Airventure 2015 -Best Ever?

This year we had perhaps the best time ever at Oshkosh. The weather was perfect all week, we were with great friends and had a terrific adventure.

My daughter again chose not to attend, so my pilot friend Garret took the copilot seat and spent the week with us. We ended up having 16 Velocities attend - the most ever, and the Irion's Velocity parked next to us actually won Grand Champion. The entire parking area next to Warbirds was completely filled with Velocities and they were filled with great people. What a time.

I ended up taking several thousand pictures and haven't found the time to set aside to edit them and do a blog entry on the show. I decided that I would simply have to break it down and post it in sections as I have time. Here is the first entry. Follow up for more in the coming days.

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I wanted to depart Friday morning so that we could spend Friday and Saturday at the Millin's in Kalamazoo, Michigan, then fly over the lake to the show. As usual, the weather did not cooperate with my plans. There was fog and IFR conditions on my way to the airport and a line of severe storms on our route of flight. This is my view on the way to the airport.

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Things started to break up, so we loaded up at the airport.

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Loaded, fueled, flight plan open. Garret and I are ready to go.

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The view on departure as we accelerate down runway 29 for Michigan and then Oshkosh!

ETA 3 hours and 20 minutes.

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We pop up above the clouds and cruise along in smooth air.

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As we get into Ohio, we begin to skirt a huge line of thunderstorms and the conditions get progressively worse. I'm glad we have the ADSB weather display.

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The ceiling gets too low, so we find a nice airport in Ohio to set down and have lunch. Bolton has a long runway and a rib joint on the field. Sounds perfect.

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We land, tie down and head to the rib joint for a great lunch to wait while the worst of the line of storms passes over us and continues east.

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It is still low and raining when we taxi for takeoff. The plan is to continue west toward western Ohio, then find a gap in the line of storms before turning north for Michigan.

Here goes.

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We see a gap in the storms on the screens and turn north. There is one more huge cell to deviate around. It was really big.  Once we passed it, however, the skies were clear for the rest of the route. We had made it past the front.



Here is a  video from the GoPro of the detour around the storm. It gives some idea of the size.

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We finally make it to Andy's airport, Alleghan (35D) and he picks us up in his Prius after kindly tucking the plane into an empty hangar.

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We arrive at Andy and Theresa's and find that she has made us gourmet cupcakes. The Millin B&B menu for the evening is posted and looks great. Andy's shirt guy has made us some great custom shirts for the show and we are very pleased with the result. 

Brett and Elizabeth are going to join us for the night and then drive to the show the next day. They were going to fly in along with us in N44VF, but they had prop damage from FOD just before the show and will have to drive instead. We are very sorry for their problem, but very glad they will still be joining us, since we had so much fun together last year.

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Brett and Elizabeth arrive shortly after us in their Prius and the gang is all here. Let the games begin.

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Andy and Theresa are foodies. Andy makes us ridiculously good ribs and Theresa makes all the trimmings. What a meal. I feel a personal CG problem developing.

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Andy at his espresso machine.

Best. Cinnamon rolls. Ever.

You're going to have to eat a fruit or vegetable eventually!

Garret's Ipad shows storm hitting Oshkosh as we eat breakfast in Kalamazoo

Reiff took this shot from the field showing storm hitting. Holy haboob!

The next morning, they make us egg sandwiches and fresh cinnamon rolls. Garret checks the weather and that storm has redeveloped over Oshkosh and is heading over the lake towards us.

The bad news is that it is severe and we watch on the webcams as it tears into the airshow. The good news is that it is moving eastward at almost 40 knots and should pass over us mid morning. We decide to head to the airport, then leave when it passes over.

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Doesn't look promising as we drive toward the airport

Sure enough, it starts to pour as we arrive at the airport. We duck into Andy's hangar for shelter. The radar shows that the front is moving southeast at 40 knots. It should pass over us in a few minutes, then we'll head west over the lake.

Less than 20 minutes later the rain stops

We see some clearing to the east

Andy helps us fuel up.

Ready to go. Still some low scud to dodge around, but the lake looks clear.

Life jackets on and ready to go.

