FlightSim.Com: Oshkosh Special Report

OSHKOSH '97

SPECIAL REPORT FROM ROGER "Maddog" GAYLOR

Of FLIGHTSIM DEVELOPERS Ltd

What can I say about the EAA Fly-in Convention that hasn't been said before. Well first of all it had a record breaking attendance of over 800,000 spectators this year. It was also the place of many anniversaries including that of the US Air Force and Supersonic Flight. The performers and celebrities looked like a "Who's Who" of avaition with names like Bob Hoover, General Chuck Yeager, Patty Wagstaff, Burt Rutan, Linda Finch and many many more.

This year's event was dubbed the "Year of the Volunteer". The entire year is dedicated to the thousands of volunteers who makes it all possible. Over 4,000 volunteers came early to prepare this aviation event. The year 2003 which is EAA's own 50th anniversary includes an emphasis on family values with individual participation and volunteerism at the very heart. Without the thousands of volunteers an event of this stature would of course not be possible.

Among the 2d highest record breaking year of show aircraft of homebuilts, warbirds, rotorcraft, ultralights, classics and sea planes there was also an array of military aircraft to see such as the U2 spyplane, the Coast Guard Radar C-130, C-17 Globemaster III along with fly-bys of the B2 Stealth Bomber, the F-117 Stealth Fighter, the SR-71 Blackbird and a special appearance of ex-MAT's Lockeed's Constellation after a fly-by of its own..

And of course there were a high number of warbirds which among my favorites was the WWII B25 Mitchell "Old Glory", owned by Russ Neuman.

Also a first this year was the taping of events by a production team from CNN from a couple of aircraft including a B-17. Of the most significant events was the 50th Anniversary of the United States Air Force. Although the event is being celebrated in several areas, Oshkosh was chosen as the premier site for this special occasion. The actual date of the anniversary is September 18th. Housed in their own special USAF Pavilion there are displays of their Air Mobility Command, the Air Combat Command and a special USAF Space Combat exhibit stands proud. With many exhibits that tell the story and history, their are many special displays on walls with pictures and even simulators. Also some USAF Art is also displayed at the EAA Adventure Museum.

The Air Force even had their own entertainment with the Starlifters and Tops in Blue performing at the Theater in the Woods leaving a strong and enduring presence at the Osh this year.

Right down a similar alley was the return of NASA to Whittman this year. I turned 50 this year which also was NASA's theme, "Boomers turn 50". Which not only honors the USAF this year but also the 50th anniversary of supersonic flight. Exhibits in their new NASA Pavilion revealed the progress in the future of aerospace technology and research and development with models and photo renderings. Visitors got a first hand look through the concept of general aviation systems and aircraft being developed by NASA and other government agencies.

In keeping with the same theme another honoree General Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager was one celebrity to see at the fly-in this year as the "Breaking of the Sound Barrier" was also a celebrated event this year marking another 50 years of supersonic flight. The EAA and Edwards Air Force base are honoring Yeager this year. As honorary Chairman of the EAA Young Eagles, the General was a favorite drawing daily at the EAA Pavilion as the guest speaker sharing stories relating to supersonic flight.

The General and Bob Hoover plan to recreate history on October 14th of this year by traveling thru the sound barrier again in Yeager's favorite an F-15 while Hoover will be in a F-16 chase plane nearby.

The EAA which stands for Experimental Aircraft Association would seem an appropriate place for the Quarter Century celebration also of the most successful kit aircraft in production, the RV line, (Rv-3, -4, -6 -6A, and -8). Richard "Van" VanGrunsven honored the anniversary Thursday by leading a fly-by of 25 RVs and also repeated it on Sunday. More than 7,000 kits of RVs have been sold to date and over 250 of them came to the convention this year. Van's origional RV-3 is being donated to the EAA Adventure Museum this year to join another rare bird, the Bugatti Model 100.

The EAA Adventure Museum, another attraction at Whittman that draws thousands of visitors all year round and to date has opened it's doors to almost two million people since it was first opened in 1983. As you enter you immediately see the BUGATTI Model 100 suspended from the ceiling in the Fergus Plaza. The famous racer designed by Ettoli Bugatti, captured the world speed record in the 1930s and was hidden in a barn from the Nazis during World War II. After the end of the war it eventually ended up in the U.S. and after a time was restored and donated to the Museum. Among other replicas as the "Spirit of St Louis" and the Wright Brothers plane, there are many displays of warbirds and various aircraft along with photo and art galleries enough to keep you looking and snapping pictures for hours.

Of course no convention would be complete without the Airshow Performers and their planes.

Many name performers participated again this year such as Patty Wagstaff, Sean Tucker, the Northern Lights and Julie Clark just to mention a few. And at three in the afternoon you could see them dazzeling the crowd in their death defying maneuvers against the sun.

Visit the site of the Oshkosh Fly-in for more highlights at: www.fly-in.org/oshkosh97/index.html

And the home of EAA at:

www.eaa.org

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