How I spent my summer vacation

Summer 2002 - Dayton, OH, and Oshkosh, WI

In late July, with the Mooney I normally fly out of commission for it's annual inspection (airplanes are required to have a full, check-absolutely-everything inspection once a year), I rented an almost brand-new Socata Trinidad from my friends at the Frederick Flight Center, and took a seven day flying vacation to the aviation equivalent of Mecca - the Experimental Aircraft Association's Airventure airshow and fly-in. On the way, I stopped off to visit friends in Dayton, Ohio, the birthplace of Orville and Wilbur Wright.

Saturday, July 20th - Frederick Maryland to Dayton, Ohio

With a brief delay to replace a landing light, and to get the new registration in the airplane (why does the temporary registration expire in 90 days when the FAA takes 120 or more days to process the paperwork?), I am on my way. The Trinidad's a great platform, and it's a mostly clear two and a half hour trip with a few bumps over the West Virginia Mountains. There are just enough clouds in the Dayton area to require an instrument approach to Wright Brothers Field, where I'm met by my friends Ritva and Kathy (Ritva is an accountant, and Kathy is a senior Air Force nurse), and we head to the Dayton International Airport for the Airshow. It was really hot and we were glad to find a little shade as we walked around the parked airplanes and watched the demonstration flights.

The Trinidad, my steed for the week.	Pitts Biplane flown by Jim LeRoy	Ritva and Jim LeRoy
Kathy and I by an F-117. If we'd gotten any closer they'd have shot us.	Ritva tries out a fighter	Ritva gets acquainted with a helo driver from the USS Theodore Roosevelt
A B-2 on the way to or from Montana	The B1 Bomber	The Thunderbirds wrap up the show.

Sunday, July 21st - Dayton to Cleveland and back

Decent weather allowed us to take a short hop up to the Burke Lakefront Airport, in Cleveland. This airport is right on Lake Erie, and home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (which we didn't visit) and the USS Cod, a World War II Submarine (which we did). Brunch was at Hornblower's, a nice restaurant on a barge right next to the airplane.

Kathy and Ritva are dressed for flying	Cheated death again! A safe arrival at Burke Lakefront Airport. This airport is the best place to visit Cleveland by Air.	Good food makes us smile.
The USS Cod... A tour through this boat will amaze you. So much stuff in so little space	Kathy and Ritva have me dead to rights. Good thing it's not loaded.	Pushing the airplane back is certainly easier with the right kind of winches, er.. wenches!

Monday, July 22nd - Thursday, July 25th - Oshkosh, WI - Airventure 2002

After dodging mid-day thunderstorms over Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan, I crossed Lake Michigan at Muskegon and headed for my annual retreat at the aviation equivalent of Mecca - the EAA Airventure Festival and Fly-in at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Wittman field becomes a base for over 10,000 people who fly or drive in and camp. I take a tent, an air mattress, a cooler, a couple of chairs, a copy of "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" and a few other books, and spend three or four days with my fellow aviators, enjoying looking at airplanes, eating good food, walking (a LOT of walking) around, and watching airshow performers. And last but not least, shopping at the biggest conglomeration of aviation stuff on the planet - my wife always gets some jewelry in exchange for tolerating my absence. This was my fourth Oshkosh, and the first time the weather was as promised, in the 70s with low humidity. If you ever go to Oshkosh, plan for thunderstorms and the possibility of hot, humid weather. Bring lots of sunscreen, and comfortable shoes - there's a LOT of walking involved

Safely tied down at OSH, it's time to put the towel on the prop, and start setting up camp.	A small tent suits me fine (Cath is not into the camping thing), and the plane is a convenient place for stashing luggage.	Volunteers direct planes off the runway to safe parking spaces. Thousands of airplanes come and spend a day (or two, or five, or seven) parked in the grass of Wittman Airport
The airshow begins with parachutists flying in flags - the American Flag, and the POW/MIA flag.	As the parachutists descend, they are circled by smoke-spewing show planes.	The Stars and Stripes make a safe touchdown.
Warbirds are always an attraction of the airshow, and this P-51 mustang is no exception.	A B-25 takes off for a demonstration	Sean Tucker is one of the most amazing airshow pilots around, as this low pass shows.
But if you'll look closely, you'll see Sean is inverted, and about to cut a ribbon with his tail. He's about 15 feet off the ground in this picture, going 120 MPH	The P-51 Mustang holds a special place in aviator's hearts, and OSH is the place to see LOTS of them.	This is "Thunder Pig", a C-123 flying boxcar.
A favorite airplane is the Boeing 747, such as this one.	One of my "lottery wish list" airplanes, the Cessna Caravan is a BIG (12 passenger) airplane. With a turboprop engine, this workhorse is used by Federal Express and other operators, and its 99%+ availability rate earn it the nickname "The Sure Thing"	Fans of MASH will recognize this Bell U-47 helicopter. The EAA operates several of these, and gives rides in them during the festival. The following pictures were taken during my ride in the Bell helo.
At 500 feet above some of the homebuilt airplanes. The level of craftmanship is truly stunning.	The main display area has four (4!) hangars full of exhibits, which can help an aviator convert $$ to merchandise. From jewelry to new engines, everything is here.	Lake Winnebago is in the background of this picture, which shows some of the thousands of cars and airplanes visiting.
Rows and rows of parked airplanes. The small building amongst them is one of the shower areas, where campers can enjoy hot showers. In the evenings, movies are projected on the side of the building. "Airplane" is a big hit, with many folks acting out the scenes.	Coming back in for a landing, with my feet hanging out in the breeze. If they weren't so expensive, I'd love to fly helicopters.