Oshkosh 2009 Vintage Scene

[Flyin Illini]

I know this is vintage, the replica DH 88 flying.

[TheBoy]

The Vintage Parking area was nearly bare of real vintage aircraft when i got there weds. The Pitcairn or Laird should have won. They could have parked all the antiques in two rows.

For more, see my website at:

http://flyingantiqueairplanes.blogspot.com

don

I'll stand with you on that! I didn't see the WACO that got gold but I did see the 18 and it wasn't nicer (obviously in MY opinion) than either the autogyro or the Laird. What ever happened to them taking into account the difficulty of the restoration? I'd think the Pitcairn would win on the premise alone….

[C170BDan]

Thanks for the scoop, Don... Ryan. Oshkosh is hard to miss but hearing your reports makes my decision to visit some smaller events this year seem like a good one! Looking forward to the Antique Flyin up in Vancouver, WA in two weeks! I will be blogging on that trip.

[wacoykc]

I will post some photos as soon as I get things sorted out. The vintage stuff was way down this year. In speaking of the airplanes that won awards, the Laird was real nice, however, by using the judging rules it is obvious why it did not win. It had the wrong paint scheme and had a speedring, two quick facts that shot it out of the running.

Here is what I can remember that was there:

15 Wacos
5 Staggerwings
2 Howards
2 Culver Cadets
2 Callairs
1 Rearwin Sportster
2 Tigermoths
10+ Stearmans
Comper Swift
Klemm
Taylorcraft DCO
5 Fairchild 24's
2 Fairchild 22's
Travel Air 6000
Stinson Jr.
New Standard
Travel Air 4000
2 Fleets
2 Fleet Canucks
5 Stinson Gullwings
3 Fairchild PT-23's
2 Fairchild PT-19's
1 Fairchild PT-26
Mooney Mite

I will think of some more

[TheBoy]

In speaking of the airplanes that won awards, the Laird was real nice, however, by using the judging rules it is obvious why it did not win. It had the wrong paint scheme and had a speedring, two quick facts that shot it out of the running.

The owner of the Laird had original pictures of that airplane while on the 1931 (or maybe 1932) National Air Tour painted as the "wings of progress IV" and sponsered by the Berryloid paint company - the markings on the side depicting the airplane as an 'official ship' are also accurate because the airplane flew the assistant timer from one location to the next. As far as the speed ring, if you look in Jupners volume I don't remember, you'll see that airplane (NC10402) with a speedring. With all that said, I think the airplane deserved better than a bronze. But, that's just my thoughts - I could be skewed.

[Michel C-GNCJ]

I was not there neither this year but was told the contingent of Cessna 120-140 was quite high !

Congratulations to Int'l 120-140 Association member Dick Poppe for his Outstanding Cessna 120/140 award at Oshkosh this last week!

Richard Poppe, Waterloo, Iowa
1947 Cessna 140, N4062N

[Mike]

In speaking of the airplanes that won awards, the Laird was real nice, however, by using the judging rules it is obvious why it did not win. It had the wrong paint scheme and had a speedring, two quick facts that shot it out of the running.

The owner of the Laird had original pictures of that airplane while on the 1931 (or maybe 1932) National Air Tour painted as the "wings of progress IV" and sponsered by the Berryloid paint company - the markings on the side depicting the airplane as an 'official ship' are also accurate because the airplane flew the assistant timer from one location to the next. As far as the speed ring, if you look in Jupners volume I don't remember, you'll see that airplane (NC10402) with a speedring. With all that said, I think the airplane deserved better than a bronze. But, that's just my thoughts - I could be skewed.

I thought the Laird was basically a new-build. I seem to remember a display board beside it at Watsonville this year which described as 'reconstructed from the DNA of the original' or some such.

[GARY HILTON]

[GARY HILTON]

[TheBoy]

In speaking of the airplanes that won awards, the Laird was real nice, however, by using the judging rules it is obvious why it did not win. It had the wrong paint scheme and had a speedring, two quick facts that shot it out of the running.

