56th Annual EAA Fly-in

By Richard VanderMeulen

The Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture 2008 at Oshkosh, Wisconsin’s Wittman Regional Airport lived up to its reputation as the “World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration,” rendering the field the world’s busiest airport for a week with more than 10,000 aircraft over the event’s 28 July through 3 August run, kicked off with a concert by none other than the equally legendary Foreigner playing their greatest hits.
Perhaps one of the largest non-aviation additions to AirVenture is a significant increase in big-name entertainers. In addition to the highly popular opening night concerts, AirVenture added concerts by famed comedian ventriloquist Jeff Dunham and his “Suitcase Posse” and Gary Sinise with his Lt. Dan Band, both of which filled the Theater in the Woods to overflow capacity. Combined with nightly movies, like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Broken Arrow introduced by their respective stars, and aviation icons in their own rights, campers and evening visitors were treated to non-stop entertainment even after flying hours were over.
Hanging high in the sky above the AirVenture grounds the Goodyear blimp Spirit of Goodyear returned to Oshkosh, providing its pilots and few select guests the best possible views of Oshkosh. The Goodyear crew even took an opportunity to perform a flyby in front of show center.
AirVenture 2008 airplane numbers held steady from 2007. The number of visitors dipped slightly to 540,000 people. Considering current economic conditions, the healthy attendance numbers surprised many. Among the visitors to AirVenture 2008 were more than 2,128 international visitors from 71 nations marking a significant increase from last year. (Numbers are based on visitors registered at the International Visitors Tent.)
Among the masses of aircraft were 2,516 show planes–aircraft entered for judging–broken down to 985 homebuilt aircraft, 822 vintage aircraft, and 404 warbirds, which appeared to be one of the few areas enjoying growing numbers. Elsewhere about the grounds were 114 ultralights, 131 seaplanes, 40 aerobatic aircraft, and 33 rotorcraft. An estimated 37,000 visitors camped in either drive-in or aircraft camping areas, falling only marginally from last year’s record camping numbers.
While visitors were treated to views of massive thundershowers passing all around AirVenture grounds, the week remained dry. Conditions began beautifully with comfortable temperatures and mostly blue skies and temperatures climbing through the close of AirVenture. Those visiting Oshkosh for many years have noted a marked increase in early visitors as parking and camping areas are near capacity before the event officially opens and decidedly thinning as the event draws to a close. By closing day most aircraft parking areas were virtual ghost towns.

AirVenture’s Showcase: AeroShell Square

Perhaps the largest aircraft to grace Aeroshell square, Boeing’s Dreamlifter LCF carved time out of its extremely tight schedule to spend a day at AirVenture. Based on a 747 airframe, the LCF sports a much larger new center section from immediately aft of the cockpit to the base of the now hinged tail section. The LCF’s appearance has been described in many ways, including a snake that swallowed a much larger snake, or a hot dog in a giant bun.
The reason for Boeing’s development of the LCF is to transport outsize aircraft structures between contractors and Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner final assembly facility in Washington state. The fuselage can accommodate 787 wing sets and entire sections of preassembled carbon fiber fuselage. Needless to say the LCF makes a standard Jumbo 747 look a tad small.
Among the most science fiction like events in Aeroshell Square was the hugely attended Martin Jetpack debut. Due to large crowds and safety concerns the demonstration was a tethered event with two men holding the craft and pilot firmly. Designers state they have made many flight tests, but altitude has been held to a low hover. Company officials list performance at maximum 8,000 foot altitude with 1,000 to 1,500 foot operating altitudes with a max speed greater than 60mph and endurance of approximately 30 minutes.
Previously the only jet packs the public has seen were limited to old James Bond movies. The Martin Jetpack takes a different path with a small V-4 gasoline engine driving twin ducted fans described by some viewers as sounding like a weed trimmer.
The company announced beginning sales at AirVenture with a $10,000 deposit. No word on final expected price or any deposits.
While on the subject of jetpacks, its only a short trip to rockets. Rocket Racing debuted at AirVenture with a roar as one of the developing sports first test aircraft took to the air for a demonstration each day. Based on Velocity canard aircraft, rocket racing replaces the piston engine with fuel tanks for the volatile mix and a small nozzle emitting a blast a fire and noise propelling the aircraft into the sky.
Pilots must negotiate a virtual race course displayed on their heads up display which includes changes in direction and in altitude as well. Lest you think the race is only about speed, I neglected to note that the rocket only has fuel for a limited burn and the aircraft will essentially be a glider during much of the timed laps. To date there are six racing teams working to complete race aircraft as the league performs demonstration around the nation.
Aeroshell Square’s military displays included a US Marine Corps Osprey for the first time in addition to a large selection of aircraft including C-130 Hercules, Milwaukee, Wisc. KC-135 Stratotanker and a selection of modern fighter displays such as the US Air Force F-15 Eagle, F-16 Falcon, and Marines AV-8B Harrier. Most rare of the military aircraft was one of the last military F-4 Phantoms in inventory, a QF-4 (QF designates a remote controlled target drone) Phantom. QF-4 drones operate both manned or remotely piloted from Tyndall AFB, Fla. and Holloman AFB, N.M., in support for ordnance testing and training, and have been added to the USAF Heritage Flight Program at select air shows.

