Calm Before The Storm

By ANN Correspondent Aleta Vinas

No hints of the 700,000 aviation enthusiasts that will be storming Wittman Field on Monday for AirVenture were evident this rainy Saturday afternoon. The only aviation enthusiasts in sight at the field were some of the arriving ANN staffers.

The trailer was naked; no ANN banner was hung by the bungees with care. The reason was Mother Nature's downpour at the moment.

The ANN crew made for the trailer and work began. Lists were compiled for the survival items needed for the week at AirVenture. Dr. Pepper, chips, dip and the like, the sustenance needed to keep the largest-ever ANN crew running around Oshkosh, reporting for you.

The daily stories, will be up, of course. We have ANN's real-time news for the breaking stories.

As the rain continued, the organization level inside the trailer increased, which was a miracle of sorts, but outside the quiet remained. Though the quiet was punctuated by the occasional thunderclap.

The usually steady stream of cars being directed into almost full parking lots was replaced by only a stray car now and then.

The exhibitor's tents stood lonely, with no exhibitors there to man them and no spectators looking for freebies and product information.

No radials, recips or jets could be heard. Many of the folks camping for the week or sitting in hotel rooms were staying put, waiting out the rain.

The rainy weather was a minor inconvenience, but come Monday, not hell or high water will keep aviation fans from seeing one of the greatest collections of airplanes to be found anywhere this summer.

FMI: www.airventure.org