Compiled By The Staff and Readership of the Aero-News Network and Aero-TV (Part Three)

For quite a while, we have recognized the highs and lows inherent in the general and sport aviation community. There are but a few places where that is more a propos than at a major event like the recently completed Oshkosh Fly-In.

It's hard to know what really is going to make a difference and what really qualifies as exceptional unless you've been watching this industry carefully for several years... as we have.

Over the last few years, ANN readers remarks have been heavily incorporated into ALL aspects of this report, and not just the Aircraft awards and such. Their contributions have been carefully considered and (in many cases) incorporated into our annual summation.

Our Annual Best Plane of the Year Selections (tentatively announced after Oshkosh and finalized at year's end) will await the end of the year but we will announce the nominees at this point, with the proviso that our opinions may change as the year develops.

So; here are our picks for the Best and Worst of this year's Oshkosh... and why we think so...

Best Accessory/Upgrade - Powerplant

Lycoming IO-390 series. Lycoming tells ANN that they developed the certified IO-390 in response to airframe manufacturers and aircraft owners who have requested a higher horsepower, four-cylinder engine -- and for several years, the uncertified version of a 390 Lycoming engine, the IO-390-X, has been making SERIOUS headway in the homebuilt and kit aircraft market. The certified IO-390 Lycoming engine, at 312 to 315 pounds and rated at 210hp at 2700 rpm, uses the same footprint and delivers more horsepower than the earlier IO-360-A Series Engines -- and to anyone with a need for a serious four-banger, that is SERIOUSLY GOOD NEWS.

Best Promotional Literature

Cirrus Aircraft's "Flying 2.0" Presentations. While I think it only touches the surface of what needs to be said and taught about the true nature and value of GA, Cirrus has done a great job of documenting the many reasons why today's business people and travelers need to give General Aviation a good hard look.

Best Display/Booth

Icon Aircraft. A self-guided walking tour using pedestal-mounted placards with frequently-asked questions about Light Sport Aircraft in general and the Icon A5 in particular, with each question backed by a big screen playing a video with the answers. Well conceived, cleanly executed, informative and, like everything else this company does, beautiful. 

Best New ANN Feature

Aero-Minutes. The advent of Aero-TV has set the standard for aviation news and feature video (as we are told quite often, thank you), but we're in the process of getting ready to raise the bar... a lot. The first step in this direction is the advent of an additional series of Aero-TV programming options that are shorter, faster-paced and very tightly targeted... those topics that may not sustain a feature program's length, but deserve to seen and exposed to the aviation world, nonetheless. Aero-Minutes, available in greater frequency and quantity than some of our other programming options, is just one more way in which ANN and Aero-TV continues to invent the next generation of aviation news, communication and networking. But... wait til you see what's next.  

ANN's MVP

Canon's Mike Cutler. For nearly two years, ANN's Aero-TV crews have benefited greatly from the tutelage and advice we get from Canon's Mike Cutler. This guy has been tremendously helpful, has an incredible amount of knowledge on all things video (especially where Canon is concerned), is an insatiable aviation and space aficionado and is about as personable as a guy can get. Aero-TV and the aviation world benefits greatly from Cutler's help... and we SO appreciate it.

ANN's Rookie Of The Year

Jennifer Staretorp, aka "Captain Twitter." This was a tough choice... because simply put, we had one of the best crew of stringers we've ever had... they were dedicated, informed, inventive, and just plain fun to be around... and they worked their hearts out... all of them... but watching Jenn (shown above, in her best "Captain Twitter" pose) tackle things she had never done before, with the occasional bit of nerves but little or no hesitation, really impressed us all. 

Outstanding Personality (Commercial)

Avidyne's Dan Schwinn. I have to admit to a bias in favor of the "UnderDog"... you know, the one that everyone has counted out and is already forecasting their doom. Avidyne has gone from GREAT times to not so great times to a point now where they are (for the time-being) the most innovative company in the glass panel business. They have never lost their need to be pioneers, and their most recent efforts have put the rest of the avionics industry on notice that not only is Avidyne back among the top tier, but they're setting the current standard for glass panel interface and design.

Outstanding Personality(s) (General)

Oshkosh Controllers. I spent a lot more time flying around Oshkosh this year than most... and the professionalism and expertise of Oshkosh controllers and ATC personnel is absolutely stunning. Better yet, there is a clear sense of fun in what they do... and when there's time, a little humor and a positive tone not only welcomes pilots to Oshkosh with open arms, it makes flying through the "Swarm" an uncommon, if busy, pleasure.