Oshkosh; General Aviation World’s Fair

You know how it is when you go to the fair. You can find anything under the sun; even stuff you never dreamed existed. All the stuff you know you need, plus all the stuff you just plain want, much of it with an international flavor, if only you can convince your spouse.
Well, if it has anything to do with aviation, AirVenture has it. From the Fly Market, to the massive commercial hangars and outdoor aircraft manufacturer displays, you can find virtually any product. Roam the endless grassy aircraft parking areas and you can admire aviation classics in the Antique area, a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules large enough to swallow most other airplanes on the AeroShell Square and the Boeing Large Cargo Freighter dwarfing the C-130, or examine a line of T-6 Texans and rows upon rows of P-51 Mustangs in the warbird area.
Not enough variety? Jump on a tram and take a look at the North Forty or Show Plane aircraft camping area and you can find virtually any general aviation airplane currently flying, likely including several you didn’t realize still existed. Along the way you can stop at the Ultralight field and watch trikes and powered parachutes take advantage of the calm morning or evening skies, or take a bus to the Seaplane Base to gaze at unique amphibians or a plethora of Cubs on floats. If you can’t find it at AirVenture, you’re not looking.
Of course Oshkosh has its own variety of “fair food” too, centering on brat’s. Anyone who goes to AirVenture can’t go home without indulging in at least one bratwurst, although your dietician may frown on the practice, it has become custom for most visitors.

And Now for the Show

Oshkosh has always hosted one of the best air shows. Each afternoon, the best air show performers in the industry take to the skies. Headlining the weekend were performances of the of the USAF F-22 Raptor in the hands of demonstration pilot Maj. Paul “Max” Moga of the 1st Fighter Wing in a display of unbelievable maneuvers only the Raptor can perform. Each day’s Raptor demo concluded with participation in the USAF Heritage Flight flown with Dale “Snort” Snodgrass in a P-51 Mustang and Steve Hinton in P-38 Lightning Glacier Girl. This year’s performance marks Maj. Moga’s last appearance at Oshkosh as the F-22 pilot as he winds down his two-year rotation with the demo team.
Another veteran air show performer, Sean Tucker, showed off the newest act in the business with the Collaborators aerobatic team with teammates Bill Stein, Eric Tucker, and Ben Freelove. We’ve all seen the military precision demonstration teams, and we’ve seen civilian teams like the now defunct Northern Lights, but combining dissimilar aircraft and such close and complex formation was a new experience. Sean Tucker flies his signature Oracle Challenger III with Eric Tucker and Ben Freelove in Extra 300s and Bill Stein in his Edge 540. Already brilliant during their 2007 debut, the team is even more impressive now with a year of experience under their belts.
Plans call for the team to stay together and possibly grow to six planes in the upcoming years and possibly growing to an even larger formation if they can find like-minded pilots whose skills they trust implicitly.
Making their debut at Oshkosh last year were two young men whose family names remain synonymous with air shows, Matt Younkin, son of the late Bobby Younkin and Kyle Franklin, son of the late Jim “Jimmy” Franklin. Brought even closer by family ties through Amanda Franklin, nee Younkin, Kyle and Matt have earned their right to perform at Oshkosh through their own skills as demonstrated by their well honed performances last year.
This year both Franklin and Younkin demonstrated their continuing growth in such a difficult and demanding profession. Younkin performed flawlessly in the demanding Twin Beech aerobatic routine while Franklin, who debuted his outstanding Piper Cub comedy routine last year, dazzled the crowd with a pirate themed performance in the Waco Mystery Ship. Both proudly continue the tradition of breaking new ground they learned from their respective fathers.
Most days included an extended warbird display by members of EAA Warbirds, featuring mass trainer flights crossing over the field at different altitudes, sometimes blocking out the sun. In front of the crowd classic Mustangs shared air space with even more rare types such as the Wildcat and P-40 Warhawk accompanied by pyrotechnics during the weekend shows.
Additionally on the civilian side, spectators were treated to performances by such luminaries as Patty Wagstaff, Michael Goulian, and Matt Chapman.
The wonderful AeroShell Team performed several times during the week, but as three-ship demonstration without the seriously injured Alan Henley. Team Lead Henley, one of the most liked and respected performers in the industry, suffered a major injury while at home which has left him paralyzed from the chest down. For those who wish to find updates on Alan’s condition or to contribute to a fund to defray medical expenses you can find more information at: http://www.naat.net/News/AlanUpdate.html.

