OSH 2006 Redux
After 24 years, we're not impressed with the daily airshows and NASCAR-like hoopla of Oshkosh. Rather, we tend to enjoy the friendships and camaraderie that has developed with so many over all these years.
However, there WERE some pretty cool things there this year. Here are some highlights from the show:
The Big Bombers
The purported theme of the show, the "Big Bomber Reunion", was mildly
castrated by the annual absence of "Fifi" -- the CAF's B-29
Superfortress. This year, so the story goes, they had engine
troubles.
The remaining bombers put on an impressive show, however, with the
British Lancaster (one of just two left flying in the world) leading
the way. EAA managed to get three B-17s, a B-24, several B-25s, and
the Lancaster in the air all at once, which made the traditional
"bombing runs" better than usual. And the "Missing Man" formation,
made entirely of big bombers, was worth the price of admission.
Strangely, although it put on a great solo flight demonstration early
in the week, the B-1 Lancer did NOT participate in this "reunion
flight". THAT would have been a cool "Heritage Flight" to see!
The Raptors
In my opinion, the most amazing display at the show was the incredible
performance put on by the two USAF F-22 Raptors. To say they stole the
show might be a bit much, but everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) was gazing
skyward with their mouths hanging wide open as the Raptor pilots
demonstrated one impossible maneuver after another.
Suffice it to say that vectored thrust combined with a better than 1:1
thrust-to-weight ratio, combined with computerized fly-by-wire
controls, makes for an astonishingly maneuverable aircraft. Nothing
else in the inventory comes close.
The Eclipse Jet
When Vern Raburn first announced the VLJ Eclipse Jet at OSH, a few
years ago, I must confess to laughing. I thought "another fool being
parted from his money", and never thought we'd hear from THAT loon
again.
Well, they received partial certification for that danged thing at OSH
'06, with first deliveries scheduled for next month. To say I'm
surprised is an understatement, but I've never been more glad to be
wrong. If their vision of air taxies serving smaller airports comes
true, airports like mine will be revitalized, and we won't be spending
any more time wringing our hands about closing airports.
Light Sport Aircraft
The LSA revolution is just getting underway, and to see Cessna's entry
into this vital new market was truly gratifying. There are an amazing
number of LSAs already on the market, and -- after decades of the same
old "Piper/Cessna/Beech" -- it's really exciting to see them all.
Cessna's New GA Plane
I missed the overflight, but I saw pix of the new Cessna. It looks
like an updated Cardinal, and word on the field was that it is made
from composites and aluminum.
All I can say is: 'Bout time!
XM Satellite Weather
Last year, XM weather was the new-fangled kid on the block. This year,
the distinctive black "XM Satellite Radio" flag was hanging at nearly
every booth. The technology is expanding with astonishing speed, and
to see it incorporated into so many pieces of software is really cool.
RV World
Van's RVs continue to build their commanding lead over every other
home-built aircraft, and they were at the show in force. The many
variants, the many modifications, the many personal touches, and the
incredible array of cool paint jobs and interiors made me want to own
one in the worst way. RVs are simply cool -- I sure wish they'd build
one for me.
The North 40
Every year, it seems, the people in the North 40 get friendlier, and
the beer gets colder. This year, in addition to the Wednesday Night
Party, we were pleased to be invited to several other shin-digs (sadly,
none of which we were able to attend), and spent every night after the
air show sitting with interesting people from all over the world whilst
sampling many different brands of excellent barley pop. To say it was
a little bit of heaven would not be an exaggeration.
I don't care what anyone says, the REAL Airventure -- for us, anyway --
happens every year in the North 40.
Bob Hoover/Chuck Yeager/Bud Anderson
Again, perhaps for the last time, it was possible to see and hear these
three living World War II-era legends together at OSH. Every year Hoover gets more rickety, Yeager gets more crotchety, and Anderson gets more humble --
but they are all clearly in decline.
If you want to see and hear these true American heroes, I would plan on
attending OSH '07. Their time is short.
Goodwill Bikes
Last year, we revolutionized our OSH experience by buying four bicycles
at the nearby Goodwill store, riding them all week, and then donating
them back to Goodwill in exchange for a tax write-off.
This year, we did the same thing, but so did hundreds of our fellow
campers. Goodwill had obviously planned ahead and sent every
able-axled bike to OSH from all over the Midwest -- including ones that
should have been scrapped -- so our experience this year wasn't quite
as positive.
My first bike had a permanent flat rear tire, the left pedal crank
literally fell off my second bike, and the chain on my son's bike broke
while he was towing me back from the show.
Still, once we got four working bikes, they worked like a charm. We
didn't ride the perimeter bus even once this year -- a new record --
and the time and energy we saved was immense.
Best of all, it's for a good cause.
Seaplane Heaven
After days spent hiking the flight line, we spent an entire day out in
the peace and cool quiet of the seaplane base. My kids are finally
old enough to enjoy just SITTING, and being able to let my mind wander,
and NOT fight crowds, is just fantastic. There was a
hovercraft/ground effect flying thingy giving flight demonstrations
that was very cool, and if I lived on an inland lake, I'd buy one in a
heartbeat.
And watching a giant Grumman Albatross thunder across the water,
struggling to get up on the step, is a sight we just don't see in
land-locked Iowa every day. I get chills thinking about it.
Oshkosh '06 was everything I've come to expect from Airventure, and
more. True, it couldn't possibly match the amazing '05 show, when
SpaceShipOne and Global Explorer attended -- but that didn't diminish
it in the least for me. We spent a full week on the field, and
actually managed to see everything we set out to see, for once. It was
marvelous, and I'd go back tomorrow, if they'd let me.
Oshkosh is a state of mind, for me, not an airshow -- and I'm happiest
when I'm there. After my feet and sunburn recover, I'll know I will
begin anew counting the days to OSH '07!
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