The "Official" EAA AirVenture 2010 thread

[warbird1]

Even better news is that both aircraft will be on display all week.

A few more details:

http://www.airventure.org/news/2010/100527_zero.html

From the link, talking about the Zero:

"Everything is original on the airplane except the engine, which like the Fw190's is a P&W 2800. Its restoration lasted several decades."

HHhhmm, I guess they ran out of proof-readers over there at the EAA.

[Dan K]

"Everything is original on the airplane except the engine, which like the Fw190's is a P&W 2800. Its restoration lasted several decades."

HHhhmm, I guess they ran out of proof-readers over there at the EAA.

Obviously it's hard to focus on work when distracted by the Tilted Kilt girls.

[mustangdriver]

I heard that Dan!! It is looking like it is going to be a great event. Although I have never been to Oshkosh and been disappointed.

[Warbirdnerd]

I hope this does not lead to some Goonies skipping AirVenture
From ANN:

05.28.10 Edition: WAR? 'The Last Time' DC-3 Commemoration Project Claims 'Hostile Takeover' By EAA Air War In Progress?

A private group of DC-3 pilots and devotees that claim to have
spent "over a year" organizing a mass gathering of DC-3 and C-47
aircraft for this summer (including a showing at Oshkosh 2010)
seems to think that they are the victim of a hostile takeover... by
the EAA, itself.

According to public statements made by the organization, 'The
Last Time is an organization created for the sole purpose of
reuniting flying examples of the Douglas DC-3 and the people
associated with them, for one last time. The goal of the
organization is to celebrate this aircraft and these people. At the
same time we want to honor their service, we also want to provide
assistance to the people and aircraft making this journey to EAA
AirVenture 2010.'

Originally, the event was put forth as a cooperative venture
between EAA and The Last Time... until the night of May 26th, when
notice went out that EAA would be dealing with the matter,
'exclusively."

The EAA notice about the event and its relation to the
Oshkosh Fly-In, created some consternation and many TLT
proponents claim the announcement "caught us by
surprise." Shortly after EAA's late Wednesday announcement, TLT
posted the following statement to their web site.
'The Last Time' Public Statement

EAA announced (May 26) their planned hostile takeover of The
Last Time celebration and formation flight. In the
announcement, the Association stated, "EAA will exclusively
organize and coordinate all AirVenture activities for the DC-3 75th
anniversary." This is clearly an attempt at ousting the
celebration's original organizers.
In spite of Tom
Poberezny's assertion that EAA has been planning the event for the
past year, The Last Time project was developed by an
independent group of DC-3 pilots. It was planned, coordinated, and
privately funded without any support from EAA. Now they want to
claim it to be theirs.
The kickoff celebration at the staging
airport (KSQI) at Sterling/Rock Falls, Illinois will still occur on
July 24th and 25th. Free media rides and all the planned DC-3
activities will remain intact. Come to Whiteside County Airport and
witness the world record formation flight on Monday, July 26. See
these historic airplanes together again, for the last
time.

ANN is checking with sources on both sides of the controversy
and will furnish more background shortly.
FMI: http://www.thelasttime.org

[mustangdriver]

In the EAA's defence, when I was at Oshkosh last year on the last day, they were already talking about how there were plans in the works to get a DC-3/C-47 Gathering together there for 2010, and the EAA regularly honors the milestone birthdates of aircraft every year. This is nothing new, just this year happens to be a larger aircraft than the Cessna 172, or the BE-36. The EAA was also displaying a link to The LAst Time Web site. I don't see how the EAA is at fault, and doubt that any aircraft will not be attending Oshkosh because of this.

[k5083]

I don't know anything about this controversy, but I will say that I had to snort at the name "Last Time." Considering that a color photo of a DC-3 was on the front page of the New York times a couple of days ago, still working hard (dispersing oil), the real "Last Time" for a big DC-3 gathering is so far off that most of us will be lucky to live to see it.

And whoever was "first" to start the "Last Time," it seems to me that these TLT guys would be well advised to get over themselves and make nice with EAA as quickly as possible, if they want their little party to have anything to do with Oshkosh. Last time I checked, EAA runs that event pretty closely. The statement, "EAA will exclusively organize and coordinate all AirVenture activities for the DC-3 75th anniversary ..." makes perfect sense to me and I very much doubt that EAA ever intended to give up control over anything that happens at Wittman Field.

August

[mustangdriver]

August, very well said on so many levels.

[Mudge]

August, very well said on so many levels.

What he said.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Disclaimer: I've never been to Oshkosh and probably never will go. That being said and all due respect to the TLT troops BUT...Did they really think they were going to go to a "private party" and get to dictate the rules?

Mudge the partier

ps. Youse guys are a bunch of voyeurs.

[mustangdriver]

ha ha we just get around Mudge. Hope to meet you at the WWII Weekend.

[Mudge]

ha ha we just get around Mudge. Hope to meet you at the WWII Weekend.

VOYEURS, not voyagers you dingbat.

Mudge the precise

re: WWII...We'll be there.

[mustangdriver]

After consulting the dictionary, I have been one of those too! ha ha

[Dan K]

And for fans of the Great War: An early KOSH arrival.

http://www.eaa.org/news/2010/2010-05-28_se5a.asp

[Mudge]

After consulting the dictionary, I have been one of those too! ha ha

Why am I not surprised.

Mudge the prude

[dc8jet]

I don't see what all of the fuss is about. I thought the intent of TLT was to use Rock Falls as a staging airport for the mass flight into OSH They planned some activities from July 23-25 and on the morning of the 26th the aircraft would depart for OSH. They can still do whatever they were going to do and then when the aircraft get to OSH the EAA will take over. I don't see anything to the contrary in the EAA anouncement.

Last edited by dc8jet on Fri May 28, 2010 10:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Dan K]

Disclaimer: I've never been to Oshkosh and probably never will go... Mudge the partier

oxymoron n. , pl. , -mora , or -rons . A rhetorical figure in which incongruous or contradictory terms are combined...


Voyeurs, are we?

You, sir, are an oxymoron. Anyone who intentionally denies himself the Oshkosh experience, but then describes himself as a "partier" truly lives an incongruous existence.

Of all the other airshows and fly-ins I've attended over the years, I've always exited them with a sense of unfulfillment: If only it could last a little longer. If only I had a chance to visit a little longer with other attendees. If only I could get up close & personal with the aircraft and owners. If only...

It's not possible for ANY aviation event to be everything for everybody, but Airventure is as close as an enthusiast is going to get. The combination of being able to press one's nose against warbirds, classics, antiques (and more) up close; rub elbows with owners and restorers; and attend hands-on workshops on classic aircraft reconstruction for a full week or more is unique on the planet. Add to that the chance to socialize with great food and cold drink (referred to as "Gemuetlichkeit"--if you really want to fit in with the German-centric cheeseheads) with the largest collection of WIXers on the planet, and I personally exit Oshkosh feeling truly "full"... almost as though one needs a break from aviation for a week or two just to recuperate from what one has just experienced.

This "fullness" is something I have never experienced at any other aviation event, but perhaps it's just me getting too aggressive with Jen's deviled eggs.

Mudge, the Oshkosh faithful can only hope that you will one day change your mind. And if not, at least let Mrs. Mudge come.