***This post picks up the second half of our Oshkosh trip, from Andy Millin's house in Kalamazoo, MI, to Oshkosh. We flew to the Millin's on Friday morning and stayed through Monday morning.
Check the previous post for the first half of the trip and pictures of Andy's new paint and interior. You can get there if you click "Older Posts" at the end of this one.
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We had a great long weekend at Millins, but the forecast for Monday did not look great. There was a solid deck of low clouds when we woke up. We decided to head to the airport anyway. If it was too solid, we would just fly low along the shore of the lake, past Chicago and up the West coast of the lake past Milwaukee. If we could find a hole, we would pop up over the clouds and fly direct over the lake to Oshkosh. By the time we pulled the plane out, there were a few holes.
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We took off, did a 180, and headed for the hole. We popped up through and were on top in clear skies. Oshkosh here we come.
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We make it across the lake, but my timing is terrible as usual. Once again, we arrive at 2:30 just as the air show begins and the airport closes. We land in Fond du Lac to wait out the show and leave at 6:30.
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Here is a quick 360 degree video of the ramp at Fond du Lac to give you a feel for what it looked like.
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After a bit, the troops get restless. The air show is over for the day. We are staying in Appleton, we'd have to drive the rental car from Oshkosh to Appleton any way. ...
We decide to take off and make the 10 minute flight to Appleton, then pick up the rental car, check into the hotel and get dinner.
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The next morning I am eager to get to the show. The airport opens at 7:00 so we get up at 6:30. As you can see, the kids are thrilled by the early start and by their "Continental breakfast" at the Days Inn.
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Over at Appleton, my plane is hangared behind a Mustang, Texan and Malibu. They gave me a deal because my plane was "so small".
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I walk out on the ramp to get the family and see a Starship parked on the ramp. Very rare and cool canard. There it is on the left.
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In some expensive company on the ramp.
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We head over to Fisk, then follow the line of planes into Oshkosh. The controllers give us a 36 L arrival.
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On final, we are told to dogleg right for a landing on 36 R after someone pulls out in front of us on 36L. Here is a shot of the show a couple seconds before landing.
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We land and follow the flagmen's instructions, taxiing past the usual canard parking, past the warbirds and all the way back to the back of parking, where the plane ahead of us takes the last spot in the grass. After a conference, the flagmen park us right on a concrete ramp. That's a first for me.
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Each incoming plane gets a departure briefing on arrival, which is also new this year. I get mine while the kids let off steam on the ramp.
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It's not a bad spot on the ramp. Just me and a Lancair within sight of the tower. This ended up being almost a Velocity parking lot by the end of the show.
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Right away, two other Velocity drivers wander up, Daryl Kufalk and Joe Barnett. It turns out that at least a dozen Velocities made it to the show this year.
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We head into the show and stop by the Velocity booth. They have the VTwin and a brand new turbocharged, air conditioned XL on display.
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| Velocity booth |
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| New Turbo XL with air conditioning |
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| XL Interior |
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| XL Grand Rapids Technologies Panel |
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| The V-Twin |
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| V-Twin Interior |
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| Bonnie Swing and Nancy |
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| Chief Test Pilot John Abraham |
The TV show Boy's Toys had previously done a segment on Velocity. John was interviewed again at Oshkosh by it's host, Jen Barlow. As you will see below, that's some pretty tough duty they gave him.
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After that we wandered the grounds just checking things out.
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| Sean admires a tiny plane |
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| The only hardware I bought this time - a new low. |
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| They need this at the Velocity booth |
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| Only at Oshkosh would someone pimp a snowblower |
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| Tired of Dad taking pictures |
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At the FAA pavilion, Katie demonstrates her bird knowledge at the bird strike exhibit, while I annoy her by simulating a bird strike.
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We head back to the plane to hang out and run into Ken and Scott Baker. Ken designed my paint scheme and I am glad to get to finally show him the final product. We agree that it might be nice to add graphics to the inner sides of the winglets. As you can see, they are plain white now. I will check out his renderings and then decide.
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Hanging out at the plane on our lonely ramp. Note the airshow going on overhead in the top picture.
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| Scott and Glema |
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| Katie and Sean |
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| The Keighans at Kelly's |
After the show we join the Keighans at Robbin's Restaurant, then for a drink at Kelly's Bar across the street from the dorms. Both are Oshkosh staples.
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After the show, we went to 10th and Elm in Camp Scholler to help set up for the Velocity Cookout. Here is Linda Brainard putting up the sign.
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The cookout was organized by Reiff Lorenz and his wife Melissa this year. They did a great job.
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Yours truly cooked all of the hamburgers - 80 of them.
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Much charcoal smoke was inhaled. My eyes are still burning.
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Here are a bunch of shots from the cookout.