We head out to the airport with Andy in the rain. Sure enough, things soon begin to clear. We had planned to follow the lakeshore aroung the southern end of the lake to see Chicago, but the storm is still there, so we decide to proceed directly over Lake Michigan to the show. We fuel up, put on life preservers and head out as soon as the skies begin to open up. Oshkosh here we come.
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Farm fields near Andy's as we approach the lakeshore.

We head out over the lake at 4,500'

Milwaukee airport on the far side

Feet dry over Wisconsin

Downtown Milwaukee

Loads of traffic on the screen

We take off and head out over the lake. 20 minutes later, we see the far shore and Milwaukee. We cross the shore and go right over the airport and downtown. Next stop Ripon and the Fiske approach.

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Putting the Ripon waypoint into the nav system

 This is it - we start the approach.

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Made it! We turn off the runway for the long taxi to parking.

Holding up our homebuilt parking sign. Tower and show center ahead.

Kurt and Misty Winker are there when we arrive.

Garret, Nancy, Mark and Sean

Nancy cleans the bugs off.

I pick up mug #7 at homebuilder's HQ

On the ground at Oshkosh 2015! We follow the flagmen to Velocity parking. We are the second Velocity there after Kurt and Misty Winker. They flew their newly completed Chevy powered Velocity in all the way from New Mexico on its first long trip. They were great company all week and their plane got a lot of interest.

We tied down, cleaned the plane up and I headed over to get our wrist bands for the week and my seventh mug. You get one for flying into the show in a homebuilt. I figure I have about $10,000 invested in these free mugs.

Even more unbelievable - my wife pointed out to me that this is my 25th trip to the show. I started with my Dad, then came alone, then with Nancy when we first started dating. Now here I am with my teenage son. It's been a great tradition that I hope to continue indefinitely. We have developed many great friendships here with other airplane folks. The enthusiasm and positive energy are incredible. This is the highlight of my entire year. I am excited to get this week started.

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Last year, Brett and Elizabeth flew in with us as a flight in their Velocity, N44VF, which they nicknamed "The Fox". They had a real heartbreaker this year. Brett was washing the plane for the show, just a few days before departing to meet us when he noticed some serious damage to the leading edge of one of their propeller blades. Being die hards, they drove all the way to Andy's in Kalamazoo, then on to Oshkosh to continue our tradition. Not only that, they sort of did it in "The Fox", only this time a slow, green electric vehicle.

I screwed up my rental car, so they also drove all six of us around in the tiny thing all week. Thanks guys! Above and beyond, really.

Brett ready for departure

Gearing up for a long drive around the lake

Victor Fox departs Millins for OSH

Victor Fox arrives at the main gate for pick up

Hi guys!

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The Ferrells even checked us in at the dorm before picking us up. Elizabeth drove us back there to clean up and unpack. We did a quick run to the grocery store for liquid essentials, then we all went out to Mahoney's restaurant, across the street from the dorms.

Reiff and Melissa Lorenz joined us. It was great to see each other again and was a lot of fun.

Sean's signature drink - Shirley Temple. Nancy's -Chardonnay

You can do it Reiff!

Cheese....Goooood!

3...2..1 Go! Hands folded and clear of the plate Sean!

Brett's beloved "Genius Pretzel Bun"

Sean is uncertain about this bunch - especially the singing waitress

That should tide me over until dinner

No vegetables for Brett!

Luis

Happy campers, with Brett's ketchup nicely at hand.

"Mark- Show them the desert" - Hey, wait a minute!

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Of course, on the walk back to the dorms, we pass our favorite haunt, Kelly's bar. This is basically a college bar plunked down in a dorm parking lot. Genius!


Might as well stop in for a drink.

Kelly's Bar.

It's all about the manners, man.

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Back at the dorm, we find an air conditioned rec room to hang out and stay cool. Garret has brought a blue tooth speaker, we have snacks, music and drinks. It is hot in the rooms, and our fans are in the windows cooling them down while we relax here, in no hurry to go up there.

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Brett's favorite - "Cheesy Poofs"

Watch that kid - he's a shark.

