Planes, trains, shuttle buses, trucks.....Oshkosh

Ethan and I joined the throngs for the annual pilgrimage to the Oshkosh Experimental Aviation Association (EAA) week long fly-in/air show.
For those of you not familiar with it, the EAA Fly in has several parts: It is partly a large trade show for airplanes. All the manufacturers have booths set up with their particular models represented. Think Chicago or Detroit auto shows except with planes. It is partly swap meet for any sort of part or tool needed for home built or airplane restoration. It is partly conference for learning how to build your own airplane. Mostly, it seems to be a yearly get together for all the airplane nuts in the entire country.

We met up with my dad for Thursday through Saturday. Just getting there was a part of the adventure. We had to drive two hours to the Phoenix airport, ride a shuttle from long term parking to the terminal, fly to Midway airport, Catch the "El" to downtown Chicago, walk 1/2 mile to Union Station (think shoot-out scene in The Untouchables), ride the Amtrak train to Milwaukee airport, catch a two hour shuttle to Oshkosh, then ride with dad to the camp site. Whew!!



"L"


The trip was fine except our flight arrived 1/2 hour late, and we had to run the 1/2 mile to union station in order to make our train or we would have had to wait there for two more hours. Ethan did awesome, and we made the train with one minute to spare!!

Amtrak, just made it.

On arrival to Oshkosh we were met by rain and spent the first night in the back of the truck. The next morning we headed into the air show. Lots of fun checking out all the airplanes. Dad was shopping the Light Sport Aviation (LSA) models quite seriously. We also met with my Uncle Don for a while.


Campsite sweet campsite

300,000 best friends doing the same.
Grampa knows good icecream (Dove bar)!!!
Sweet looking Tigercat. This thing sounded awesome at full throttle in the simulated air race. Just before tragedy struck see below.

Every day of the week, there is an air show from about 1500-1800. Before the show they have demos of various airplanes going. Unfortunately on Friday, the last demo before the show two P-51's collided while landing in formation killing one of the pilots and demolishing the warbirds. We did not see or hear the crash, but learned of it when all the emergency vehicles started roaring down the runway. We were able to walk down and see the aftermath, however. This obviously put a big damper on the whole show. The did fly a few acts anyway, and all were great.
Wrecked Mustang being lifted out.

Lots of cockpits to sit in.
Cavernous C-17 interior
"Glacier Girl" P-38 rescued from beneath 270 feet of Greenland ice. Now flying!! One of the few P-38's still in existence.
Dad and I "enjoying" the air show, each in our different ways. It was a loud act requiring ear plugs for me...not for dad.
This Gull wing Stinson caught my eye. I think the styling of them, the Dehavilland Beavers, and the Beech Staggerwings appealed to me most of the vintage aircraft. Love those big radial and beautiful classic lines.
Rows and rows (and rows and rows) of all sorts of aircraft.



The following day we went over to the "kidventure" section to see all the kid activities. There were lots.


Sitting in various cockpits where Ethan could do anything he wanted.

He got to fly this control line remote control airplane (as did I). With these, you are connected to the airplane with thin wires and control it going up and down with your hand sort of like flying a kite. You stand in the middle and the plane goes around and around you. Very dizzying.
Very, very fun rocket powered by stomping on the 2 liter bottle. I went probably 100 feet into the air. We did this for an hour.
Then we went to the EAA Museum and saw lots more displays, etc.
Did I say I'm also partial to polished aluminum?
Richard Bong's P-38. This thing was amazingly beautiful. I've always been a Mustang guy, but the amazing lines noted in a Lightning walk around are difficult to photograph or describe. The coolest of cool warbirds.





Saturday's air show was fabulous. The big star was the F-22 Raptor demo...very loud. Lots of other great stuff to watch as well.

Reactions to the Raptor.

Heritage formation fly over. P-38 Lightning, F-86 Saber Jet, and F-22 Raptor.
"The Wall of fire" Pyro show. You could definitely feel the heat of this explosion on your face!

Man these things are loud!

We were this close.



We decided to head out that night to Madison WI where we stayed with friends Brad and Edel Gunnink in their new house. The shower and comfort was wonderful after two nights of camping.

Breakfast with the Gunninks. Four kids 5 yo and under thanks to the wonder of twins.


The following day was spent at the Jensen's in Rockford. Then back to Midway and home.

Lunch with dad at his favorite place. Ethan dug it. I'm not so sure "sliders" qualify as food.


Who should we happen to run into at the Phoenix airport, but Josh, Sadie and family returning from their trip to California. This was not planned at all. We were just in time to help them get ot their shuttle with their bags. Providence in action.



Fin