We had perfect weather and a great turn out. It was a lot of fun.
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After the cookout, we walked back to the flight line for the night air show and fireworks. They were spectacular.
The exit from the show was a testament to how well EAA has refined it's process over the years. Tens of thousands of people all got up and left at the same moment. We were still in our car on the highway within 20 minutes.
We got home to the hotel at 11:00 - a very full Wednesday at the air show.
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On Thursday, we got up early and drove to the Wisconsin Dells to go to Noah's Ark Waterpark with the Keighans.
This is a great, family oriented town with amusement parks, Duck boat rides, water parks, wax museums and more. We decided that we will fly in here before the show next year. Here are a few shots taken on the way into town.
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Since we were leaving from Appleton in the morning, I decided to reposition the plane to Appleton that evening. Scott and I got a pass and walked in around 6:00.
My friend, Andy Millin had been weathered out and unable to make it to Oshkosh for the cookout. He arrived early on Thursday and said he ended up parked up by me on my lonely ramp.
Sure enough, as we walked up to the ramp, we saw him sitting outside his plane, parked only two spaces away from me. By now there were 5 Velocities parked in sight of me.
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| Jerry and Linda relax in Andy's plane |
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| Andy shows Scott his plane |
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| Three Velocities in a row |
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| 929X preflighted and ready to go |
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| Andy and the Brainards at my plane |
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| Eagle One Right |
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So here is what I learned next. Never, ever try to leave just before sunset. We taxiied behind a very short line of planes to the end of the runway. We were then held there, engine running, for over 30 minutes while they landed planes on 36 L. My oil and cylinder head temps were almost at redline by the time we were finally able to take off for the 10 minute flight to Appleton.
Linda Brainard provided the last four beautiful pictures, which she took from the flight line. I've always wanted pictures of my takeoff from Oshkosh.
Thanks Linda.
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Finally- parked in the grass at Appleton. By coincidence, I end up right next to Scott's Lancair IV.
Friday morning we get up early to head home. Once again, weather is an issue. It is fine here, but there are storms and low ceilings all along our planned route past Chicago and east through Indiana.
We decide to take a northern route directly across the lakes. The van driver and ramp crew are surprised when 4 of us and a mountain of bags pull up to the Velocity. They hung around to see how it all went in.
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Sean puts on his life preserver and is ready for action.
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The kids settle in for the ride home.
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So here is my stupid story/confession for this trip. We are flying along, about to cross some more water when a leg stretch and bathroom stop sound like a good idea. We are pretty low, so I see a nice simple airport, approach and land.
As we are taxiing up to the ramp, I notice...... a Canadian flag. Oh no, we've landed in Canada.
This requires apologetic calls to Canadian, then U.S. Customs. Both are very considerate and say this happens often at this airport during Oshkosh. They make arrangements for us to clear customs in Sandusky, Ohio. I thank everyone and head out. They seem amused.
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| Leaving the shore for Sandusky and the good old US of A |
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| Cedar Point Amusement Park |
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| Approach over the water |
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| Final for Sandusky- Feels like a seaplane landing |
We see the shore and Sandusky, which is literally right on the water. We are just keeping ahead of the front of the storm and it is very windy as we land on the 3,500 foot runway in a crosswind.
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The customs agent walked out, waved a Geiger counter, looked at my driver's license and sent us on our way.
We have a crosswind, the runway is only 3,500 feet long and we are heavy. I taxi to the very end of the runway and off we go.
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| Bye Sandusky |
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A blimp hangar in Akron.
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We fly through the front through rain for about 40 minutes. I check with Flightwatch and am told that there is nothing but light precipitation, then clearing at home.
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Katie and Sean are happy we are almost home. Notice that the baggage area is even more full on the way home. I need to plan for this next time.
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I am getting better at leaning. 13.1 gallons per hour at over 200mph.
We next had to cross the ridges that lead into eastern Pennsylvania. Here is a comparison of the synthetic vision depiction and the view out the windows as we approach a pass. It was very bumpy, since I had to keep below the 4,000 foot ceiling and above the ridges.
It was pretty bumpy, as in "put your hands on the overhead, kids".
The infamous Three Mile Island nuclear plant.
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Passing over Lancaster, PA. Almost there.
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My old airport, S37 Smoketown. Look just under the canard tip.
Following route 30 to Chester County airport.
Made it! Chester county in sight, we cancel flight following.
Hangar, sweet hangar. A welcome sight after a long trip.
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Nancy gives the thumbs up to another successful trip as Sean runs up the hangar door.
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The plane was great. It carried 925 pounds of payload, including this huge pile of baggage, full fuel and four people at over 200 mph.
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As usual it was a great trip. Good friends, exciting flying and quality family time. I can't wait for next year.
Only 360 days to go. ( I can almost hear my wife sighing as I write this).
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