When you think "Oshkosh"...

[Hal Bryan]

When you think "Oshkosh", (or for those of you who've been around a while, when you think "Rockford" or even "Milwaukee"), what aircraft come(s) to mind?

Is there one aircraft or type that stands out as an icon? A field full of RVs, the P-51s and friends in the Mustang Corral, Cessna 195s camping together, powered parachutes flying over the farm in the evenings...?

[MEdwards]

I think of the incredible variety, from the Wright Flyer to the C5 (and the huge Russian C5-knockoff) which, I guess, speaks to the inclusiveness of EAA.

In a way it's more the people than the airplanes. My fondest memory is touring the warbirds with a guy who really knew them and taught me so much about them.

My favorite picture is my first experiment with a movie from a new digital point-and-shoot, of a powered parachute just after the ultralight field opened in the morning.

[gbrasch]

The Bell 47 flying overhead all day since I have been attending for 27 years. Never tire of seeing it, but I am biased!

[rv8bldr]

Not any particular aircraft, but sounds. My favourite are round sounds (radials), although Merlins come a close second. I particularly like the sound of Harvards (T-6) on take off with the bark of the propeller as it rolls past.

Can't wait for Oshkosh....

[Floatsflyer]

Restored Sikorsky S-39 and replica S-38's especially the Johnson & Johnson one because of the colours. And just about any antique in the vintage area(the 1919 DH-4 mail plane was a thrill and talking to it's pilot/restorer).

[kmacht]

I don't think it is any one type of plane. What I enjoy is seeing the stuff there that you can't find at any other airshow. Walking along the homebuilt section each year to see what is new or different that made it to the show is what the show is about for me. I can go see Mustangs, a C5, or an RV at any other number of places each year. What I can't go see are the one-off creations that people have dreamed of and built.

The show itself is mostly about the people though. Camping at Scholler with friends, going to the Sonex party the first night to meet other builders, or just talking ariplanes and flying with a random stranger while waiting in line somewhere is what keeps me coming back.

Keith

[Jim Rosenow]

For longevity/icon status, only one airplane comes to mind for me, Hal...the Ford Tri-Motor. I still (somewhere) have the ticket I got to ride in N414H at the 1962 fly-in, in Rockford. I doubt there's been a year since without at least one present and giving rides.

As long as we're back there...highlights of that particular (and first for me) fly-in...La Chuparosa (Ray Hegy's super-small bipe), and the original Red Devils (someone help me here....Bob Heuer, maybe Marion Cole, and Gene Soucy's dad? It's a long time since 8th grade!!) in their Stearmans . The Red Devils nee Eagles teams obviously rank toward the top in longevity/iconicism (made that one up) also.

Others of special significance thru the years....Paul's P-64 opening the airshow every day, Carl Unger's Breezy giving rides for forever, and as Glenn mentioned above the Bell 47 constantly overhead.

[Bill Berson]

I go to Oshkosh mostly to see the one of a kind prototypes. These " homemade" firsts, if from an individual, are allowed a certain amount of utilitarian crudeness that should be expected for a first of its kind.

The Ford Tri- Motor has that classic crudeness, I like to appreciate.
There is no shortage of polished perfect sameness on display.

[Mayhemxpc]

What aircraft comes to mind? Mine, floating towards the yellow dot on 36L, touching down and followed by the tower saying, "Welcome to Oshkosh!"

[Tom Steber]

The first P-51 takeoff of the morning causing everyone to rubberneck! The Ford Tri-Motor and the Breezy flying all day. God, I can't wait!!!!

[Gil]

The Bell 47 flying overhead all day since I have been attending for 27 years. Never tire of seeing it, but I am biased!

To me, that is one of the most annoying things about Oshkosh.

[JimRice85]

Rockford and my parents in their Stinson SM-6000 Trimotor or their matched set of his and hers S-1C Pitts dad built.

Oshkosh, Bob Hoover, Bob Herendeen, Bob Lyjack, Red Devils, Leo Loudenslager, John Baugh flying the P-51 Miss Coranado (which I fell in love with). Steve Wittman, French Connection, Duane and Marion Cole, Wayne Pierce, XP-51 being flown. Driving down to Hales Corner to visit the museum.

[Bill Greenwood]

There are so many great airplanes there. In the evening or early morning sometimes I would look at my plane parked in the field and just have that warm feeling inside, like it was a home away from home.

Last year when I visited Zack's house and we were stuffing ourselves in the back yard the blimp flew over very low, almost like a friendly neighbors dog coming to visit.
That is something I have never seen anywhere else.

[Zack Baughman]

Last year when I visited Zack's house and we were stuffing ourselves in the back yard the blimp flew over very low, almost like a friendly neighbors dog coming to visit.
That is something I have never seen anywhere else.

:thumbsup:

[Bill Greenwood]

Jim Rice, you mention Bob Herendeen. A long time ago, back in early 80's I was at an airshow in California, perhaps Chino, can't be sure.
I was walking quite a ways from where my Mooney was parked to the center of the show and carrying my bag, on a hot dusty summer day. Along came an airshow pilot driving a golf cart and he stopped to give us a ride.
It was Bob and I have never forgotten that small act of kindness. He didn't know me, I was nobody in airshows, and didn't even have on a flightsuit. He was just being a nice guy.

I have seen a lot of famous airshow pilots drive by in golf carts, and except for the ones who I know haven't had others stop, but I have caught a ride with a lot of volunteers and photographers, etc.

