The Very Best (And Worst) of Oshkosh 2004! (Part Two)

Compiled By The Staff and Readership of the Aero-News Network

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 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.

Unlike past years, ANN readers remarks were heavily incorporated into ALL aspects of this report, and not just the Aircraft awards and such. Their contributions are specifically noted when a particular attribute is based primarily on an individual's report.

Our Annual Best Plane of the Year Selections (tentatively announced after Oshkosh and finalized at year's end) will follow this series shortly… we're having a REALLY hard time making a decision this year - and the reasons might surprise you.

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

Best Airshow Performance

Masters of Disaster. Hands down! Bobby Younkin, Jimmy Franklin, Jim LeRoy combined with Ken and Les Shockley and Rich's Incredible Wall of Fire... it doesn't get anymore intense than that! (Tyson Rininger and ANN Staff)

• Runner(s)-Up: The USMC AV-8B Harrier. No matter who performs at EAA Oshkosh AirVenture, my heart is consistently stolen by the AV-8B Harrier. Watching about 20 tons of aircraft hovering on "a column of noise" (thanks to ANN newbie Chris Armstrong for that description) is mind-blowing. There's a feeling of watching the laws of physics being broken.
  No matter what I was doing at the time, I would leap out of the ANN trailer, locking the door as I exited, to watch this aviation marvel. I can't wait until next time. (Aleta Vinas)
• Runner(s)-Up: The ANG C-130, flown dramatically, but within the dash-one. Youse guys know the one I mean... we all saw them go overhead! Wow!

Best Avionics - Portable

ControlVision AnywhereMap. This thing is the Swiss Army Knife of Aviation. Various versions provide weather, navigation, TFRs, attitude info, XM data, you name it. No one stands still at ControlVision for more than a few seconds. An amazing company.

Best Accessory - Electronic

Chelton Flight Systems Synthetic Vision System. By far, the most advanced and capable glass panel system available to the GA market.

• Runner(s)-Up: Blue Mountain Avionics' EFIS Sport Generation 3. A high quality 6.25 inch glass cockpit with all the bells and whistles for $6500! If that's too, much how about the EFIS Lite G3, $2795 for a 3.5 inch screen version. (Chris Armstrong and ANN Staff)
• Runner(s)-Up: A little gadget called the Av-Timer Plus. If you are an instrument pilot who uses a headset, you're gonna want one of these nifty critters.

Best Accessory - Safety

The BRS Airplane Recovery Parachute System. If you can legally put it in, meaning you are an Experimental, or fly a Cessna 150/2, 172, or 182; there's no question: the best safety device you can fly with is the BRS airframe parachute system. (BUT… You can get it for free if you buy a Cirrus!)

• Runner(s)-Up: Avidyne Entegra. With over 1000 systems flying the skies of America, and with the MOST experience of any GA glass panel provider; Avidyne's endless fine-tuning and constant efforts to mature an amazing technology is giving new aircraft owners more access to vital data than at any time in our past. This is a better way to fly -- period... and Avidyne is the indisputable experience leader in GA glass panel technology.

Best Accessory - Powerplant

The V Aircraft Engines V220 and V300T V-6 Engines. In less than a year, we're finally going to find out the ID of the first OEM willing to take the "risk" of installing a TRULY new technology, multi-fuel, efficient, QUIET powerplant… and why this amazing engine may be one of the pivotal steps that the GA revolution needs to maintain its current momentum. Fuel and noise issues are going to be even more perilous problems for the GA industry in a short time… and this is the ONLY powerplant available that truly addresses those concerns. We're REALLY impressed with this thing.

Best Event/Exhibit Of Show:

Oshkosh Workshops! ANN Reader Scott T tells ANN that, "The hands-on workshops are worth their weight in gold! I learned a lot about the skills required to build some of my favorite designs, and gave me some good insight into what I think I can do. The other workshops mostly are sales pitches about a certain company's products, but at least you have the opportunity to meet the people you would purchase from and ask them detailed questions."

Best Display/Booth

A Three Way Tie… between "Camp Pilatus," The Cirrus Design Compound and Eclipse Aviation. Classy, informative, mature presentations that speak volumes about the progress our industry has made in selling itself to the public and the GA market.

ANN's MVP

ANN Veteran John Ballantyne. His coverage of the new Sport Pilot regulations were some of the most valuable and astute analyses to be read anywhere, AND on the hottest topic at the show.

ANN's Rookie Of The Year

Chris Armstrong. We were blessed with the excellent support of several GREAT rookies this year, but Chris Armstrong's work was simply exemplary.

Outstanding Personality (Commercial)

Dr. Peter Diamandis, X-Prize Foundation. This man has a vision… and it's a vision that may alter our futures in the most amazing ways. No one really "gets" the true import of civilian space travel like Peter does and no one has worked as hard to make sure that space may, some day, be accessible to everyone. He's an amazing guy.

• Strong Runner(s)-Up: Cirrus Design's Dale and Alan Klapmeier. No one has figured out the GA market (and the pilots who populate it) so well and applied that knowledge so expertly. No one.

• Strong Runner(s)-Up: Administrator Blakey, for showing up, flying the planes, taking every single question thrown her way and answering them without feeding anyone any BS, and generally being what all of us in GA would hope an FAA Administrator should be. (Juan Jimenez)

Outstanding Personality(s) (General)

Burt Rutan and Mike Melvill. Let's face it. Burt and Mike OWNED Oshkosh this year. Not only were they still riding the heady wave of popularity and acclaim following the successful record flight of SpaceShipOne, but we're talking up their upcoming assault on the XPrize… which we think they're going to win. Burt Rules!

• Runner(s)-Up: The Everyday Folks Of Oshkosh. ANN Reader Larry S. said it best, "I still enjoy meandering the flightline areas, turning a corner and seeing a one of a kind, a rare or a pristine restoration airplane. That surprise always gives me hope that maybe some day I can bring such a machine to the event. So a seasoned attendee can still find such pockets of aviation joy. Overall, and despite being open to the public, most folks who attend are of a variety that are the "good" people in our society. And THAT remains the BEST of Oshkosh. The "realness" of the people of Oshkosh and of Wisconsin are the reason I go... year after year."
• Runner(s)-Up: Col. Charles McGee (USAF, Ret). A three-war veteran, he started out having to prove to a skeptical Air Corps that, yeah, the laws of physics and aerodynamics apply just the same to black folks, too. He wound up setting an example for Americans of any and every heritage. (Kevin O'Brien)

To Be Continued...

FMI: www.airventure.org