True Gentleman/Woman of AirVenture

Major General Cuthbert “Bill” Pattillo, and his twin brother, Lieutenant General Charles “Buck” Pattillo. Both of these American heroes flew in the 487th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group. 
Born on June 3, 1924, the inseparable brothers enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in November of 1942, eventually joining the renowned “Bluenosed Bastards of Bodney.”  Lt. Gen. “Buck” Pattillo flew 37 combat missions in his P-51D Mustang, the “Little Rebel,” while his brother, “Bill” Pattillo, completed 35 combat missions in his “Sweet and Lovely” P-51D Mustang. Baker completed “Sweet and Lovely’s” restoration two years ago. This year, however, was the first time that the brothers were able to see both planes restored since flying the P-51s over 65 years ago. For “Buck” Pattillo, it was a moving reunion; the last time he saw “Little Rebel” was in 1945 while stationed in England. 

Greatest Improvement Over Previous Oshkosh's

"The Bold Look of Kohler"

The air-conditioned trailers with flush toilets and designer sinks were a relief from the highly unhygienic and soapless Honey Buckets. Unfortunately, there was apparently no thought given to emptying the holding tanks on the trailers, and after they overflowed, they also offered 'The Bold Smell of Kohler.'

Dead Grass/Eroded Concrete Award

Airbus A380. This category is no contest this year... all you had to do was look at the lines that crawled around the A380 all day long to know that this bird was the biggest of big hits, this year, at Wittman Field.

The Steel Cojones Award (NOT!)

ANN's Jim Campbell... NOT! Jim would have won this award in a heart-beat if he'd had the guts to pull off a GREAT practical joke that he had planned for the arrival of the CBP Predator. He had planned to walk up near the front of the line along the runway as the Predator came in on short final, whip out an RC transmitter, hold it high, wiggle the control sticks a few times, and yell out loudly... "Hot Damn... I GOT IT, Let's see how this thing loops!" to all those assembled... however, upon seeing the many, many , MANY members of the government and law enforcement community, each equipped with various firearms, Campbell chickened out. COWARD!

The Reality Check Award

Media/Perception Games By EAA, AOPA (And Other) Aero-Associations. Aero-News, our audio Aero-Casts, and now Aero-TV are aimed at bringing you the excitement, and the warts, of aviation and aerospace, but not everyone we cover is happy to have you see the warts. In particular, EAA and AOPA are now fielding their own so-called news services, so they can maintain tighter control over the viewpoints and stories reaching you.
We'd like to think that most readers, listeners and viewers understand that if you only listen to any organization's own internal PR, what's happening within that organization is presented through a pretty tight filter. Sometimes, the difference is subtle.
On the opening day of Oshkosh 2009, some amazing aircraft were scheduled to arrive at AirVenture, and some highly anticipated products were introduced by event exhibitors including some of the biggest names in aviation, on the grounds of the event with advance notice to editorial staffs. You read about, heard and saw them through Aero-News Network and Aero-TV.
EAA's in-house event newspaper, AirVenture Today, didn't get to any of this until page 12, after stories about the re-dedication of the event's entryway arches, an explanation of the value of changes in the layout of the event, an interview with EAA Facilities Manager Steve Taylor, and an announcement of the availability of flush toilets at selected sites, with a companion video exit poll of users of those new facilities.
All of these things have their place, and the point is not to be critical of EAA's editorial policies in its own publications. The point is just to notice that they exist. Any organization will, at times, find its own communications agenda at odds with the priorities of real-news consumers. It's important to get news on any organization from the outside to be fully informed.
That's all. This seemed worth mentioning because both EAA and AOPA now have their own products designed to look like news media, and are less friendly to outside coverage today than they were even a year ago, and the trend seems increasingly "negative."
Never forget there are more options than just Kool Aid on the beverage menu, and never stop looking for them.

The Sexiest Aircraft at OSH 2009

Icon A5 Light Sport Amphibian. Not to pile on the accolades after the big intro at last year's event, but this year the plane actually flew off both land and water.

The Coolest Aircraft at OSH 2009

WhiteKnightTwo. Duh. Nothing else looks like it, and nothing else has such a cool purpose-built mission! 

FMI: Comments? Complaints? Additions? Let us have it!