 It was a fun and very long day. We agree to meet up early for breakfast, then head to the show.

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Sunday morning, 8:00. We take the bus and are some of the first people in. The show doesn't officially start until tomorrow, but many of the planes and most of our friends come early. We decide to wander around and see what's going on. 

Sean with Mom and Dad at the entrance.

Garret's first time at the show

The Velocity display is set up featuring the VTwin

Sean likes the Icon A5, which has arrived on it's trailer

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B52 on the main square.

Funny prop card - check the stats

This thing is as old as I am. Click and check the ripples in the skin

It is huge, but not Airbus huge

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Here are some views as we walk from show center over to the Velocity parking area. It is still very quiet, still and cool. 

View to the north from show center photo tower

View to the south from photo tower

Velocity parking area. Three of us so far.

Kurt and Misty are already there opening up and cleaning off the dew

Nancy and Sean relax while Garret and I do the same

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After hanging out for a bit, we wander over to Runway 9/27 to watch landings. With a crosswind, it can be very entertaining. You also get to see friends arrive. Next year, we need score cards.

Mark in his happy place with Nancy and Sean

Misty and her insulated mug - I need one of those next year

Brett and Elizabeth join us

Here come Reiff and Melissa

Plane landing on green dot

Nancy and Elizabeth

Darrell and Nora Kufalk arrive and taxi past

Hi guys!

 Finally, we see Andy and Theresa Millin land on the other runway (18/36) and we pack up to go greet them in the Velocity parking area.

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My people!

Andy unloads a ridiculous amount of baggage

Andy and Theresa's Oshkosh arrival

Andy tying down

Theresa and her color coordinated baggage.

Nancy

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We spent some time just hanging around socializing at the planes. More Velocities started arriving one after the other as our parking area filled up. The weather was perfect and everyone enjoyed catching up.

Looking over Winker's plane as Velocity Lane grows

Misty, Garret, Elizabeth and Nancy at Millin's plane

The girls cracking each other up

Garret watches a jet trainer pass by our plane

Aerial shot of Misty and Velocity Lane (Well, I jumped anyway)

View from the other end of our expanding row of Velocities

We go up on the photo tower before heading out.

At the end of the day, we decide we will meet at Friar Tuck's restaurant. It is right off the field near the North Forty airplane camping area. There is a school bus that will take us there for free. By now we are tired and heat soaked. Friar Tuck's is always cool and dark inside.

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As expected, it is a cool, dark oasis inside. We are told we will have to wait at the bar while room opens up for our large group. Oh well, if we must, we will just have to endure.

Sean bellies up to the bar to down an icy root beer with Mom and me.

Garret's uncle has flown his Mooney in and joins us

Brett readies his ketchup bottle

Brett's burger- everything is Wisconsin sized

A prime rib sandwich is a whole prime rib on bread with a 1/4 "slab of cheese

Elizabeth enjoyed her mini wines. Sunset and cool as we exit.

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As I said, there were 6 of us in a Prius. That meant me in a hatchback all week. I had to ham it up a little.

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I ride back to the dorms hostage style with Elizabeth checking me for breathing every few minutes. We decide to stop at Kelly's since it is still early. 

That's our dorm in the background. Handy.

Nancy and Elizabeth

Sean loves Kelly's

Kelly's selfie

Brett and Sean. Hard to look hard while throwing popcorn in your maw.

Me and the bride. Hot and tired, but toasting to another great day

Mini wine bottles at Kelly's

One...more...Shirley.....Temple...

The mini winos

Straight from the mini bottle

Hottest chicks in the trailer

Sean can hang

We get to know this waitress tomorrow

Our wacky gang back at the dorm

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The next morning we get up and walk over to the Blackhawk Commons cafeteria next door. All you can eat for $8. Then we walk back outside and pick up a $1.50 round trip bus directly to the front gate of the show. This is the handiest way we have found to do the show.

Our dorm

The dorm's spokesmodel

Walking to breakfast

Brett goes light for breakfast. Is that a cinnamon roll or a birthday cake?