Very Light Jet Invasion

Since the announcement of the Eclipse Jet some years ago, the market for very light jets has grown exponentially. The field has developed rapidly in ensuing years with most major very light jet design, including the Eclipse 500, taking to the sky at AirVenture for the first time in 2005, and several more following shortly thereafter. Now the VLJ market is virtually being flooded with new designs. This year’s announcements and rollout appear solidly centered on smaller, less expensive single-engine designs. Some have begun to call the smaller aircraft Personal Jets or PJs.
From the announcement of the Eclipse 500 seven years ago, and the virtual birth of the light jet market, the company has overcome significant hurdles and faces a new day as Eclipse founder and CEO Vern Rayburn announced his immediate departure from the company during AirVenture. Rayburn’s departure and replacement by Roel Pieper appears driven by investors and coincides with a declining economy, rising costs and Airworthiness Directives stemming from throttle control issues garnering additional FAA scrutiny.
Unveiled last year as the Eclipse Concept Jet, the attractive four-place single-engine V-tail design has become the Eclipse 400. Utilizing much of the Eclipse 500’s basic body style and the same wing as the 500, the Eclipse 400 changes dramatically beyond that point with the body quickly swooping down to a boat-tail empennage with a massive V-tail. Nested between the tails is a single engine in a fully encased pod raised somewhat above the fuselage in a design which helps alleviate some of the difficulties of design and FAA standards posed with an embedded engine requiring increased structure to protect passengers from a potential engine failure and complicated ducting to feed the engine. Incoming CEO Pieper noted a decision to proceed with production will be made late this year.
Last year Diamond Aircraft exhibited a mockup of its personal light jet, the D-JET and Cirrus announced its own single-engine VLJ design during AirVenture.
Jump forward a year and Cirrus causes a sensation with the public debut of its Cirrus Vision SJ50 personal jet on Wednesday of AirVenture with a flyby and touchdown before taxiing to Aeroshell Square. Physically the SJ50 appears very similar to the Eclipse 400 but with a more streamlined, semi-embedded engine between a generous V-tail. Cirrus sees their aircraft as a Personal Jet rather than a VLJ, with a stated difference in the goal of the aircraft. Alan and Dale Klapmeier, co-founders of Cirrus, differentiated by noting they see the SJ50 Vision as a growth of the very successful piston aircraft line instead of a miniaturized biz-jet.
The Cirrus joins a crowded and growing field of VLJs and PJs with the aforementioned Eclipse 500 and Eclipse 400 plus the previously announced Diamond D-Jet and the newest member of the clan, the significantly larger PiperJet which made its maiden flight at Piper’s Vero Beach, Fla. facility on July 29.

Light Sport Aircraft

ICON Aircraft hopes to live up to its name with the entirely new Light Sport Aircraft design, the ICON A5. An all-composite amphibious design, the ICON A5 features a side-by-side cockpit, wide fuselage with sponson for stability on water that houses retractable landing gear. A Rotax 912 ULS engine driving a three-blade propeller is mounted aft of a mid-height wing. When viewing the aircraft displayed immediately adjacent to the main gate, the first word to come to mind is slick. The design is very slick.
Perhaps the most exceptional design aspect is inclusion of power folding wings which rotate the wings 90 degrees on axis before folding back flush with the fuselage. With wings folded the aircraft will fit into a trailer for travel to or from the airport or a distant destination. The automated folding mechanism is not available in all models in order to fall within LSA weight restrictions. ICON officials stated sales have surpassed 210 delivery positions for the $139,000 priced aircraft.
Only one year from display as a prototype at AirVenture, the first production Cessna 162 SkyCatcher greeted AirVenture visitors in the Cessna pavilion. To date Cessna has completed three airframes against a backlog of more than 1,000. From AirVenture the aircraft will fly to Wichita, Kan. to join the flight test program.
With production tooling working toward completion at the company’s Shenyang, China-facility the company expects to begin deliveries in the second half of 2009 and ramp up to full rate production of approximately 700 aircraft per year.

