July 22-26 - AirVenture 2012
Well, things didn't turn out exactly as planned, but it all worked out in the end, and AirVenture 2012 -- the Disneyland of Aviation -- was a great time. This years highlights were a tribute to Richard VanGrunsven and the 40th Anniversary of Vans Aircraft Company. I think 500 or so RVs flew in for the celebration.
Originally I had planned to leave about four days early and go up into Canada to Nova Scotia, down the St. Lawrence Seaway, and along the northen edge of the Great Lakes, then angling southeast to Oshkosh. But it was a busy time at work so I cancelled the Canada trip.
My next plan was to leave early Saturday, fly the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, fly over Niagara Falls, then follow the southern edge of Lake Ontario, along Lake Huron to Sault St. Marie via the Mackinac Bridge, along the southern edge of Lake Superior to Duluth, then angling southeast to Oshkosh. That plan was shot when it rained hard in Baltimore all Saturday. Sunday's forecast called for IFR most of the morning. I honestly wondered if I would be able to make it to Oshkosh at all.
But conditions Sunday morning were much better than forecast, and once I got about 100 miles west of Baltimore, it was smooth sailing all the way to Oshkosh.
My emphasis this year was spending time in the Gas Welding workshop and watching Team RV for the first time in the airshow.
I arrived late afternoon Sunday and left Thursday morning.
