Introducing Staff, Stringers, Videographers, And People Who Make It All Work

Anyone who's ever been to Oshkosh knows that there are hundreds of events and activities as well as tens of thousands of people that descend (some quite literally) on Wittman Regional Airport in mid-summer. While we have a very hard-working and dedicated staff, ANN could not provide you with the extensive information we do without the help of some equally ... some might say more ... dedicated volunteers who give a week of their time to make sure you have the best possible coverage of the show. As we lead up to this year's edition of AirVenture, we'll be introducing you to the people that make all of that possible.

Karen Woodward: Helper Extraordinaire

Karen was born in Colorado, and her family moved to Florida, Texas and finally California by the time she was 8. Karen's dad flew B-24’s in WWII and instilled the love of airplanes in her. "Some of my early memories were the rollercoaster road to Edwards Air Force Base and enjoying the shade of an airplane wing as we watched the air shows," she said.

In her twenties, Karen moved back to Colorado and became a flight attendant for Frontier Airlines. This is where she met her sweetie, Tom, who was a flight attendant for United and working on his pilot skills. "On our first date he rented an airplane and we flew to lunch at a restaurant that was converted from an old Convair 580. Don’t remember much about the food at the restaurant except that on the way home Tom treated me to a wingover and I lost my lunch," Karen said.

The next year, 1982, the couple travelled to Oshkosh by plane and bus and rented a room from a couple of college kids. "My first time there and it was great!! Have been back many times, the best part is just visiting with the most amazing aviators," she said.

Tom was hired by American Airlines and they moved to Washington, DC and started a family, and then moved to Raleigh and Texas.

Karen and Tom now live on a runway in Texas and have had lots of airplanes over the years. "I soloed both our Decathlon and Ercoupe, but am very happy just flying as copilot! I’ve been very fortunate to have had many rides in lots of different flying machines. Gliders, helicopters big and little, a Breezee, Stinson, Decathlon, Cessnas, seaplanes and even a ride in the front of a 777," she said.

In her spare time, Karen enjoys making lotions and potions in her home lab. She is currently Secretary for EAA Chapter 983 and "loving life in the airpark."

FMI: www.aero-news.net