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News & Highlights

Inaugural EAA AirVenture Cup Race

Monday, two days before the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 1998 convention even opened, the sound of airplanes at full fury filled the air at Oshkosh Wittman field. Ten very speedy airplanes wrestled for the finish line on the south end of runway 18-36, ending a 822 nautical mile cross country race. Though there have been air races at Oshkosh before, this is the first year of the EAA-sponsored AirVenture Cup, a race designed to showcase experimental airplanes and recreate the excitement of the old Bendix Trophy races that began in the 30's. Racers started at Manteo, North Carolina's Dare County airport, swooping down the starting line on the runway at Kitty Hawk, N. C., aviation's birthplace, then headed north. Hoot Gibson in a Sea Fury crossed the finish line first in 3 hours, 11 minutes,and 9 seconds, but the 420 horsepower Lancair IV-P, piloted by Jim Rahm, was only 6 minutes behind the Hawker.

NOTE: AVweb coverage includes additional details and the complete AirVenture Cup results.

First Production Micco SP-20 Makes OSH

Micco Aircraft of Fort Pierce, Florida, have their first production SP-20 aircraft on display just inside the main gate this year. A resurrection of the Meyers 145, the new aircraft has received a 12 inch fuselage stretch, huge canopy, a 200 hp Lycoming and a new propeller. Dewitt Beckett, Micco general manager admits they’re still working to optimize the speed of the airplane, which is already well above the Meyer’s typical cruise numbers.

VisionAire Pocket Rocket?

Interested in a 300 knot personal speedster? The folks at VisionAire, developers of the single-engne Vantage business jet would like to talk to you. They are considering the possibility of developing a 2 place certified "sport jet" projected to cost under $500,000.

Called the VA-12B "Spirit" the tandem pressurized mini jet with a 30 foot wingspan will be certified to 30,000 feet with a single, efficient turbofan, possibly the 900 lb Williams Research FJX-2. Fuel flows with the efficient fanjet would be in the 20-30 gallon per hour range. Empty weight is projected at 1200 pounds with a gross weight of about 2500 pounds, offering the two occupants a 200 pound baggage allowance.

If you’d like to encourage the company to produce the jet, or would like one in your very own Christmas stocking at some future date, fill out a questionnaire at VisionAire’s booth, located in the main aircraft display area just inside the main gate.

Strong And Gusty Winds Challenge OSH Arrivals

Strong wind gusts much of the day provided many landing at OSH an extra challenge to cap the OSH arrival experience, giving controllers an extra bit of excitement as well. An Aeronca Chief from Palmyra, Wisconsin was the first to succumb when it suffered a slightly damaged and broken prop blade this morning during a ground loop on runway 18. Winds at the time were 260 at 10, gusting to 15. The pilot had only seven hours in type and was buying the airplane from his father-in-law, who occupied the right seat. Most others managed to cope better, but there were more than the usual number of go-arounds.

The ultralight landing strip at the south end of the airport was especially exciting as the ultralight pilots wrestled with their lightly wing-loaded craft in the gusty winds. Gusts of 20-25 knots were reported much of the day, making for lots of interesting flying. It was a physical thing.

Young Eagle Volunteer To Receive Recognition

On Friday at EAA’s Nature Center, Richard Jones will receive the Top Young Eagle Pilot in Wisconsin award. He will be the first to receive this award for two consecutive years. What inspires a pilot to spend his time and money flying youngsters on introductory flights? In Dick’s case it was a nine year old on his first flight. The young man ran up to his father after the flight and proclaimed how great flying was — it was the first time this youngster had ever hugged is father. "Kids give you so much in return for my doing something I love to do anyway," said Dick.

When the opportunity to relocate from the Washington, DC area Jones had his choice of locations. He choose Oshkosh . He had been involved in the Nation’s Capital EAA Chapter 186 and realized that his passion was to fly and continue his involvement in aviation. He received his private pilot’s certificate in October, 1995 and flew his first seven youngsters on December 7, 1995. Since that date he has flow 1,079 youngsters with 507 in 1998.

According to Steve Buss, EAA Young Eagles director, Jones not only flies youngsters, but is one of the volunteers they call on to speak to various youth groups about aviation and the joys of flying. From a four year old little girl to a MS handicapped 24 year old, Jones not only gives a flight but takes the time to inform and dispel the myth that handicapped youngster can’t fly. "It takes a special pilot to deal with disabled and special education youngsters. We are fortunate to have pilots like Dick in our Young Eagles program", stated Buss.

