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There ARE a lot of warbirds at Oshkosh  But then, there is a lot of everything.  My favorites are the homebuilts, the 30s classics, and the ultralights.  But everything is in pristine condition--no one would DARE show up with anything but a perfect airplane.

I live about 12 km. from Minnesota's most active sport airport--a big grass field used originally to train B-17 pilots for WW II.  Last summer, I  drove over on a spectacular day to watch some flying and wound up sitting in on a class for people building some very light high performance sailplanes.  (Try a 12 meter wingspan glider weighing only 70 kg.)  They were passing around parts made from carbon fiber that were so light, it was like the laws of gravity had been suspended.  So yes indeed, seeing what the composite guys are making these days is always the highlight of these airshows.

"Remember the I35W bridge--who needs terrorists when there are Republicans"

by techno (reply@elegant-technology.com) on Mon Mar 24th, 2008 at 01:01:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I would give a lot to have attended that class--that's what I did for art.
Sometime I'll post some photos of the "Dixie Skipper"- a  carbon fibre ducted fan amphibian I was building when the Mercedes came along.  

Capitalism searches out the darkest corners of human potential, and mainlines them.
by geezer in Paris (risico at wanadoo(flypoop)fr) on Tue Mar 25th, 2008 at 10:48:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I have a favor to ask, if you plan to visit Oshkosh this year. Would you drop me a line?

Capitalism searches out the darkest corners of human potential, and mainlines them.
by geezer in Paris (risico at wanadoo(flypoop)fr) on Tue Mar 25th, 2008 at 10:52:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Are you having problems getting carbon fiber?  I hear it is rare and expensive because Boeing has bought so much for their new 787s (I think).  Hey, that's the game.  The homebuilders live off the droppings of the military-industrial complex.  Lot of premium material and expertise is available.  The guy conducting our seminar on carbon fiber was from Kansas with Boeing and Beech experience.

Haven't been to Oshkosh since 2001.  I have been four times--1978, 1985, 1996.  The closest I came to building an airplane was after watching Dick Rutan fly a Long-Eze through an aerobatic pattern.

I am getting a bit old for this.  The flight line from the warbirds to the ultralights is about 6 km and there are several thousand perfect airplanes you just have to look at carefully in between.  Wears me out!  And lately, it has been very hot.  Not only is 7 hours in 37° heat a bit much, but such hot air screws up the low-level acrobatics.  But I am certain I will go again.  We'll see.

"Remember the I35W bridge--who needs terrorists when there are Republicans"

by techno (reply@elegant-technology.com) on Wed Mar 26th, 2008 at 12:07:29 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I found some Oshkosh footage I shot in 2000. (NOT 2001)  I was trying to teach a friend video editing and I had the footage on the computer.




"Remember the I35W bridge--who needs terrorists when there are Republicans"

by techno (reply@elegant-technology.com) on Wed Mar 26th, 2008 at 01:35:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]

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