 This
first “post-Oshkosh” article gives me the opportunity to reflect on
how things went, to thank our volunteers who made it happen and to discuss
what we might do to make things better next year.
We
had a total of 417 aircraft this year, which represents an increase in our
numbers, compared to 386 in 2000, and 414 in 1999. Considering the state
of the economy and the current cost of fuel, this was a pleasant surprise.
In spite of the high overall number, the pattern of attendance seems to be
changing, with fewer members staying for the whole week, which made the
flight line look a little “thin” at times.
We
were fortunate in that the weather was reasonable, although we did have
some marginal visibility during the weekend air shows.
As
many of you who read this page regularly are aware, in response to many
complaints from our pilots, we opted to have three long shows on Friday,
Saturday and Sunday and did not fly the “30 minute” shows early in the
week, as we have done in the past (except for Mustangs which flew on
Tuesday and opened the air show). Some pilots were upset about not flying
at all early in the week and some actually left before the weekend.
Perhaps we can do another hour show on Wednesday and still leave
Thursday free for those who would like to attend the forums. Another
option would be to try to arrange more early morning flying programs early
in the week. Feedback and suggestions on this issue from our members would
be appreciated.
We
initiated a few new things this year, including a dinner cruise on Lake
Winnebago on Wednesday night. During dinner, enemy aircraft strafed the
boat (apparently they had a FAC on board, but they still had trouble
finding the only boat on the lake). We hope to expand the dinner cruise
program next year.
We
successfully fed the air show pilots lunch on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Our
transformation of the area around the “Fightertown gate” was a little
slow in getting started this year, but we did have four aircraft
(including two Skyraiders, an O-2 and a P-51), and some sand bag
revetments to greet the air show attendees as they walked into our area.
We hope to build on that next year with more re-enactors, vehicles and
aircraft. A special thanks to the CAP, the line crew and the maintenance
crew is in order for helping to fill those sandbags!
We
were fortunate to have some active military service aircraft on our ramp
this year (an F-18 and a flight of T-34Cs). They were very much
appreciated. We hope expand that part of our flight line for next year.
During
the convention, our government affairs committee met with the FAA and
worked on problems relating to such topics as the T-34 spar, L-39
life-limited parts, and the LOA(E) program, all part of our effort to
“keep em flying.”
At
our annual meeting on Thursday night, a number of issues were brought up,
such as the lack of convenient shower facilities for the volunteers that
were camping and the lack of access to ice and groceries now that Zaug’s
Camp Store has moved out of our area.
We will try to resolve those issues for next year’s convention.
In spite of the important points raised and the feedback that the Board of
Directors received at the meeting, the number of members attending was
disappointingly small. Perhaps we should have it at the field instead of
the Holiday Inn.
The
picnic that we have had on Monday night, which has traditionally been
donated by Charlie Nogle, has been one our most successful and appreciated
programs. We are thinking of having a dinner at the field on Wednesday
night (perhaps before the annual meeting?) and are looking for some donors
who might be willing to subsidize it. I would urge any volunteers, or
those with suggestions for potential donors, to contact me.
We
badly need more feedback from our members about the issues raised in this
article and many others. What did you think was good, and what was bad at
Oshkosh this year? How can we
make it better? One option, that very few members have utilized so far, is
to send me an e-mail at Warbirdpres@aol.com.
When
we look back at this year’s convention, there is no question that
“Oshkosh” is still the world’s premier aviation event and the
warbird part of it, from our point of view, is the biggest attraction.
None of this could take place without the devotion and hard work of our
volunteers. We would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to all of
those listed below, who worked so hard to make it Happen:
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Ben
Anderson
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Tim
Kramer
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Don
Anderson
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Richard
Krejsa
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Ryan
Anderson
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Berneta
Kromm
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John
Arends
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Dean
Krueger
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Josh
Arends
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Alice
Krug
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Gary
Armstrong
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Dave
Krug
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Robert
Arthur
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Ken
Kuik
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Steven
Atkin
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Mark
Laatsch
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Scott
Baier
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Randy
Lamers
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Brian
Baird
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Larry
Landick
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Bruce
Balough
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Peg
Larson
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Devin
Barnett
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Cheryl
Lederman
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Vic
Barrett
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L.J.
