More fromAirventure '03: Stangs and Sabre

[beaky]

As promised, the business end of the F86:

A very nice P51 w/some access panels removed:

Close look at the same Mustang's gun mechs and ammo storage:

A "Red-Tail" Mustang of the famed 99th Sqdn., The only all-African-American  air unit of WWII (or another Mustang made up to appear as such- I don't remember). They never lost a bomber.

[Ben_M_K]

Cool shots! What did you think of Airventure? I live 20 minutes away and I'm going this year.

[beaky]

Cool shots! What did you think of Airventure? I live 20 minutes away and I'm going this year.

Thnx. What did I think? Total overload- my brain shut down the first day. A contributing factor was arriving @4pm after driving from Ohio nonstop, just as almost every warbird at the show took to the air for a huge display...
By the next morning, I was better, but it was heady stuff. The aircraft and their owners from all over the world, the workshops, the lectures, the museum, the airshows, the vendors... it was fantastic.
There's so much to see and do, that you're bound to miss a lot and also get many surprises.
 
That 's great that you live so close- you should rent out a room every year for this (probably could charge a lot, as every hotel in the area gets booked solid well in advance, and not everybody wants to camp)!!
I enjoyed camping, though- they had great facilities available, so it was hardly "roughing it". The daily late-afternoon thunderstorms were... interesting (at one point I was inside my tent and had to support it as the wind was trying to lay it flat), but it's nice to wake up within easy walking distance of the action. My spot was near the ultralight area; at dawn and dusk they'd take to the air for awhile.
My question of course is: how long have you lived there and have you never been to Airventure?

[Ben_M_K]

Ummm I've lived there for 14 years and I'm 14 years old. And I've....a.....never been there :-/ :-/. To tell you the truth, I just got into aviation in August. And now I'm a total aviation freak! I can't wait to go this year!

Glad you had fun and who knows, maybe I'll see you there some year

I think it would be cool to rent out a room but my parents woudn't be to keen on the idea. :-/

[beaky]

D'oh... I was assuming you were a bit older; sorry about that. By all means, go on down there this year for Airventure, but remember that the museum's open year-round (I think); it's pretty amazing itself, so you don't have to wait for a taste of the EAA experience! Also, check out their website, and keep checking it as the Airventure date approaches. The more advance info. you have about the schedule of events, the better you'll be able to plan things so you get to see and do all the things you're interested in. There is SO MUCH going on there during Airventure... I spent most of the first full day there just trying to figure out what to do first!. Being a local, you might want to see about volunteering to help out in some fashion; I think they offer free or discount admission to those who volunteer (might be an age limit, though). You might get stuck with some lame task, but you might get in free, and be positioned just right for some special priveleges (rides, hanging out with aviation celebrities, etc.). Anyway, I hope you make it this year: Airventure is probably the ultimate aviation gathering on the planet. If I'd been exposed to something like that at age 14, I'd probably have had my Private Pilot  and Commercial certs. b/4 I graduated from high school (as it is, I still only have my PP)....I 've always been an aviation enthusiast, but it was many years before I realized exactly what was out there, and that
it was not beyond my resources or capabilities.

Here's some more inspiration, Ben (assuming you like the older birds):
EAA Ford Trimotor in flight:

Interior; same flight:

Perfect landing (amazing how daintily this big mama can land, in the right hands):

[Ben_M_K]

Cool shots of the Tri-Motor! I took a ride on it in October and it was WELL worth it!!! I posted pics on here of it awhil back.

Thanks for your info!!

[ozzy72]

Brilliant shots Rotty

[beaky]

Thanx oz- if you've never made a pilgrimage to Oshkosh, you owe it to yourself. 2003  was a special year, but it's always a premier event.  If you can't book a room in time, just show up at Ben's w/ your sleeping bag; what are his folks gonna do- turn you away? (just kidding, Ben)

[Ben_M_K]

Oh sure, theres always room for you in the backyard

[ozzy72]

The backyard is fine, I've roughed it before, but if I do get to Oshkosh it'll be in Binky so I'll be parking there and taking a tent

[beaky]

The backyard is fine, I've roughed it before, but if I do get to Oshkosh it'll be in Binky so I'll be parking there and taking a tent

OK, I'll bite. What's a Binky?

[Ben_M_K]

Is'nt that the Spitfire replica hes building??

[ozzy72]

Aye Binky is the Spit project

[beaky]

Aye Binky is the Spit project

Oh, I see... that's fantastic!! I don't suppose you've posted any photos somewhere around here...?

[ozzy72]

Not yet, at the moment Binky is a several boxes full of parts and some sheet metal, and LOADS of technical drawings, CDs and asprin (for the headaches)
If you want a good idea of what I'm up against have a look in the Sim 'Pit forum at the fantastic work by Dave (funhouse) on his Spit 'pit and it'll give you an idea of what I'm undertaking (apart from a lot of gin for my nerves )