By Rose Dorcey

The Aero-News Editor asked me to write,
Of the things at AirVenture that I thought were all right.
There were many great things at AirVenture '04,
I'll cover them here; let's begin to explore…

The Next Century of Flight was the theme of the week -
A point made clear when Poberezny did speak,
He spoke of great triumphs, to the people's delight,
Like Dick Rutan's Space Ship, and Young Eagle flights.

We saw really cool airplanes on AeroShell Square,
A Stratoliner, a Connie, and a Starship so rare.
Sikorsky's, Chinook's, and a Starlifter, too -
The famed "Hanoi Taxi" which we owe a thank-you.

The Antiques, the Classics, the Warbirds were seen,
The Robins, the Fairchild's, and Mustang's, so keen.
Cessna's and Piper's and a Heath Parasol.
So many planes, I couldn't get to them all.

We heard Marion Blakey from the big FAA,
Talk of Sport Pilot Rules; new reg's to obey.
And the Ultralight flyers by the barn so red,
Listened closely to Blakey; every word that she said.

There were artists and authors and speakers galore.
So many forums; some I had to ignore.
There was Capt. Al Haynes from Flight 232,
And Paul Tibbets told of the B-29 that he flew.

Bud Anderson spoke of his plane the 'Old Crow' -
It's great to see Aces, their faces aglow.
Greg Herrick shared memories of the National Air Tour.
Yeah, the speakers were great, at AirVenture '04.

And the chance to shake hands with, oh what a thrill,
The famous Flying Tiger, David Lee "Tex" Hill.
And it wouldn't be right if I didn't record,
A new Young Eagles Chairman, Harrison Ford.

And over at KidVenture, the kids they had fun!
This is a program that is second-to-none.
I saw VW Bugs, and not too much later -
I saw green John Deere vehicles; they call them Gators.

And over in the campground, Camp Scholler by name,
They camped by the thousands, and stayed dry from the rain.
Many held picnics and parties with beer,
Many said toasts to the OSH volunteers.

There were little things, too, at AirVenture each day -
The EAA Chapel each morning to pray,
For the safety of air shows and a safe return home,
Of the flyers going back to their own aerodrome.

The numbers were down, but excitement does grow,
Like the new Wittman Tower, that will ease traffic flow.
AirVenture '04 - a clean, beautiful sight -
Perfect to welcome the Next Century of Flight.

AirVenture was over, in my Ford I did roll.
Drove slowly, I did past the State Highway Patrol.
The week there at Oshkosh was without a doubt splendid -
The EAA Staff should be highly commended.

As an Aero-News reporter, to you pilots I say,
There's no better place for a mid-summer day.
So ANN readers, as I report, but not live -
I'll see you in Oshkosh, AirVenture, '05.

(Rose Dorcey is an ANN contributor and sometime poet-in-residence at the Wisconsin Aviation Hall Of Fame)

FMI: www.eaa.org