August 2, 1999 AVweb OSHtalk: Evening Hangar Flying at EAA AirVenture '99

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by	The Editors of AVweb

Tuesday · Wednesday · Thursday · Friday · Saturday · Sunday

Tuesday OSHtalk (July 27, 1999) — The night before EAA's AirVenture '99 begins, OSHtalk  Hangar Flying for the Internet premiers as AVweb takes you under the wing of a classic Beech 18 beside the runway at Oshkosh as the sun goes down and the pilots gather to do what they do best — talk about airplanes and flying. Join us as Randy Sohn, senior check airman for the Confederate Air Force talks about the increasingly acute problem of finding qualified pilots to fly the World War II transports and bombers as the pilot shortage intensifies. Listen to Carol Casper and Garrett Nievens, the EAA's flight ops and parking gurus describe what to expect when you fly in to the AirVenture, as well as a few stories of what has gone wrong and what has gone right as the hard-working parking volunteers do their best to deal with some very wet parking areas. Listen in as AVweb columnist John Deakin discovers that he is sitting next to the folks who guided him three miles along the only paved, dry route to the place where he could park his Bonanza. Hear his disbelief as he learns that the people who amazed him with their ability to move dumpsters and walk wings are right beside him and hear him repeat what he said as he got out of the airplane after reaching his parking spot: "If the ground weren't so wet I'd kiss your feet." This is EAA AirVenture '99 at its best, as the magic unfolds around the Coleman lantern and the pilots talk about airplanes, flying and why they keep coming to Oshkosh. Listen to Tuesday OSHtalk (running time 51 minutes).

Wednesday OSHtalk  (July 28, 1999) — Tonight our host, radio personality Tom Gresham learns that friendly fire has damaged his tent because one of his friends forgot that Oshkosh etiquette calls for a pilot to pull the airplane out of its parking spot hand, then turn it 90 degrees before starting up. Tom also discovers that duct tape can repair even a badly damaged tent. Join us as Tom and co-host, AVweb columnist Rick Durden, discuss some serious issues of engine power management and operations of high horsepower general aviation engines lean of peak EGT. Engine expert George Braly joins with pilots who have extensive experience operating engines lean-of-peak — including Walt Atkinson, Stan Musik and AVweb columnist John Deakin — to poke a few holes in old wives' tales of engine operation. We learn that the only reason the DC-7s and Connies could make those long flights and that Lindbergh could make it to Paris behind a Wright J-5 was that those engines were always operated lean of peak EGT. Yes, we can do that with a number of general aviation engines, we just don’t know it. Listen to a discussion of the reason the FAA has not been certifying some of the most recent, high-tech developments for general aviation airplanes. It’s not for reasons you may think, in fact, it is due to the budget cuts the FAA has suffered. We also hear from EAA Chapter 78 president, Elaine Schmidt, rebuilder of two classic Cessna 170s as she comments on the way pilots are taught to operate smaller general aviation engines. She helps the group put to rest another old wives' tale regarding "oversquare" engine operation. Listen to Wednesday OSHtalk (running time 59 minutes).

Thursday OSHtalk  (July 29, 1999) — As the sun goes down, AVweb’s OSHtalk gets underway while hosts Tom Gresham and Rick Durden fight mosquitoes which seem determined to locate victims and carry them away. Our hosts are first joined by Gwen Bloomingdale and Barbara Gard, owners and operators of a 1930 Stinson Detroiter that has been in continuous service carrying sightseers over the Massachusetts coastline for 50 years. They discuss the challenges they face keeping an ancient pelican operating and the frustrations dealing with a public that assumes they are not involved with the airplane because they are women. Barbara, an A & P describes a little about what is involved in keeping a 69 year old airplane flying day in and day out and why she comes to Oshkosh to find parts to keep the airplane alive. While they do not bring the Detroiter to Oshkosh, partially because its cruise speed on 225 horsepower is only 80 miles per hour (not knots), they come because of the support they can get through the EAA’s Antique/Classic division. After the break the younger set sits in. Amelia Durden, age 10, recounts her day at the brand new KidVenture where she flew a control line gasoline model airplane, saw a Bald Eagle, a Falcon and a Red-tailed Hawk up close, flew a full-motion flight simulator and had the chance to build Estes model rockets and describes some of the things she saw but didn’t get to do such as make a model glider, create a tornado in a bottle and shoot straw rockets at the roof. She describes some of the excitement for kids at Oshkosh. Jordan Deschamps-Braly, age 20 then talks about what intrigues the more sophisticated knowledgeable young adult who is seriously interested in aviation. He finds that he spends a lot of time looking at the incredible electronics being purveyed as well looking longingly at the airplanes on the flight line. The final portion of the evening starts on a somber note because of the accident involving a Corsair and a Bearcat this afternoon. We take some time to discuss what a pilot should keep in mind should he or she be involved in an accident. On the panel are Brian Finnegan, an experienced accident investigator now consulting in the field after several years with Cessna and Lycoming; Dr. Brent Blue, an ATP and Aviation Medical Examiner; Dr. Walt Atkinson, a highly experienced pilot and flight instructor; and Armand Vilches, an insurance broker who holds commercial and instrument ratings. Together, this panel explores what a pilot is required to do following an accident, what the pilot should not do and how to avoid doing something stupid after the dust clears. All in all it’s an intriguing evening as the full moon rises over the Twin Beech on Row 15 at EAA AirVenture. We hope you enjoy it. Listen to Thursday OSHtalk (running time 45 minutes).