The owner of the Laird had original pictures of that airplane while on the 1931 (or maybe 1932) National Air Tour painted as the "wings of progress IV" and sponsered by the Berryloid paint company - the markings on the side depicting the airplane as an 'official ship' are also accurate because the airplane flew the assistant timer from one location to the next. As far as the speed ring, if you look in Jupners volume I don't remember, you'll see that airplane (NC10402) with a speedring. With all that said, I think the airplane deserved better than a bronze. But, that's just my thoughts - I could be skewed.

I thought the Laird was basically a new-build. I seem to remember a display board beside it at Watsonville this year which described as 'reconstructed from the DNA of the original' or some such.

Well, it was a bit of a 'new built' but there certianly is enough of the original airplane mixed in there along with the ever-important dataplate. Most of the fitting in the fuselage are original along with wing hardware and then some other small components.

[Baldeagle]

The Laird and Pitcairn are both magnificent machines, but I suppose it is hard to argue too much against the Waco, which is apparently very authentically done, right down to the early model Warner with its tendancy to leak oil. Forrest Lovley told me that he offered to upgrade the engine so it would be drier but the owner said he wanted it just like when new, he'd just do more cleaning...

I do think the Pitcairn won the "most photos taken of" award...




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[JDK]

As a second-time visitor and long time observer, it looked thin to me, but what was there was good.

Let's not overlook the Klemm and Comper Swift were shipped from Aus for the show, the Klemm being Aus' oldest (original) aircraft and quite a paperwork exercise to get there. The Comet racer was also flying, albeit briefly, and (shamefully) unlike the 'original' in the UK.

The Pitcairn won the 'best hat for a photo-op award'...

Quality if not quantity?

As to the food issue, perhaps not cheap, but in comparison to a top-size show elsewhere in the world, Osh has it whipped for edibility and access - a bit of planning avoided the queues. Also unlike large shows in the UK and Australasia in my experience, you could get off-site for breakfast or dinner if you wished...

Best was meeting all the great people. (Inc a few here...) Friendliest show I've been to.

[wacoykc]

The antiques were absolutley down with two rows empty. Unfortunately, OSH is not really user-friendly to the antiquers. We did lose a Travel Air in a groundloop that that took the left gear off and damaged a wing. Also watched a Model A-powered Pietenpol groundloop and go up on its nose destroying a rare Hamilton-Standard ground adjustable.

It is a shame there is no grass available for us to use. The controllers just don't get that we have issues with strong crosswinds and tailwinds. I listened to the EAA Ford Trimotor pilot ask the tower when they were going to swap the runways around and quit making them land with a tailwind. Understanding that the antiques are not the majority and won't dictate policy, I think we will see less and less over the years to come.

[JDK]

Yes, wacoykc, I was frankly amazed to learn that a venue of the status of Airventure and the Osh site didn't have a grass runway nowadays - or more appropriately a full grass field with permanently into wind option.

[Baldeagle]

I was grateful on one hand that when I told EAA that I wanted to land the autogiro on grass they immediately set out a grass area near the south end of 36 for me, but irritated on the other hand that they didn't do this for anybody who wanted it. I think we would've had one more Travel Air in the antique area if this was done, instead of damaged and moved to a hangar on the far side of the airport. The same grass area that I used was used several years ago for several airplanes that requested a grass runway, it's about 1,500 feet by 200 feet, next to the west side of the south end of 36.

Of course there used to be a grass runway marked out for use between 36L and 36R (the taxiway) at the south end, it was probably a good 2,500 feet, and they used to do the parade of flight from it in the 1980s, for those who remember. Then one year they cut it in half with another taxiway connector and that was that, although I think there's still a big enough area to use in one of those halves.

They have let some airplanes use the ultralight runway, the Jenny a couple of years ago, and a Heath and Aeronca C-3 one year, but it isn't very convenient, and not good for general use by the antiques.

James, it was good to meet you at Oshkosh, I was expecting somebody with more grey hair.........

I did like the Comper and Klemm also, and happened to meet Primrose Fox in the line (sorry, queue) for ice cream, and had a nice chat-




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