AirVenture 2009 - Daily Flights

For me, the highlight of this particular Oshkosh was flying in the mornings for an hour with Mike and Arjan.  Each time we took a different passenger. Mike and Arjan would do a little close formation work while I flew top cover.  Then the three of us would play "follow the leader".  Finally we'd break off individually for awhile before rejoining and heading back to Ripon for the always exciting return to Wittman Field.  

Bruce flew with me the first day.  It was his first ride in an RV. 
 
Here we are taxiing out from our camping sites on the North 40. 
 
The second day I took Bruce's son-in-law Ray up.  Also Ray's first flight in an RV. 
 
Taxiing along the grass taxiway.  A lineman was stationed every 100 yards or so guiding us along.
 
Mike and Arjan doing a formation takeoff. 
 
Bruce and I in position and holding on the Orange dot.  Bruce is taking the pictures. 
 
Climbing out at Oshkosh at its peak. 
 
The Wisconsin countryside reminded me of Maryland's Eastern Shore, only greener.  Lots of lakes. 
 

Most of the time they had me landing on 27.  Once, however, they had us follow the East-West road and land on 36 right (normally a taxiway).

This is the flight with Bruce on Monday morning.  You can see how the North 40 is totally filled with airplanes, both north and south of the runway 27. 

 
 
 
I hadn't realized how many planes were parked north of runway 27. 
 
 
Cleared to land on the green dot.  If you look closely you can see there is a high-wing on top of the green dot. 
 
Instead of going back to the General Aviation camping North 40, I went to the Homebuilt Parking area.  I wanted to show off my newly built RV for a day.  I've always wondered what it would be like to taxi my own plane on the P-1 Taxiway with hundreds of people watching -- never thought it would happen to me.  Yet here I was actually doing it.   It was thrilling! 
 
I had no time to look around though.  I had to focus on the lineman scooter guiding me.  Bruce took lots of pics so later I could see what was around.  Here I'm following the lineman on the scooter to a parking spot. 
 
Looks like we're going to be in the front row! 
 
Just by coincidence, they parked Mike in the same spot. 
 
The proud builder & pilot. 
 

Talking to someone interested in the RV. 

We got hit by a heavy rainstorm in the afternoon.  They cancelled the airshow and my plane got thoroughly soaked. 

 
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