Page 22 - Volume 15 Number 10

AdThat is precisely the reason many certificated aircraft makers take booth space on the grounds, to expose their wares to a large audience in hopes of finding a prospect. Not every AirVenture attendee is a mere lightplane pilot and, as we said earlier, some own business and company aircraft in addition to their personal plane.Notable Events Of AirVenture 2011As usual, there were noteworthy happenings taking place at this year’s Oshkosh air show. On July 26, we witnessed the retirement announcement of Tom Poberezny, long-time president and chairman of EAA and son of its founder, Paul Poberezny. Effective August 1, he handed over the chairmanship reins to Rod Hightower, who had been the organization’s president. For the first time in the EAA’s 60-year history, there will no longer be a Poberezny at its head.By happenstance, well-known aviation publisher Dave Sclair died later that same day, fittingly succumbing to brain cancer at his home while the Oshkosh air show was in full bloom, just as he would have wanted. It was Sclair who began the daily newspaper circulated at the show, seeing the need for a communication outlet at the event.Special celebrations were given to aviation figures R.A. “Bob” Hoover, Burt Rutan and Chris Heintz. Also, the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Air Mail service was featured, including replicas and restorations of the seminal aircraft.The 2011 show was favored by benign weather conditions at its outset and at its conclusion, with some rainy spells at mid-week to enhance attendance at the interior exhibits. The temporary city constructed for AirVenture takes such minor difficulties in stride.Noteworthy Aircraft SeenThere are always significant aircraft making an appearance at Oshkosh, as was demonstrated by the Dreamliner stop-off. This year, the Farmers Insurance advertising dirigible, a Zeppelin NT, cast its 246-foot shadow over the show. Dirigible rides were offered, for those not satisfied with hops in the antique Ford Tri- Motors or sightseeing from M*A*S*H-type helicopters. The Commemorative Air Force’s Boeing B-29 bomber, “Fifi,” returned after a 16-year absence, given new engines under the sponsorship of the Cavanaugh Flight Museum. As the only flyable World War II Superfortress in existence, it filled the ConocoPhillips Plaza parking apron with style, nestled next to its younger Dreamliner descendant.A rare Mitsubishi Zero fighter, a full-scale faithful replica of a Focke-Wulf FW-190 fighter and the only flyable SB2C Curtiss Helldiver torpedo bomber attracted an appreciative warbird-lover crowd. In smaller scale, Supermarine Aircraft showed its 90-percent scaleAd20 • TWIN & TURBINEOCTOBER 2011