Looking At Oshkosh In The Calm Before The Storm

By Tom Patton

The bad news is, it has been raining. The good news is, for the moment, it has stopped, and the forecast is for better weather for the early part of next week in central Wisconsin, and only a chance of showers and thundershowers later on. Of course, weather forecasting in the Midwest in the summertime seems to be almost as much art as science, but we've got our hopes high for an improvement in the weather.

Still, this has already become one of the iconic pictures of AirVenture 2010 as the early arrivals move their airplanes into position and set up their tents. While it may seem trite to put a "No Wake" sign in the middle of the road, it certainly is a courtesy for those who may be nearby. With the ANN Headquarters in Florida, the only thing that's missing is the "Manatee Protection Zone" sign.

Because the grounds have been so soggy, many of the early-arriving aircraft are lined up along the main taxiway which parallels runway 18-36 at Wittman Regional Airport. EAA spokesman Dick Knapinski told us in a casual conversation Saturday morning that it's "something you won't see every year." Unfortunately, many of the mass arrivals of aircraft have not been able to take place, including the Piper Cherokees, which are celebrating the 50th anniversary of that venerable airplane. 

Still, the show must go on, and go on it will. The work of setting up the tents and displays is well underway all over the grounds of the airport. Most are just about completed by now, with the show officially opening Monday morning, but some are just getting started.

The airplanes, too, are being prepped for the show. Some, like this Flight Design CTLS, are in "some assembly required" mode.

Some are coming in on trailers, like this Icon A5 which turned a lot of heads, and picked up some advance orders, at last year's show. Pull it to the lake like a boat on a trailer, but it might be a challenge to pull a water-skier once it became airborne. Let's not give any ideas to the kite surfers.

As other airplanes land at Wittman Regional, they need to be moved into place by hand by some of the hundreds of volunteers around the airport. This sight is a common one in the days leading up to the show, and there is a ballet that goes on in AeroShell Square during the course of the week, as airshow airplanes are moved from their parking places to the active taxiway. For now, though, they are all being moved into place.

So, as the water from several days of rain recedes, preparations for AirVenture 2010 are proceeding as they would in any year. The staff has made accommodations as best they can to work around the weather, and things may just dry out and cooperate. Hope we'll see you here.

FMI: www.eaa.org