Oshkosh – Before the Show

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Oshkosh AirVenture 2015Taking advantage of a clear weather window, I launched from Nevada at first light and sailed along with tailwinds (and two fuel stops) to make Oshkosh in time for supper. What I found on this Friday before opening was an army of volunteers hard at work to make AirVenture an outstanding week for all those heading to Wisconsin by land or air. Oshkosh doesn’t just happen – hundreds (if not thousands of dedicated EAA members have been onsite since early in the month, setting up and preparing for an onslaught of visitors.

Of particular note for our readers are significant improvement in the Homebuilt Camping area. A new air conditioned shower trailer is accompanied by a flush toilet trailer, relocated storage and office space, and a nice tent with tables for dining and socializing. Friday night featured a burger and brat social for the many volunteers who have been here in advance and featured a visit by EAA’s Homebuilt leadership, including Jack Pelton who stopped by to mingle and explain why he just can’t seem to get his homebuilt project finished. There were lots of understanding nods, indicating he truly is one of many homebuilders present for the big show.

Join us here at Kitplanes.com all week for special coverage from Oshkosh. We’ll have our contributing editors and staff roaming the grounds looking for good stories and interesting innovations for those not able to attend. And if you’re here, and see something you think needs to be shared, look for someone with a Kitplanes hat or shirt and let us know about it.

See you at the show!

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Paul Dye
Paul Dye, KITPLANES® Editor at Large, retired as a Lead Flight Director for NASA’s Human Space Flight program, with 40 years of aerospace experience on everything from Cubs to the Space Shuttle. An avid homebuilder, he began flying and working on airplanes as a teen and has experience with a wide range of construction techniques and materials. He flies an RV-8 and SubSonex jet that he built, an RV-3 that he built with his pilot wife, as well as a Dream Tundra and an electric Xenos motorglider they completed. Currently, they are building an F1 Rocket. A commercially licensed pilot, he has logged over 6000 hours in many different types of aircraft and is an A&P, FAA DAR, EAA Tech Counselor and Flight Advisor; he was formerly a member of the Homebuilder’s Council. He consults and collaborates in aerospace operations and flight-testing projects across the country.

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