[CarlOrton]

OK, Hal; you're question was what airplane(s) do we THINK of, not which is our favorite... When I first started flying in 1978, the only thing I knew about EAA was what I read in AOPA Pilot and/or Flying magazine. I thought at the time that you could only be a member if you built your own airplane. So, since I was flying Cessnas, it never occurred to me. I didn't have any other friends who flew, and my airport was so small there just weren't folks hanging around it that much to talk to. So, when I think of Oshkosh, I think of the early homebuilts that our predecessors labored over, experimented with, and with which they tested the uncharted waters. And, after hearing Jack Pelton's words in this month's Chapter Video Magazine, Thanks for calling it "Oshkosh."

[Hal Bryan]

And, after hearing Jack Pelton's words in this month's Chapter Video Magazine, Thanks for calling it "Oshkosh."

Thanks for noticing! :) I've been a member an awful lot longer than I've been an employee - it'll always be "Oshkosh" to me! (Even living in Oshkosh, my wife and I at home still refer to things we might do this summer, etc., as happening before or after Oshkosh...:) )

[WLIU]

Airplanes? Hmmmm.... At this point, when I think about what is now Airventure, I don't think about airplanes. I think about the experience. I remember being a low paid professional pilot that did not know anything about EAA and walking through the front gate in 1981, and looking around, feeling like a cross someone from the Congo who just got dropped off at the gates of Epcot center and a kid in a candy store. I have heard that the folks who work the front gate ticket boots recognize the look.

I have professional pilot friends all over the country and although our paths do not cross that often, we will find each other at Oshkosh and catch up on who's been doing what since our last meeting.

I remember flying a no radio antique into the Oshkosh show early one morning, following the other railroad track that the NORDO instructions mapped out, thinking "I hope this works".

I remember meeting Dick Rutan and Jeanna Yeager at their booth as they talked about the not-yet around the world flight.

I remember "Pappy" Boyington autographing his books. I remember the Japanese pilot there who claimed that he was the one who shot Boyington down. I think I saw Tex Hill there too.

I have met a surprising number of SR-71 drivers at OSH. I got to meet Pat Halloran at OSH. Pat is an airplane guy, or at least that was what I thought from speaking to him on the telephone about a little airplane that we were owners of examples of. Great to talk to. Later I learned that Pat retired from USAF with 2 stars after being a U-2 and SR-71 driver and commander of the whole wing. But at OSH he is just another airplane guy. Tom Wathen trusts Pat to fly his airplanes.

I don't remember the year, but Martin Caidin brought Iron Annie, his JU-52. He was kind enough to wait until I was done staring at the strangeness of it before towing it out to the line to go flying.

Everything that Burt Rutan brought to Oshkosh was interesting.

I can not say enough good stuff about the tower crew. On year I was running north to OSH at the end of the day, before the published time that arrivals are cut off, but the weather was deteriorating, no one was at Fisk, and I was about to turn around and go to Fondu Lac. I thought about that just long enough to follow the railroad track to the quarry on the NW corner of the airport and right then I heard "red low wing rock your wings". They put me on runway 27 and I was a happy camper. I can only guess that they figured it was better to get me down than to let me go mill around elsewhere.

I remember being camped in the antique area near the Theater In The Woods and drifting off to sleep hearing, through the trees, Bob Hoover poking fun at Yeager sitting next to him on the stage. And another year I remember Robin Olds speaking. Not a shrinking violet.

I remember seeing Leo Loudenslager center stage about 200' in the air, fly what looked to my uneducated eyes a perfect rolling 360, 4 rolls inside. I said to myself "I want to do that!". Years later, I can, although the judges will certainly score me lower than what Leo could fly.

And I found my Pitts parked behind the IAC building at OSH. Passed papers a month later. 36 contests and 600 hours later it is still teaching me things. Thank you Paul and Tom P. Thank you Curtis.

Lots of great memories.

Wes
N78PS

[Dave S]

I first joined EAA back in the late 70's/early 80's when Burt Rutan's designs were the coolest things in the air so I guess a long row of grazing Vari/LongEZs says Oshkosh to me. I've never been to the big show...but I am building away on my Thatcher CX4 so there is still hope! :)

[Bill]

Over the last 30+ years there have been so many outstanding aircraft at Oshkosh (it would be nice to deep six "AirVenture" and just say Oshkosh) that I could take paragraphs just to name them all. One that hasn't been mentioned is Burt Rutan's Voyager. I can remember seeing it fly (in 1986 I think) and seeing Dick Rutan flex the wings like a bird flapping its wings by doing a few pitch oscillations. Those wings really did flex.

[avee8r]

Hi All

Having been to "Rockford" and "Oshkosh" every year since 1963 except one, I have a thousand times a thousand memories, experiences, and favorites. Every year since the previous, I have a new favorite or revelation.

One in particular has brought the past into brilliant present day focus. When I was about 7, I got a ride on the Ford Tri-Motor in Rockford. It made the my whole world come to life as I was born and was living in Dearborn where absolutly everything was Ford. This past year, I was lucky enough to qualify to start training with EAA to fly that very same Ford Tri-Motor. Its funny how I use the sound of those 3 engines I remember all these years to help me give our present day passengers a great flight around Oshkosh!

Happy Landings
John Maxfield

[BeagleOne]

I've attended almost every year since 1970, when I was 7. Duane Cole and the clip-winged Taylorcraft, Bob Hoover and the business twin, the Frecce Tricolori team, Concorde doing touch and goes while my brother and I stood at the approach end of 18 before the ramp was put in...etched in my brain.

And I agree with calling it "Oshkosh"; "AirVenture" just doesn't sound right.