Lee
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Milt
Barsky
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Kenneth
Lesniak
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Patricia
Bass
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Richard
Lewis
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Ed
Baucon
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Terry
Lilliman
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John
Baugh
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Sten
Lindqvist
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Allyn
Beaver
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Urban
Lindqvist
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Steve
Beaver
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John
Locke
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James
Bedford
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Peter
Locke
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Daniel
Benstrom
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Judy
Longenecker
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Beverly
Bergstrom
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Susan
Lowman
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Dennis
Bergstrom
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Barbara
Lucas
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Tim
Bishop
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Ralph
Lucas
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Rudy
Blakey
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Patrick
Lynch
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Gerald
Bodway
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Cliff
Maki
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Chet
Boothby
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Noel
Mareno
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Connie
Bowlin
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Max
Marion
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Ann
Bowman
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Shirley
Marion
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Jon
GaltBowman
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Ray
Marker
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Eileen
Brannon
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Ron
Martin
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Greg
Brannon
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Victor
McAllister
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Jay
Brentlinger
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Steve
McCartney
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Ken
Buechel
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Curtis
McCulley
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Travis
Buechel
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Paul
McKee
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Patrick
Burke
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Ron
Metz
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Dan
Button
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Rose
Metz
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Janet
Cannon
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Devon
Midkiff
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Delton
Cardwell
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Jim
Millar
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Marilyn
Carney
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Todd
Millar
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Bud
Cashen
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Brian
Miller
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Jim
Cejka
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Jennifer
Miller
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Darrell
Chapin
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Matt
Miller
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C.L.
Dean
Christie
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Richard
Miller
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Brad
Churchill
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Bill
Mitchell
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Brian
Churchill
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Betty
Moore
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Diane
Churchill
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William
Morgan
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John
Churchill
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John
Morris
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Julie
Claybaugh
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Bob
Muraski
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Dave
Clinton
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Bill
Murphy
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Tom
Cole
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Jason
Nash
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Dave
Collier
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Donald
Nieser
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David
Cooley
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Charlie
Nogle
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Bill
Crabill
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Robert
Olson
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Tim
Crist
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Gene
Oshrin
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Christine
Cross
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Bill
Painter
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Scott
Cross
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Albert
Panfile
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Bill
Currie
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Gerald
Parker
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Chris
Davis
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Chuck
Parnall
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George
Davis
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Craig
Payne
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Ken
Dawson
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Chris
Peatridge
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Michael
Dean
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Scott
Darren Pegg
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Jim
Delaney
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Carole
Pelletier
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Robert
Demate
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Richard
Petersen
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Joseph
Denest
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Troy
Peterson
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Mark
Denest
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Dick
Phillips
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Mike
Denest
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John
Phillips
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Linc
Dexter
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Rolland
Pickering
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Lynn
Dexter
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Aaron
Poot
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Hank
Dielwart
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Frank
Prokop
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Dick
Dieter
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Vern
Raburn
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David
Dorschner
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Taigh
Ramey
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Rick
Drake
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Kevin
Reichenbach
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Albert
Drews
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Lew
Reynolds
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Ben
Dubois
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Edward
Rich
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Tim
Dunavin
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Rick
Rickards
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H.D.
Easterwood
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Frank
Rinaldi
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Roy
Easterwood
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Duane
Roberts
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Bob
Ehrenberg
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Alan
Rock
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Susan
Elkins
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Tom
Rock
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Van
Eller
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Alan
Rocker
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Dave
Engel
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Florence
Roosen
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Dick
Ervin
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Warren
Roosen
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Cheryl
Essex
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Roger
Rose
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Clyde
Fancher
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Bill
Ross
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Jan
Farral
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Ken
Ross
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Sherry
Finkler
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Mary
Rounds
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Thomas
Finkler
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Donna
Russman
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Bill
Finney
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John
Russman
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Jim
Franta
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Dick
Rybarczyk
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Anne
Freire
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Allan
Sauer
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Gordon
Fuhrmann
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