This should hold Garret till second breakfast time

Roll envy

Our EAA bus pulls up to our dorm

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Monday morning and the show is officially on. Here are some random shots as we wander around. 

Big cruising bike in the Honda tent. Nancy thinks it beats my "crotch rocket" bike

Garret and I can out dig these kids

Dick Rutan signs Sean's Oshkosh hat

Sean in the WWII encampment

Warbirds and lots of them

A field full of beautiful Mustangs

Funny stuff in the Fly Mart

True dat

Nancy and Sean

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Tom and Loretta Irion parked their beautiful XL FG next to us. It won Grand Champion. These shots show why. It was absolutely stunning inside and out.

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Hanging at Andy's plane

Heading to lunch with Misty, Brett and Kurt

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After the show, we head to Lara's Tortilla Flats for some good Mexican food. Luckily, Kurt and Misty give me a ride so I don't have to ride in the trunk of the Prius.

"That loud table"

Brett is concentrating. Very competitive.

To another great day.

They have mini wines!

The reason I've called you all together .....

Sean crop dusts Garret after a full plate of beans

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After dinner, back to Kelly's. Our waitress, Jessie, is by now our best buddy. She busts out a game called Bean Boozled. This is a fiendish game in which you pick one of two identical appearing jelly beans. The winner gets a normal flavor, like cherry or grape. The loser gets an overpowering flavor of something horrible, like Cat Vomit, Skunk Spray or Diaper Wipe.

Jessie explains the rules. Kurt looks dubious.

The game

The horrible flavors

Kurt's really not sure if this is a good taste

Misty eagerly hands out poison jelly beans

Faces of the losers......

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We head in early the next morning. There are some funny photo ops set up by vendors.

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As we are walking in, we see a large plume of black smoke rising from the green dot on 27 where we watch landings. Someone has crashed. I went up in the tower and got a picture of it. A Meridian turboprop caught a wingtip on landing and broke up. Luckily, no one was killed and only one person had to be choppered out. You can see the tail of the plane in the photo.

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The first order of business is to get fuel. If I had one criticism of Airventure, it is that it has become VERY difficult to get refueled. They give you a card to put on your prop, which is ignored for days. I would call and be told they'd get to me. I would chase down drivers of trucks, to be told they couldn't leave their areas. I finally caught up with this guy, then ran along side his truck all the way back to my plane.

Moral of the story, request fuel as soon as you arrive.

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Some shots from around the field.

Garret and Brett

The Winkers having breakfast Velocity al fresco

Garret and a tiny jet engine used in the Sub Sonex jet

The nose art on Rene's Turbine Legend

Tim Dave Nelson

Got 2nd in the Airventure Cup Race

Great art work. Two dots away from being over the top.

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More sights around the field.

Garret and Brett are pumped

Starship.

Boeing Square with...an Airbus

B29 and B52

Cool Winglet

This thing was huge

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The FAA had a hyperbaric chamber and offered free a free hypoxia seminar. We all decided that this was a must do. Brett, Elizabeth, Garret and I signed up. 

We had a very thorough briefing, then entered the chamber. It was a sealed room hooked up to an oxygen concentrator. The oxygen concentrator was set up to remove oxygen from the room, leaving with an effective altitude of 29,000 feet. We were given questionnaires to fill out to self evaluate every minute. 

We entered the chamber and I immediately had a vague sense of panic. I felt like I couldn't catch my breath. You will see on my sheet that my pulse was racing, yet my O2 saturation plummeted.

I lasted the longest at 4 minutes. As you will see from the sheet, I was completely impaired. You will see that I carefully filled out my symptoms at 1 minute, less well at 2 minutes, then nonsense. The instructor asked me at 4 minutes "Mark, your plane burns 8 gallons per hour and you have been flying for 4.5 hours. How much fuel have you burned?" My answer in the bubble on the right of the sheet was "4hr, 3 min".
 

Right after that, he asked me to hold out my right hand. It was twitching uncontrollably. He then told me to put my mask on. I did so and took several deep breaths of oxygen. I turned bright red and everything came into focus.