The EAA Young Eagles program has become the most significant youth aviation program ever undertaken. As of July, 1998 more than 400,000 young people have discovered the world of flight and the possibilities within themselves, more than 21,000 pilot Flight Leaders are in the program with 730 EAA Chapter Coordinators and 88 aviation partnership organizations. Buss says that the sharing between pilots and youngsters seems to be the reason most pilots give of their time and money. Youngsters also experience good people giving of themselves with "no strings attached." Something in this day and age they may think non-existent.

EAA Fly Mart Opens For Business

As windsocks whirled and waved the EAA Fly Mart opened for business on this preliminary day. The Fly Mart is host to exhibitors selling everything from windsocks, bears, tools, tee-shirts, books, posters, prints and paintings to steel building systems, routing machines, and antiques. The exhibitors themselves are a mixed group of entrepreneurs and retirees making the show circuit.

Dale and Linda Roush have attended the last 13 EAA fly-ins and find not only is the business good but they have made many friends along the way. The Roush’s military surplus business has provided them the opportunity to work together since Dale’s retirement from the Air Force 15 years ago.

Ken Vaughn of Carbide Specialties out of Canton, Ohio depends on this and other shows for his livelihood. This year is Ken’s fifth year at EAA and, like other exhibitors, is waiting to see if the week’s business is affected by the new placement of the Fly Mart. In past years the Fly Mart has been located next to manufacturers row where the traffic appeared to flow better. Bill Constantinesco of Pacific Coast Aviation who sells tee-shirts, inflatable airplanes and models, is also concerned about the positioning of the Fly Mart and its separation from the flow path. Bill has been exhibiting at EAA for 14 years. However, like the other exhibitors, he will save his judgment until show’s end.

No matter what aviation item you’re looking for, military, civil, or commercial it’s for the picking at EAA’s 1998 Fly Mart with good folks to deal with.

No Room At The Inn?

Captain Bob Braithwaite and his wife, Helen are visiting EAA AirVenture this year for the first time. Bob flies a 747-400 for Singapore Airlines, based out of Singapore. They flew from Singapore to New York, on his employer’s airline, then finished the long trip to Oshkosh on United. Despite all the stories about "no vacancy" signs all over Oshkosh and its environs, believe it or not, the couple just walked up to the desk at a hotel located right across the street from Oshkosh Wittman field and got a room without any reservation whatsoever! Timing is everything, it never hurts to ask, people do cancel at the last minute.

AVweb's OSH '98 communications radios provided courtesy of ICOM America.

OSH '98 Articles and Features

AVweb Interviews Tom Poberezny

AVweb spoke with EAA president Tom Poberezny a week before AirVenture Oshkosh 1998. We covered the convention itself, what makes it tick and what is new. Tom also speaks out on his vision for EAA and his views on FAA Administrator Jane Garvey’s record. This interview will show you something of what makes Tom Poberezny and EAA tick.

Hold It And They Will Come

Rick Durden provides a few more valuable tidbits of information for the OSH bound and ruminates on what it’s like to come to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 1998. In the final days before the show, airports all over the U.S. and Canada are host to strange and wonderful airplanes stopping for fuel as they make their way to OSH. The airplanes flow into OSH, watched by scores of pilots in lawn chairs along the fence, scanners on. It has started, the place is filling up. Folks are walking around, happily looking at the incredible mass of airplane nuts and their mounts. Yes, it’s that time of year again.

The Fisk Funnel

Joe Godfrey visited those intrepid controllers who man Fisk, a temporary ATC facility located in a house trailer about eight miles southwest of OSH. Four controllers with nerves of steel and great spotting skills use a radio and binoculars to sequence the airplanes into a single file line to land on whichever runways are active at OSH. Chicago and Atlanta may battle it out 364 days a year, but it's hard to imagine a busier bunch than the team at Fisk on the day before OSH opens. From 1000 to 1100 this morning, Fisk sequenced 149 airplanes. That's an average of two and a half a minute.

Who Are Those People With The Orange Paddles?

You have just worked your way through the excitement of the Ripon arrival, wrestled the airplane to a landing in the strong, gusty crosswinds at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 1998, and rolled out onto the grass as directed by the controller, only to come face to face with someone wearing an orange vest and waving two international orange paddles. Who are those people with the orange paddles and why does it take so long to get to a parking spot? Rick Durden rode with Fred Stadler, co-chair of Flight Line Operations, as things went from calm to hectic Tuesday morning at EAA AirVenture. The time he spent with Fred and other Flight Line Ops volunteers was eye-opening.

Oshkosh Travelogue

There wasn't enough time to prepare, but it didn't matter. I was going to make the trip to Oshkosh, no matter what. Business and family demands created the near-impossible situation where I had a half-day to gather camping gear, aviation gear, food, and then to pack it all in a way that would fit in the old Skylane. None of that mattered, though. I was going to my first Oshkosh! Join Tom Gresham on his first trip to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and share the adventure with him.