2016 participants

[Roger Janssens]

Hi all,

I know the season between Thanksgiving and Christmas is a holiday season, but I'm surprised no one's commented yet on the first display team to be announced for this year's AirVenture, viz. the Snowbirds (and on 2017's team, the Blue Angels). It'll be very nice to see those CT-114's at Oshkosh, although as with the team announced for last year, I'm a bit concerned about the crowdline (but since the crowdline wasn't going to have to be moved for the Breitling Jet Team, I'm hoping the same will be true for the Snowbirds).

At any rate, I'm looking forward to other announcements. And maybe I'll throw in a couple of suggestions:
- the C-97 of the Berlin Airlift Historical Flight is apparently close to its first flight after restoration. If they decide to come to Oshkosh, and 'Doc' or 'Fifi' too, then I hope the EAA will put pressure on NASA to bring their Super Guppy to complete the triumvirate;
- with Boeing's centenary apparently to be celebrated at AirVenture (among others), I hope everyone will think big - symbolically but also literally. Here's hoping Addison Pemberton will return in his Boeing 40, and that one or more of the
Boeing 100/F4B/P12’s being (re-)built in Nevada will be ready too. But the really memorable big-ness would be to have an historical or special representative of each of the Boeing airliners turn up every day. Some of the representatives I'm thinking of: John Travolta's 707 (if it's still flying) or the ultra-rare N404PA; the Zero-G 727; Lockheed Martin's 737 CATbird; either the NASA 747SP or one or better still all of the RR/GE/PW test 747’s (one of which is the oldest airworthy one); Boeing's own 757 Catfish; ... Lastly, too bad we won't be able to enjoy a visit from the Boeing 247 anymore, as I understand Boeing doesn't fly that anymore (weak undercarriage).

I'm sure you can think of (or know of) possible other participants?

Roger

[Byron J. Covey]

Hi all,

I know the season between Thanksgiving and Christmas is a holiday season, but I'm surprised no one's commented yet on the first display team to be announced for this year's AirVenture, viz. the Snowbirds (and on 2017's team, the Blue Angels). .......

I'm sure you can think of (or know of) possible other participants?

Roger

The Snowbirds are a good formation team, as they should be, given their sponsorship.

I would like to see experiemntal aircraft showcased during the week days rather than have a traditional airshow. The traditional airshow could run on Saturday and Sunday for the general public audience and members who
like airshows.


BJC

[psvinny]

I was ecstatic to see the Snowbirds are coming back to Oshkosh. I know it is 7 months away but I am already excited about EAA 2016!!

[smutny]

Lastly, too bad we won't be able to enjoy a visit from the Boeing 247 anymore, as I understand Boeing doesn't fly that anymore (weak undercarriage).

That aircraft is owned by the Museum of Flight, not Boeing. It's grounding is insurance and financial related, not structural. It will have one last flight in 2016 when it's repositioned from Paine Field to Boeing Field and put into the new Air Park being built by the Museum.

[Roger Janssens]

That aircraft is owned by the Museum of Flight, not Boeing. It's grounding is insurance and financial related, not structural.

Happy to be corrected on both counts, smutny! Still sad to see it turned into a static exhibit though. I plan to spend two weeks in the Pacific North West prior to AirVenture this year (hoping to start with the Arlington fly-in), but I don't suppose I will be lucky enough to witness that last flight...

And, Byron J. Covey, it looks like your wish has come true - Snowbirds displaying on Saturday and Sunday only, so a whole week to show off flying X-1's, X-15's, etc. :-)

[Byron J. Covey]

And, Byron J. Covey, it looks like your wish has come true - Snowbirds displaying on Saturday and Sunday only, so a whole week to show off flying X-1's, X-15's, etc. :-)

Wouldn't that (the X- series) be fun to see!

I enjoyed the early fly ins /conventions where one could sit and watch a dozen Pitts Specials, EAABiplanes, Stardusters, Mongs, etc., in the circuit, followed by MM's, T-18's, Tailwinds, etc.


BJC

[smutny]

Happy to be corrected on both counts, smutny! Still sad to see it turned into a static exhibit though. I plan to spend two weeks in the Pacific North West prior to AirVenture this year (hoping to start with the Arlington fly-in), but I don't suppose I will be lucky enough to witness that last flight...

Picked a good time to visit the PNW, lots going on in July.

The 247, and the #1 727, will be flown down to BFI (probably) in the April/May timeframe.

[krw920]

Would love to see a B-1 back again, it has been awhile! Are there any F-117's still flying or have they all been retired and mothballed?

[smutny]

Are there any F-117's still flying or have they all been retired and mothballed?

There are no F-117's officially flying at this time.

[rleffler]

There are no F-117's officially flying at this time.

They are still flying. They are mothballed in temperature controlled hangars and maintained. I don't know the frequency, but a certain number of them are flown to maintain airworthiness.

[crusty old aviator]

Next to the Italian team, Frecce Tricolore, the Snowbirds are the best military team to ever grace the skies over Wittman Field, so it's always nice to have them back! I'm not trashing the US teams, they're just not as fantastic.

[deftone]

Next to the Italian team, Frecce Tricolore, the Snowbirds are the best military team to ever grace the skies over Wittman Field, so it's always nice to have them back! I'm not trashing the US teams, they're just not as fantastic.

+1 on the Frecce Tricolore, a really exciting team to watch. I have never seen the Snowbirds perform, but if they are comparable to the Italians then I really look forward to seeing them!

