When I first learned I was going to Oshkosh to spend a few days with the FlyingGiants crew, I'll admit I was exited, but I had no idea what to expect. As I began to tell my aviation-oriented friends about my upcoming trip to Wisconsin, I was met with the same statement over and over again. Summed up, it was "You have no idea what you're about to get into."
On day one, it took almost an hour after arriving and exploring EAA Airventure for me to comprehend the sheer volume of aircraft at this event. One statement that echoed throughout my stay was when the announcer told us there were over five-hundred Van's RV experimental planes on site! With trams and buses running throughout the week, we were able to navigate easily around Oshkosh and momentarily enjoy taking a sit-down break.
One of my favorite sights is a military aircraft. Be it a modern fighter, a radial-powered warbird, or even an unarmed transport, I love the functional, utilitarian look and sound of modern and classic military metal. Oshkosh has no shortage of flying war machines, and a much anticipated visit to Fightertown proved almost too much for me to handle.
Static displays were everywhere, and there were five to ten versions of many different warbirds to enjoy. Flying demos and coordinated airstrikes with pyrotechnics were a daily event, with A1 Skyraiders, B-25's, Mustangs, Warhawks, and a Spitfire, Bearcat, and Corsair all making strafing runs at targets on the runway; you could feel the heat from the fireballs as they dropped imaginary ordinances on the enemy.
There were plenty of flights from the F/A-18 Super Hornets and F-15 Eagles as they made high speed sub-sonic passes, yank and bank maneuvers, and plenty of afterburner fly-by's that literally ripped the air with the most beautiful sound imaginable. A pair of F4 Phantoms performed as well, bellowing the tell-tale black smoke from their dirty J79 engines.
From a GA standpoint, it's borderline mind-overload! Every conceivable type of homebuilt, experimental, ultralight, sport-plane, and single and twin-engine general-aviation aircraft is on display or flying at EAA Airventure Oshkosh. An even if you get tired of staring at aircraft all day (is that even possible) there were close to one-thousand workshops and seminars to take in, along with 800+ commercial exhibitors peddling their aviation wares... how could you NOT buy that Mooney you'd been eying?!?
Aside from the hordes of 3D aircraft on display, there were daily aerobatic performances from some of the big names in the industry such as Skip Stewart, Sean Tucker, Kirby Chambliss, Matt Chapman, Greg Koontz, Matt Younkin, and Patty Wagstaff to name a few. There were a number of GA demo teams that performed rock solid formation aerobatics such as the AeroShell Aerobatic Team, Team Aerostar, and the Paradign Aerobatic Team.
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016 was honestly the most intense fly-in I've ever had the pleasure of attending. At one point, I couldn't find a section of the sky that wasn't occupied by an aircraft; there were easily 50+ aircraft in the air at one time, each group taking turns making passes show center, then retreating as the next group dove in. I was only there for three days, and it wasn't enough. Just like Joe Nall, the ideal arrangement would be a trailer, RV, or a tent on site, with a scooter to shuttle yourself from your site to the main entrance every day. That way, you can maximize the time between sunrise and sunset to take in all the awesomeness that is EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. See you next year, and enjoy my photo flood below!
Last edited by Matt Gunn; 08-01-2016 at 11:21 AM..Thread Tools |
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The last of the pictures from 2016 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.
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Just a couple from the 100's I took... There was a DA150 powered ultralight I can't believe they missed getting a pic of that... Then the Game Bird aerobatic airplane what a beautiful airplane and note that it does NOT have or need spades on it! It flew a heck of a show too... And the running joke of the cirrus mass arrival!
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United States, FL, Ocala
Joined Sep 2014
47 Posts
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I would like 2 of the photos (imahes ) Please
Matt,
I am building a Skyraider. I love the image # 8963 and 8965. If you can...please e-mail me those 2 images. I will be doing exactly that plane! KC9CDT@AOL.COM. Thanks, Lee |
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Joined Sep 2014
4 Posts
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Nice shots guys. It was a decent week. Even with the rain.
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