, with his innovative door seal for Cherokees?
Where was the guy who refurbishes shoulder harness inertial reels --
something that almost every 1970s-vintage aircraft could use?

Hell, where was Airtex interiors? They're not exactly small potatoes. And
how about Plane Plastics? Or the guys who make custom panels?

No where to be found -- all priced off the field, I suspect. We need to get
them back! EAA, are you listening?

6. POLITICS IN THE AIRSHOW. With the "Masters of Disaster" out of the
picture, you'd think that EAA would have an opportunity to bring in some of
the up-and-comers in the airshow industry. Skip Stewart, with his
incredibly innovative act (motorcycles jumping his airplane, while he cuts
through a ribbon!), comes to mind.

Instead, Sean Tucker wielded his clout to get his son's act in the show, the
aptly named "Stars of Tomorrow" (or something like that). They weren't
bad -- but it's pretty clear (after talking with some of Skip's sponsors)
that Tucker doesn't want his "heir apparent" to be anyone outside the
family...

All in all, griping aside (and they are small gripes, indeed) it was our
best Airventure yet. Packing up our tent and pulling the plane out of the
emptying rows in the North 40 becomes harder each year, and this year was
especially difficult. We just simply did NOT want it all to end, and it was
with a thick lump in my throat that we said goodbye to Oshkosh for another
year.

Only 51 weeks till OSH '06!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"