[robertc]

Would it be possible to eliminate the Torra, Torra, Torra portion of the airshow? It seems pointless, and it seems about one hour too long, especially the narration. I would have to say it is my least favorite portion of the airshow.

[Floatsflyer]

Would it be possible to eliminate the Torra, Torra, Torra portion of the airshow? It seems pointless, and it seems about one hour too long, especially the narration. I would have to say it is my least favorite portion of the airshow.

++++1

It's beyond pointless. At best it's a just a banal aerial demonstration of fake fighters performing 360's. At worst it's war mongering masquerading as more EAA patriotic remembrance and jingoism every other year. Much better to just honour the event yearly on the date of occurrence as is already done. No need for the nonsense drama. I don't think this will happen in my lifetime so beginning in 2046, EAA will remember 9/11 as a war event every two years with full commentary from Wolf Blitzer's grandson. I wonder how they'll do it?

[Kyle Boatright]

++++1

It's beyond pointless. At best it's a just a banal aerial demonstration of fake fighters performing 360's. At worst it's war mongering masquerading as more EAA patriotic remembrance and jingoism every other year. Much better to just honour the event yearly on the date of occurrence as is already done. No need for the nonsense drama. I don't think this will happen in my lifetime so beginning in 2046, EAA will remember 9/11 as a war event every two years with full commentary from Wolf Blitzer's grandson. I wonder how they'll do it?


I'm as anti "boring airshow" as the next guy. I don't like to watch a half dozen violent aerobatic acts every day. The warbird act(s) are stale. I've heard all of the warbird flyby chatter about a thousand times. The big military teams are (IMO) not a fit for Airventure. This is why I generally find something else to do during the show window.

That said, what will drive attendance from the General Public while being enjoyable for the members? Presumably, the EAA needs the $$ brought in by the general public during the week, but doesn't need to disenfranchise members.

[Mayhemxpc]

A couple of points.

1. I find the Snowbirds to be incredibly boring. Yes, yes, very pretty formations with trainer aircraft. Ho hum. My opinion only. Frecce Tricolori are very nice, and definitely NOT ho hum. Unfortunately, I was stationed in Germany during the Ramstein event and that will forever affect my perception of them. It indelibly marked the opinion of Germans towards air shows. 28 years ago, I know and things have changed but memories linger.

2. PLEASE no more Tora Tora Tora. Maybe once every 10 years, OK. I saw them first at an airshow in Indiana, maybe 1995? Very impressive then. Now, not so much. Like an exotic dancer who just didn't know when to retire. A very LOUD exotic dancer.

3. Warbirds. people come for the warbirds. It is not the same show every day. It is mostly two or three quick passes of different representative types and really isn't very long. It is a chance to see those airplanes fly. I admit that the announcer could be improved. I often fly in the warbirds show (in my lowly but veteran Skypig) and didn't realize the jingoism until I saw a a you tube recording of my section last year. The monologue was "uncomfortable" to listen to, over and above the occasional inaccuracies. I am sure he is a very nice guy, means well, and all of that, but still...

4. Yes, I too get bored of repetitive flip flop acts, as I mentioned in a related thread. Guess what? you don't have to watch the show all four hours or so every day. Go shopping! Talk to vendors. Grab a bite to eat while everyone else is getting neck cramps. Catch a seminar or two (now THERE is a thought.) Tora tora and jets (especially the Harrier) interrupt that sometimes, as do the Bell 47's making endless circuits, but there is so much to do it seems a shame to complain that the airshow is just variations on the same theme every day. I agree that something highlighting homebuilts would be nice. I really appreciated the aerobatic formation flights with the RV team. That beat the Snowbirds any day!

[spongebobiwan]

but there is so much to do it seems a shame to complain that the airshow is just variations on the same theme every day

The most brilliant line from this entire thread

[Cary]

I usually come by myself, or sometimes bring along a buddy or meet friends there. Sometimes we'll go watch things together--typically things like the night airshows, or meet for lunch, or something like that. But no one should feel he/she must do this or that. For instance, I have found many of the seminars to be boring, presented by good hearted but poorly prepared folks. So I don't go. I'm good for maybe one or two airshows during the week, so I don't go to all of them. I enjoy the seaplane base, so I'll usually go out there twice during the week. I like the walk-in movie, but not every night. I like the museum, so I'll spend time there. Gosh, there's so much to do that no one should feel forced to do something that they don't like.

I do admit though, that I wish the PA speakers would be turned down some. If I watch an airshow, I don't need the blasting effect, which is hard to avoid. But otherwise, vacationing at OSH is always a treat.

Cary

[FlyingRon]

And please airshow performaners: either use music or a narration but not both.

At least they ditched those god awful in front of the crowd line massive speakers that they tried one year.

[spongebobiwan]

Rolls Royce Packard Merlin V-12 engine? = MUSIC
Pratt & Whitney R-2800 18 cylinder radial engine? = MUSIC
General Electric F404 TurboFan engines? = MUSIC


Loud Heavy Metal audio blaring over the sounds of the above? = NOT SO MUCH

[mazdaP5]

The Martin Mars!
http://www.eaa.org/en/airventure/eaa-airventure-news-and-multimedia/eaa-airventure-news/eaa-airventure-oshkosh/04-14-2016-worlds-largest-flying-water-bomber-coming-to-eaa-airventure-oshkosh-2016