OSH '07 Redux -- Part IV -- The Wonders of OSH

Things That were Wonderful
As always, there are simply too many good things about OSH to list.
Aviation is an elixir that intoxicates in so many subtle ways, but
most of the time we who partake are seen as the "oddballs" who "waste"
so much money on "those little planes."

At OSH every year, I am reminded that we are truly NOT alone, and that
there are literally thousands of guys and gals who will willingly
spend a week camping in a big field, in any weather, just for the
privilege of hanging out with like-minded folks. In that regard,
this year was the best yet, as we were able to stay close to people we
know through this group - which itself is a self-selected bunch of
(sometimes crazy) aviation fanatics.

Each morning I would lay on our 12-inch-thick inflatable bed
(something that has made camping at OSH incredibly comfortable), eyes
closed, listening to the first departures of the day. Ear plugs,
like ANR headphones, allowed me to pick out detailed sounds at
frequencies that are normally covered by the exhaust noise, and it was
great fun to hear the differences between makes, models, engines, and
props.

The bark of a radial, the purr of a Merlin, the growl of a big
Continental or Lycoming, followed by the cavitation of the prop or the
whistling in the wires of a biplane - all of these sounds blended
together into a symphony each morning that simply can't be duplicated
anywhere else in the world.

The sad part of it all is that, after you reach a certain age you
appreciate the fact that no matter how wonderful something is, it must
soon end. This knowledge, so valuable when living through hard
times, is best forgotten at OSH, as it gives you the bitter awareness
that this, too, shall pass - WHILE it's occurring.

Thus, on our last day at OSH, sitting with good friends under the
welcome shade of a Stinson trimotor, I suddenly knew that the Raptor
demo flight would soon be over, and that the B-2 fly past would soon
be nothing but another Oshkosh memory, indistinguishable from the
rest. I knew that my son, already more a man than a boy, would soon
be departing the nest and that we would rarely go down this road
together again.

I knew that all these wonderful old planes, with their fascinating,
storied pasts and wonderfully generous pilots, would soon head home,
leaving nothing but an impression in the grass. I knew that Oshkosh
would soon return to its normal, sleepy self, and even the bitter
North 40 horn blower would soon forget whatever it is he's so ****ed
about.

I looked around at the sights and sounds, in all three dimensions, and
choked up, knowing that I had to leave, that this could never continue
forever, and that simply attending 25 in a row would never assure that
we'll ever make it back here again. To Oshkosh - the very best place
on earth.

As I'm typing this, Jack and Steve are (according to Montblack) en
route to their first stop somewhere in Wyoming. "John Smith" ended up
somewhere in Indiana with a bad mag - but is probably home by now.
Ray, Art, Dan and Lou all left a few days ago - I trust they have made
it home safely.

Thanks to all who made it - we'll never forget you, or OSH '07. See
ya next year!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"