Kit Aircraft

Among the most heavily discussed issues in the kit aircraft world at AirVenture FAA changes to the 51 percent rule. Immediately prior to AirVenture the FAA proposed a new policy for administering the 51 percent rule for amateur (kit) built aircraft. The proposal effectively retains the current rules with increased scrutiny of builders and builder assistance programs. Several changes include a new proposal requiring an amateur builder to “fabricate” at least 20 percent of the aircraft. This proposal in particular appears to cause concern among composite kit builders where most major structural components arrive in completed or nearly completed form.
Although details of the 51 percent amateur-built rules may change, the largest change appears to be increased scrutiny and enforcement of the rule among builders and builder assist programs.
In 2007, Lancair International announced their amazing Evolution, a four-place pressurized turbine at AirVenture, displaying only a mockup. This year the completed prototype kept busy with a heavy schedule of demonstration flights and company personnel noted strong sales and likelihood the first customer plane may be completed next year.
Utilizing the proven PT6A powerplant developing 927 hp the prototype Evolution cruises at 330 mph at 25,000 feet with a 35 gallon-per-hour fuel burn, or an economy cruise of 270 knots at 28,000 feet with a 23 gallon-per-hour burn. Total fuel capacity is 140 gallons of Jet A. Projected top speed for the production Evolution kit is 385 mph with stall listed as 61 knots. The standard design includes a BRS parachute system.
With full fuel, the Evolution has a useful load of 814 pounds, allowing for up to four passengers with light bags. The aircraft is fully pressurized, including the baggage area for those who want to tote Fido or Fluffy on their trip and not carry them in the main cabin. The inclusion of the baggage door within the pressure hull added the benefit of providing a second avenue of exit the case of an emergency blocking the main door on the opposite side of the fuselage.
Lancair has also listened to potential customers asking for a piston-powered version of the sleek Evolution. To that end Lancair International announced a partnership with Lycoming to create a new piston engine for the Evolution.

Production aircraft

Among certified aircraft manufacturers, news ran the gamut from new options on aircraft, to improved models and announcements of certification or impending certification.
For those interested in backcountry trips for outfitting for fishing, hunting, or support operations, the Quest Aircraft Company of Sandpoint, Idaho has an aircraft of interest to you. Making its debut at Oshkosh 2005 was the company’s Kodiak prototype, a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34 powered, fixed-gear aircraft capable of flying into rugged unimproved strips or river gravel bars. Quest Aircraft is now producing several variations of the aircraft, which includes a model complete with a roll-up door for jump operations.
The interior can be left bare for cargo handling or outfitted as described above or in several iterations from workhorse to luxury and boasts a useful load of 3,450 pounds, with an empty weight of 3, 350 pounds.
Customers are divided between private and part 135 charter customers, with several choosing the float equipped option. Listed endurance for the aircraft is 1,250 nautical miles and 6.7 hours with a one hour reserve. Company officials flatly refused to give a firm number on aircraft sold before and during AirVenture, but did say they are exceptionally pleased with sales at AirVenture.

Being Judgmental

What is the number one draw to a fly-in? Airplanes of course. Of the more than 10,000 airplanes to attend Oshkosh each year, several thousand of those are categorized as show planes, and parked in accordance with their respective classification. Most of those aircraft are judged by a handful of very dedicated and very knowledgeable folks who know their specialty, whether warbirds, classics or antiques, like no other.
For the best of the best in judging, each category receives one of the EAA’s most coveted awards, the Gold Lindy/Grand Champion, or Silver Lindy/Reserve Grand Champion.
In the Antique area, Addison Pemberton of Spokane, Wash. took Grand Champion with his masterfully restored 1928 Boeing 40C mail plane.
The Classic aircraft Gold Lindy went to Joe Dobransky of Allen, Texas with his 1946 Piper J-3C-65 while Charles and Robert Parish of Tullahoma, Tenn. took the Silver with their Beech D18.
Among the warbirds FTRESC LLC of San Antonio, Texas took Grand Champion, World War II for the company’s North American P-51D Mustang Happy Jack’s Go Buggy, with Midwest Aero Restorations of Danville, Ill. taking the Gold Wrench. Reserve Grand Champion, World War II went to Jack Roush of Livonia, Mich. for his North American P-51B Old Crow, with the Gold Wrench going to Cal Pacific Airmotive of Salinas, Calif.
JTS Historical Aviation Foundation of Seattle, Wash. took Best P-51 Mustang for its freshly restored P-51B Impatient Virgin with Pacific Fighters of Idaho Falls, Idaho picking up the Silver Wrench. Best Fighter went to Rod Lewis of San Antonio, Texas for Supermarine Spitfire MK VB and the Silver Wrench to Warren Denholm of AVSPECS, Aukland, New Zealand.
A complete listing of all award winners is available at the AirVenture website at www.airventure.org/2008/8sun3/awards.html

Making Plans for 2009

For those who hope to attend AirVenture next year, the EAA has released a preliminary date of July 27 through August 2, 2009. For updated information on dates or any other information regarding AirVenture 2009, including rates and camping information, or to view results from this year’s judging, you can check out the AirVenture website at www.airventure.org EAA staff will begin adding updates to the website as information become available and the pace will increase as the event draws near. See you there in 2009.