Page 24 - Volume 15 Number 10

Kodiak utility turboprop will be available with an executive interior, it was announced at the show.Nearly all of the production light sport aircraft (LSA) were on display, mostly from central Europe. The LSA arena continues to hold promise for revitalizing general aviation with simpler, less-costly aircraft. In addition to production LSA’s, many of the amateur-built experimental kit designs can fit into LSA requirements, which allow flying suitable aircraft with no medical certification and less training.As always, a few mishaps marred the Oshkosh air show’s week. We’ve already mentioned Thursday’s F-16 Fighting Falcon mishap, resulting in a collapsed nose gear and damaged engine inlet. Monday, a Piper Cub went down in the adjacent Lake Winnebago, claiming two lives, and a Cessna pilot crossing the larger Lake Huron, farther to the east, suffered engine failure and had to tread water for 18 hours until he was rescued by a passing boat. Considering the 10,000 aircraft and thousands of operations taking place during the event, the overall AirVenture safety record is quite good, thanks to measures taken.Even with a prolonged economic recession casting a pall, the AirVenture event defied the trend of doom- and-gloom and attracted a strong showing of 541,000 attendees, up 1.3 percent over 2010. Of the estimated 10,000 aircraft flown in, 2,522 were registered as “showplanes,” including 974 homebuilts, 899 of vintage category and 367 warbirds. There were 803 exhibitors taking part, up by 33 from 2010. The general mood of the show was one of survivorship and belief in aviation as a lifestyle.A total of 2,098 international visitors were recorded, with many more no doubt arriving without visiting the official pavilion. While the greatest numbers came from Canada, Australia and Brazil, some 68 countries were represented. Even the Chinese Peoples Republic sent22 • TWIN & TURBINEa delegation to observe and take notes, promising in carefully couched terms that airspace was about to be opened to private aviation in Red China. Other developing regions with a stronger record of encouraging aviation included India, Africa and Latin America. Eventually, everyone comes to Oshkosh, to see what can be done with innovation and enthusiasm.Getting ThereMost airline-riding visitors arrive through Chicago or Milwaukee, driving the final few hours to Oshkosh. Flying in and out privately is best done under Visual Flight Rules, there being no possibility of radar separation in the Oshkosh area. IFR reservations are limited, as is paved- ramp parking. Special procedures abound for the show; a NOTAM booklet is available at airventure.org. I would advise having an experienced Oshkosh air show veteran riding along the first time you make the trip. While those who’ve been flying into the show for decades find it “old hat,” less-bold individuals take refuge at outlying Fond du Lac and Appleton airports and take shuttles to the grounds. Make housing and car rental arrangements months in advance; supplies of both can be exhausted long before the event.The 60th anniversary AirVenture gathering will take place July 23 through July 29, 2012. Already on the agenda a r e e v e n t s h o n o r i n g t h e 7 5 t h a n n i v e r s a r y o •f t h e P i p e r C u b , prolific kit aircraft designer Richard Van Grunsven and the “Red Tails” of the Tuskegee Airmen. T&TAerostar Aircraft exhibited a fanjet-equipped conversion of an Aerostar piston twin, which was outfitted with Pratt & Whitney 615F-A engines producing 1,460 pounds thrust. The 400-knot airplane fulfills designer Ted Smith’s dream of an ultimate Aerostar.LeRoy Cook has been flying professionally since 1964 and holds ATP/SMEL certification, along with CFI ratings for ASME, Instrument and Glider. He started writing about aviation subjects in 1970 and is the au- thor of 1,500 published magazine articles and various books. He can be reached at cookleroy@argolink.net.OCTOBER 2011