Monday, July 30, 2012

Oshkosh - AirVenture 2012

I was lucky enough to attend AirVenture 2012 at Oshkosh, Wisconsin this year.  I last attended Oshkosh in 1992 when I flew in with a student in a rented Bonanza F-33.  We slept under the wing that year and felt as though we had died and gone to aviation heaven.  This year, I was honored with the company of a life-long hero.  A man I've looked up to for many years.  He is a U.S. Army Vietnam Vet, a retired Delta Air Lines Captains with a 32 year airline career behind him, and the best father I know.  Below are a few pictures of what caught our attention.  

Glacier Girl, a beautiful P-38 lost in 1942, recovered, restored and on display at AirVenture 2012.







Curtis C-46  "Tinker Belle" - We got to see this beauty on display and in flight.















This gorgeous little Stinson with a commonly seen message..."Please look but do not Touch"






Icon A5 ...an impressive display that definitely caught my attention.  The inside of this tent looked like something straight out of Hollywood.  The Icon has a car-like look to it inside and out.  I would love to have one of these!  Especially after watching the video.





This A-36 Bonanza flew in from Cascavel, Brazil.  A short 34 hour flight.  The picture below was propped up against the nose gear and shows their plotted course. 




A new and inventive use for a chip clip?  



Orbis Flying Eye Hospital.  This was an eye opening experience...please excuse the pun.  I am told that FedEx manages and maintains the aircraft as part of its own fleet and that FedEx and United supply the pilots.  Click the link to read more, but I found this to be a donation worthy organization.  Check it out.





One of my favorite little airplanes, the  Piper J-3 Cub.  I got my tail wheel sign-off in one of these after being told by my father that I couldn't be a real pilot without tail wheel experience.  I couldn't agree more!



This is a picture of my awesome Dad in front of an  OV-1 Mohawk similar to the one he flew in the Vietnam War.  


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