Got published

My FBO asked me to write an article for their first newsletter. Here's what
I put together. Lookout Jay... :-) No, seriously, not as good as the stuff
you've written and had published...but, hey, it's a start. Gotta work on
getting paid for this though.

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I have a tough assignment. I'm supposed to describe my trip to Oshkosh
("EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2003" in proper phraseology) in roughly one page.
250-300 words are what Phyllis said I had. And some folks think flying with
Tim in the right seat is challenging? Piece of cake compared to this. Ah,
but I digress and use up valuable words in the process.



Just what is it like for a 125-hour private pilot and his RV-6A building
older brother to fly to Oshkosh in a C-172? Before the trip, I had a rough
idea: fun, slow, seeing interesting sights, dodging weather, slow, a complex
arrival, camping in the rain. Did I mention slow? After taking the trip, I
can say that it's all of these and more. Fun? More than you can imagine.
Slow? Yes, but a C-172 is faster than a cub or an Aircoupe. Seeing
interesting sights? More than I can count. Dodging weather? Sure but
that's all part of the fun, especially when you see your first aerial
lightening strike up close and personal and plan-B involves dodging
restricted airspace, MOAs, and the weather. A complex arrival? Yes, but
not impossible if you can read the 30+ page NOTAM. Camping in the rain?
Its summer in Wisconsin and the grass stays green without sprinklers. So,
yes, we got wet. So did my sleeping bag, pillow, and most of my clothes.
Fortunately, the plane didn't leak. Yes, we slept there a few hours one
night.



Flying to Oshkosh was an incredible journey that stretched my flying
experience in several directions. With a round trip distance of 3100 nm, it
was the longest cross-country I've planned. It was my first experience
flying through class B airspace (SLC) and landing in class C airspace
(Reno). It was also my first chance to fly with my brother on such a long
trip. The biggest thrill, however, was in landing at OSH. After following
the arrival procedures to the letter, we turn a modified right base for
runway 9. When we're 200 ft AGL aimed for the "white dot" located 1500 ft.
from the numbers, out of my peripheral vision I see hundreds of people
watching our arrival. I start thinking wow, what an audience; this is no
time to mess up a landing. Suddenly I hear Tim's voice saying, "Fly the
airplane!!!" I do and manage to put it down just past the white dot and get
rewarded with the ultimate compliment from the runway 9/27 tower controller,
"White Cessna, good job".



To say Oshkosh is huge is an absolute understatement. Think if it as a
combination fly-in, air show, and aviation convention/trade show with
thousands of friends you've never met. We heard folks like Chuck Yeager,
Bud Anderson, Bob Hoover, and Rod Machado. We went through countless vendor
exhibits, the EAA museum, and communed with hundreds of Van's RVs. Ok, my
brother communed with the RVs. I took pictures and sat in the shade to
avoid heat stroke. We even watched the entire air show one day. We saw the
replica Hughes H-1B racer at what would become its final air show.



I could go on for pages with trip details but I'm out of space. For more
information, feel free to contact me via e-mail. Pictures of the trip can
be found at ofoto.com:



On the way to Oshkosh:
http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=175y7lb...t&x=0&y=trhrfy


At Oshkosh:
http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=175y7lb...h&x=0&y=fnkpxe


On the way home from Oshkosh:
http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=175y7lb...&x=0&y=-o7bj0u



Let me close with some advice and word of caution. If you ever get a chance
to visit Oshkosh, do it. Whether for a day or the week, whether you fly
commercially or in a spam can, do it. Caution - once you go, you'll be
talking about "next year" before the trip home. The second day there, my
brother said "We need to get Dad back here". So yes, we're headed back for
more next summer.



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--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)