The Wonderful World
of OSHKOSH:
As the week of Oshkosh just finished, one can only imagine how
many hearts and minds have yet again been impressed by the wonder of
flight. Being involved in aviation is
indeed a terrific thing and a person in love with flying almost never loses
their deeply held love for flight.
Oshkosh is the pinnacle celebration each year of the fun that can happen
once airborne. If you went and wish to
share a report, please feel free. As I
retire (for the second time) next year’s show it is at the top of my to do
list. Maybe I’ll see ya there!
EAA 2017 boasts biggest turnout ever, thanks to unbeatable weather and engaging lineup
OSHKOSH – Under the shade of an umbrella, Dan
and Michelle Ortega and their 2-year-old son Chase are soaking up the last
few hours of a last-minute jaunt to the Experimental Aircraft Association's
AirVenture convention Sunday.
They left for Oshkosh late, at about 6 p.m. on
Friday, from their home in Oswego, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. With chores
and Michelle Ortega's work for a master's program done for the weekend, they
piled into their motor home and raced north.
The Ortega family are three of about 600,000 that made the trip
to EAA this year — a record for the yearly fly-in. Used to following Dan
Ortega's interests to motorcycle racing events, EAA was a nice change of pace,
Michelle Ortega said. Plus, Chase loves airplanes, she said, as he gazed
through sunglasses at a warplane careening through the sky overhead.
"We just really appreciate the family friendly
atmosphere," she said. "There's so much to do to keep (Chase)
engaged."
In all, stunning weather for much of the week prodded more to
EAA than ever before. Big attractions like a performance from Comedian Jeff
Dunham, three days of Blue Angels flights and a reunion of Apollo
astronauts didn't hurt, either.
On Sunday, EAA CEO Jack Pelton shared early numbers from the
event with news media. By most metrics, this year's event was bigger and busier
than ever before.
- Early estimates show AirVenture 2017 drew more than last year and likely broke an attendance record. Pelton said about 600,000 make the journey. Last year, 563,000 people attended the event, an increase of about 1 percent from the year before that.
- Early traffic estimates show 15,500 aircraft movements at Wittman during EAA. That's 1,000 movements more than last year and doesn't include the final day of the event, Sunday.
- This year, 880 exhibitors presented at EAA, which is 11 vendors lower than last year's record number of exhibitors.
- During the first five days of EAA, the campsites at Wittman were completely full. It's the first time this has ever happened, Pelton said. Typically, there's turnover on Wednesday.
- Oshkosh continues to be the largest gathering of vintage war planes, with more than 350 represented this year.
Visitors flocked to EAA because of this year's stellar lineup
of attractions, Pelton said. The biggest of these was a reunion of a half-dozen
Apollo astronauts, a rare arrangement by any standard. The forum drew 7,000
people alone.
Comic book legend Stan Lee appeared at EAA, also, to unveil a
superhero developed for EAA's Young Eagles program. The superhero, dubbed
"Aviore," encourages kids to be interested in aviation. EAA is
working to create an Avior comic book series with publisher Scholastic, Pelton
said.
"You'll probably never see me and Avior together in
the same place," Pelton said. "You can connect the dots on
that."
Another twist this year: Ian Khama, the president of Botswana,
also made an appearance at EAA. A pilot and aviation buff, Kharma wandered the
grounds with a security detail, exploring exhibits, Pelton said. Enamored by
an AirCam airplanes exhibit, his handlers told him he could look but
couldn't fly.
It didn't quite work out that way.
"(Khama) got talking with the AirCam guys, and as his
detail was starting to move away, he went back and got strapped in and they
gave him a ride," Pelton said. "So if you see any AirCams on the
front lines of defense in Botswana, you'll know what happened."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Date:
7/20/2017 9:58:48 AM
Subject:
Snelling singing
Bob (rjsnelling@att.net ) Member since 3/13/10
RE: PCN - HL 275 is Now
Published and Available! (show
original)Jul 12
Mark,
I saw the latest pcn edition. This link was
taken by an observer on his cell phone. We were told that eventually we
would receive the Braves official recording. It hasn’t come yet.
This gets the essence of it. There is more audio than video of us in this
one. We do appear briefly on the big screen. I’ll send the official
Braves link when we get it.
Blessings,
Bob Snelling
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sentiments regarding the late Whit Hawkins
before his passing!
Date:
7/20/2017 12:16:33 PM
Subject:
Whit sentiments
I always believed that Whit was our
salvation. He was ,and is ,a motivation for the ",Real Delta". We all
pray for his recovery. I am 29 year retired Captain and have no loyalty
to the " new Delta".
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Reply to my musings about the “Last Time!”
From: Richard Shutack
Date: 7/12/2017 8:57:46 PM
Subject: The Last Time
Dear Mark: Congratulations on yet another
retirement. Some of us live in closets - I didn't even know you went to
work for Omni. I still remember running into you at some airport way back
and congratulating you on getting a Captain's bid. You had not yet seen
the results of the bid so I saw the joy and elation in your eyes upon hearing
the good news. You were always a pleasure to fly with and I'm so happy to
hear of your many successes - you deserve them all. Sincerely, Dick
Shutack (ORD)
++++
++++
From: Doyle Butcher
Date: 7/24/2017 1:09:29 PM
Subject: Last Time
Hello Mark!
Just read your "Last Time" article. I too had a
last time, but believe me; you will continue to fly- in your dreams. I retired
in 1998 and still log flying time in dreamland. It must have been all those
years of training and the burden of responsibility that was drilled into our
psyche. Sometimes, the dreams involve running late for sign-in ( I was a
commuter ), or searching for a lost flight kit. Other times, I am searching for
the crew lounge or I am in the bowels of an airport terminal trying to find my
way out. Then there are the cockpit scenarios. Sometimes, I'm working the S/O
panel on the DC-8, or calling for a clearance, or on a CAT 3
approach in the 767. The list goes on. The great thing is that you wake up!
Congratulations on your retirement. Your dreamland career is just beginning.
Sweet dreams and fly safe.
Best Wishes,
D. Allen Butcher
Capt Ret
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