We continue to enjoy the feedback we've gotten from ya'll on the
many, many, many stories we published concerning aviation's biggest
get-together... Oshkosh 2003.
The 2003 version of this favored event reversed a troubling
trend that had plagued many other fly-ins where attendance and
visitor satisfaction had been taking a dive for quite some time
(especially Sun 'n Fun... which is starting to look like a lost
cause).
Reversing A Trend...
But, Oshkosh and EAA pulled off a winner this time around. They
reversed the trend toward lesser attendance, put together a
friendlier and more interesting event than in year's past, and
attracted a lot more people and a truly amazing increase in
airplane traffic... the best showing in half a decade.
Good for them.
For our part, ANN fielded the
largest team it has EVER sent to any aviation event... utilizing
the efforts of some 15 people, both off and on the Convention site,
working their buns off, to bring you the real news and vivid flavor
of a true aviation extravaganza. Despite the size of the team and
the demands of the huge mission that resulted in hundreds of
stories, photos, interviews and features, this team represented the
best and most enjoyable effort we've ever undertaken.
We worked our hearts out, but we had a ball... and your e-mails
tell us that our efforts were much appreciated... for which we
thank you.
All in all, it was an amazing week... and for the next week, we
want to revisit this incredible experience and call your attention
to the entire collection of stories that were presented for your
amusement and education, as well as some of our favorites and some
quick kudos to the folks that helped us pay the bills (who truly
represent the cream of the aviation crop... and we were thrilled to
have them on our side -- so please let them know that their
sponsorship was appreciated...).
For the next week, we're going to call your attention to the
master link that takes you to ALL our many Oshkosh 2003-specific
stories as well as some of our favorites articles and take one more
opportunity to thank the folks that made it all possible for us to
do this amazing job for ya'll...
Also... we have a few NEW stories that have been filed since the
end of Oshkosh that we'll lay on you as well as our long-awaited
Osh-2003 summary, some special awards (comprising our take on the
Best AND Worst of Oshkosh) and a final wrap-up of our experiences
at this year's "Big O."
Read on, enjoy, and please know that we learned a LOT from this
year's massive effort and the lessons are still being examined...
with the result being that you can expect better and more
aggressive coverage of such pivotal events in the future. We're
excited about that... and look forward to doing truly exceptional
things for you in future...
Jim Campbell, ANN Editor-In-Chief
We Call Your Attention To
Some of Our Favorite Stories From Oshkosh 2003
(More To Come...)
08/02/2003
08/01/2003
07/31/2003
07/30/2003
07/29/2003
07/25/2003
This MASSIVE Oshkosh 2003
Special Coverage Effort Was Made Possible (in Part) By SUPPORTING
SPONSOR American Autogyro!
Who Loves Ya, Baby? Obviously, These Companies
Do...
Continuing our roster of
exemplary sponsors, ANN is pleased to draw your attention to the
each of the SUPPORTING SPONSORS that helped make it possible for us
to bring all these stories to you, day by day, from Good ol'
Oshkosh... the most aviation friendly place on Mother
EARTH.
In addition to Lead Sponsor Cirrus Design, and
Major Sponsors Bombardier, Sennheiser and
Unison, please note that our SUPPORTING
SPONSORS gave us critical support so that we could write all
these cool stories for you...
ANN Supporting Sponsor: American Autogyro
The
sport rotorcraft industry is one of the most exciting aviation
industries in the world... it is also one of the most critical in
terms of the need for solid engineering, design and manufacturing
practices -- not always a major feature among many sport rotorcraft
manufacturers. American Autogyro, Inc., growing out of the highly
regarded Groen Brothers rotorcraft operation, has stepped up to
fill a here-to-fore unfilled void... first with an extensive
retrofit kit designed to make one of the more popular two place
gyros adhere to safer and more acceptable engineering and
aerodynamic practices, as well as an all-new design to offer
to those just entering this exciting industry and hobby, The AAI
Sparrowhawk.
During Oshkosh, American Autogyro,
Inc. offered introductory flight lessons, for a nominal
charge, at Fond du Lac Airport, a short drive south of
Oshkosh. Several SparrowHawk prototypes were on hand to
accommodate those interested in taking a ride in what Jim Mayfield,
AAI President and Chief Test Pilot, calls "the most stable aircraft
he has ever flown" during his 35 year flight career. Jim is
one of only a handful of individuals certified as a gyroplane pilot
examiner by the FAA and is a well-respected member of the Society
of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP), an elite world wide
organization of only 1800 pilots. With more than 3,300 hours
of gyroplane flight time and over 12,800 total hours flight time,
he has been Chief Test Pilot on more than 225
aircraft.
ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (12.05.24)
See All