Friday OSHtalk  (July 30, 1999) — As the sky turns dark, co-hosts Tom Gresham and Rick Durden sit down with some a cross section of folks in aviation. First they talk with college students Angela Burgess, Adam Banninga and Matt Arbogast. These folks hold a number of certificates from private through instrument instructor. Two have been coming to Oshkosh for three years and we have a chance to hear why the EAA convention continues to be a draw to all ages, particularly those in their early twenties who are the future of aviation. After the break we speak with AVweb columnist Howard Fried as he chats about a number of topics including what makes a good flight instructor and some of the experiences he has had in his years of flying. Finally, AVweb's Dr. Brent Blue hurries in fresh from a meeting of aviation medical examiners with the FAA’s aeromedical folks. He expresses his surprise and delight at suggestions made by the FAA regarding medical certification and an attitude of realism regarding what should and should not be disqualifying for a pilot’s medical. Listen to Friday OSHtalk (running time 61 minutes).

Saturday OSHtalk  (July 31, 1999) — The thunderstorms slashed through EAA’s AirVenture ’99 grounds late Thursday night and Friday morning, tipping over the plastic restrooms and destroying tents. Unfortunately, one of the victims was OSHtalk host Tom Gresham. Co-host Rick Durden moderates the show tonight,, and learns about the controversey that has developed in the wake of the inflight breakup of a T-34 at an air combat school. George Braly, owner of a Bonanza and a T-34, has been following the developments in the investigation and the shocking state of affairs in which long time airshow pilot Julie Clark’s T-34 wing spars were cut through without her permission in the course of the investigation. George Braly and AVweb columnist John Deakin, who is also a Bonanza ower, give us the up-to-the minute report on the highly controversial situation. Then AVweb's aviation medicine advisor  Brent Blue M.D.joins OSHtalk again for the second half of the program. In light of the 102-degree heat of yesterday, Dr. Blue discusses the effects of dehydration, hypoxia and carbon monoxide on pilots, and also outlines how pilots can protect themselves against their potentially deadly effects. Listen to Saturday OSHtalk (running time 42 minutes).

Sunday OSHtalk  (August 1, 1999) — Join us for the last 1999 session of OSHtalk as your host Rick Durden interviews Al Waddill of Groen Brothers Aviation the company developing the Hawk 4 Gyroplane. This turbocharged 350-horsepower aircraft is in the middle of flight testing for type certification under Part 27 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. Two aircraft built from production tooling are at Oshkosh this year and drawing a lot of attention. Hear about the new gyroplane and its future on OSHtalk. Even though there are two days of AirVenture ’99 left, the number of departures on Sunday evening give the impression that things are spooling down. The last segment of OSHtalk involves one of those good, late-evening hangar flying times where Oshkosh veteran Armand Vilches joins Rick Durden to look back at what Armand calls "the good, the bad and the ugly" of AirVenture ’99. Fortunately, most of it is good. Rick also discusses his impressions of Administrator Jane Garvey after meeting her for the first time and seeing her in action at today's "Meet The Boss" session. OSHtalk will be back next year, we hope you are. Listen to Sunday OSHtalk (running time 40 minutes).