We then left the room for the debrief. None of us could really remember much, except that it seemed we had only been in there for about 30 seconds. As the instructor described what each of us had said and done, the memories flooded back. It was a very powerful demonstration of how insidious the effects of hypoxia can be. We decided that this was the most interesting, and thoroughly uncomfortable, experience we had ever had at Oshkosh. I highly recommend it.

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Brett, Garret and I toured the inside of a B17. It was great and gave a perspective on all the things we had seen in war movies for years.  Where else can you do this for $5?

They did this at 30,000 feet!

Garret mans the 50 Cal.

Brett at the waist gun

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Here are some more shots  from Tuesday.

Kurt and Misty

N929X

Elizabeth at Andy's plane

Velocity Lane had it's own lunch spot - Subway

Sean chills in the shade under our wing

N929X with clouds

Garret

Sean

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For dinner, we decided to go back to Mahoney's. 

Cheese Curds!

Garret and his uncle

The Walleye was fantastic

Keep off'n my meatloaf!

Wisconsin = massive amounts of cheese= diet failure

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After dinner its - you guessed it- back to Kelly's. At this point, our server, Jessie, has all but adopted us. Tomorrow is our last night and the Velocity cookout, so this is our last night out on the town. We decided to make a real night of it. Our Canadian friends, Scott and Glema Keighan even joined us.

The Velocity "V Sign"

Yeah, it's a thing.

Garret ready to sample a mini wine

Scott and Garret

Why, this IS almost as good as mini wine!

Our friends, Brett and Elizabeth

Watch those eyes, pal!

Garret is not unhappy

So, you can pour two mini wines in one glass? Awesome!

Shirt Snake!

It's Glema, eh?

Me with my girl in my favorite town!

Sean trying to figure out Jessie. That's her drink. (One of many)

Customer service

Sunburn here? Why?

"No, really, this isn't my first dring tonight"

Can you blame her?

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Wednesday, our last full day at the show.

John Abraham visits with Brett and Elizabeth

Nancy answers questions about the plane from her office

Great shirt

Only at Oshkosh

Daryl and Nora Kufalk's plane in camping

Relaxing under the plane

Kurt and Misty

Andy holds court at his plane

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With Nancy and Sean in front of our plane in our Velocity gear

Bill, Rene', Brett and Tim/Dave

We gave Andy the perfect shirt

Rene' with little Drew

The Airbus demo was great

Um, no.

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Late afternoon and we head over to 10th and Elm in Camp Scholler for the annual Velocity Cookout.

The girls there take over one of the Port A Pots and make it girls only with decorations and a disabled urinal. The guys...don't.

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And now... way too many pictures of the Velocity cookout. We had a great time with over 80 guests. Albert Khasky brought a huge grill and prepared slow cooked pork and burgers. Reiff and Melissa did an excellent job organizing and running it as usual. We had perfect weather, great food and flyovers by the blimp and classic fighters.

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After dinner, we walked over to watch the night airshow and fireworks. As usual, they were spectacular.

200 mph afterburning jet school bus. Why not?

The Beer Moon!

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We get home late and get together in the common room at the dorm.

After a week, we have farmer tanned feet

Put the camera away!  Best picture of Nancy ever.

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Thursday morning came too soon. We got to the airport early, loaded up, pulled the plane to the taxiway... and waited 40 minutes until they let us start up. We had a great trip home with smooth skies and a lunch stop in Port Clinton, Ohio.

Boo boo faces as we arrive at the show to leave

Loaded and ready to go

Waiting to be cleared to start up and head over the lake

Kurt and Misty stopped right behind us

Taxi for departure on 18

That's Kurt and Misty behind the warbirds

Goodbye Oshkosh!

Climbout over the lake

Headed out over Lake Michigan

Far side of the lake over Ohio

Landing in Port Clinton

On the ramp in front of the air museum

They have a nice restaurant there

Departing Port Clinton for home

Over 200 knots for the rest of the way

Final approach for Chester County and we are home

The unloaded baggage compartment

We had a great time- maybe the best ever. The plane performed perfectly, carrying all this stuff and four of us with full fuel at over 200 knots ground speed. I am sad it is over and already looking forward to next year.

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That's it for tonight. More to come......