And Be Nice To Them. They're With Zoom

I've got to say, we have an impressive lineup of editorial, audio, and video talent joining us this year for AirVenture 2010, and our goal is to bring you the best possible coverage of aviation's premier event in the U.S.

Covering an event like Oshkosh properly would be impossible without some great help brought on specifically for the event. We have an experienced crew of stringers who'll be roaming the grounds of Wittman Regional Airport looking for the interesting, unusual, compelling, and sometimes the downright odd. Here is the crew who has volunteered their time to join us to bring you everything Oshkosh.

Chris Batcheller
Chris is on his second tour with ANN at AirVenture. Chances are if it cost money and takes a long time to get, Chris probably has it. Chris is an Aircraft Engineer from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. He is also an Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic and has previously held Inspection Authorization.

Chris Batchellor

Chris is also a 1200 hour commercial pilot with Flight Instructor, Instrument Instructor and Multi-Engine Instructor tickets. He has worked on and flown a wide variety of aircraft including turbine engine powered experimental aircraft, the Pilatus PC-12, King Air 90 Series aircraft, Cessna Skymaster, Cessna 310, Piper Cubs, Taylorcrafts, and the run-of-the-mill single engine Cessna and Piper Aircraft.

Chris has worked for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Aurora Flight Sciences, Cessna Aircraft and he currently works for Textron Marine and Land Systems (TM&LS) in Slidell, LA. TM&LS produces wheeled armored vehicles for the U.S. Army and also a variety of specialized military marine vehicles including the U.S. Navy's LCAC hovercraft. He has worked at TM&LS as a Lead Propulsion Engineer for advanced hovercraft concepts and he currently is a Black Belt in the companies Six Sigma program.

Chris currently resides in Slidell, LA with his wife Denise and his son Mitchell (of B-25 fame), and his Daughter Piper. He says his special interest areas are "Stuff that burns fuel at a high rate. Anything that he can take a picture of with off camera flash and make it look cool. The P-51 crowd. Cessna. Cirrus Jet. Air-to-air photos."

Dan Billingsley
Dan was born in Milwaukee, WI and says that must have some cosmic connection to why he is drawn back here to look at airplanes each year. Dan's folks moved to Arizona when he was two years old and he attended K-12 in the Phoenix area. He spent 4 years in the Air Force to see the world and was stationed at Davis Monthan AFB, which is located in the far-away city of Tucson. He was a cop and kept Commies from stealing the planes <g> and spent his last year in Alaska, enjoying the fishing and hunting.

Dan Billingsley

Dan graduated from Northern AZ University in 1990 with a  BS in Education, and later my MS for Educational Leadership. He recently secured a Principal Endorsement for the state of AZ. Dan says his plans are to enter administration soon. His teaching over the last 20 years has been at the high school level in the Career Technology arena: electronics, autos, woods, photography, and computer applications. For 5 years he worked as the district Vocational Director and Tech Coordinator.

Dan is married to his beautiful wife Wendy and has one son ... an engineer on an oil tanker. He owns and operates a glass business as well www.azshowersolutions.com. When he's not teaching or installing shower doors, he works on building a Kitfox IV. He says he's had this project for 4.5 years and plans to have her flying by Christmas. Dan's his passion for flying started when he was a young kid making control line Cox planes and says his dream came true 8 years ago when he got his private ticket. He is also a moderator on www.teamkitfox.com and enjoy living the dream!

Robbie Culver
Robbie Culver is an aviation enthusiast, instrument-rated private pilot, and former skydiving photographer currently living in Naperville, IL with his wife and son. Robbie's work has been published online and in print, and he maintains a photo web site at chicagoskydreams.com.

 
Robbie Culver

Robbie is joining ANN for a second straight year at AirVenture.  He holds a private pilot certificate with an instrument rating, and 1000 hours PIC. Robbie also has 3000 skydives, about 2000 of which he wore multiple cameras. Robbie says his special interests are Warbirds and the North 40.

Will Elder
Will is a student at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, School of Filmmaking who anticipates graduating Spring of 2011 with a BFA in filmmaking and a concentration in cinematography. Before college, Will began shooting b-roll for the Prince William County Media Services. Since attending school he has worked on numerous student productions, as well as a feature length documentary titled, "And We Will Dance."

 
Will Elder

In the summer of 2009 Will worked on an independent feature film titled "Road to Nowhere", which premiered at Cannes 2010, and earlier this summer, he worked on the film "Hop", scheduled to be released in 2011. Will also does a lot of photography, and just recently had aerial photographs published in the spring issue of Rails to Trails' magazine.

Will also has photographs featured in their 2010 calendar. "My dad is a pilot, so I have been surrounded by aviation since I was a baby," he says. "I love the opportunity to mix my passion for videography and photography with my experience in aviation."

Will says his special interests include photography, piano, hockey, 70's and 80's music, films/movies, seaplanes.

Mike Gallagher
Mike is new to the ANN crew this year. Originally from the Chicago area, Mike now resides in Central Illinois with his wife Michelle and 2 1/2 year old son Sean. This will be Sean's 3rd year at AirVenture! Mike's professional background started with a degree in broadcast communications and photography from Columbia College in Chicago.

Mike Gallagher

Mike worked as a professionally as a medical photographer, and has experience in radio and voice-over. Mike moved into patient care as a critical care nurse, specializing in open heart intensive care. After 15 years taking care of patients, Mike earned his Master's Degree in nursing and taken his experience into the classroom as a professor of nursing at a Central Illinois college.

During the summer months, Mike is a contributing editor for a print aviation publication covering airshows and air racing. His first visit to Oshkosh was in 1987 and has been covering AirVenture as media since 2006. While at AirVenture, Mike will be shopping for a new LSA.

Deborah Grigsby (Smith)
Deborah is also new to the ANN crew this year. She is a Colorado-based writer and photographer who specializes in editorial and photojournalism assignments.  With more than 25 years experience as writer, photographer, and public information officer, Deborah is experienced in a wide gamut of topics to include aviation, mobile technology, homeland security, strategic communication, social media, emergency operations, and disaster preparedness.

Deborah Grigsby-Smith

Deborah’s work has appeared in numerous national publications including GX Magazine, Airman Magazine, Soldier Magazine, Air Force Times, Homeland Security Magazine, Airport Journals, and she has had multiple stories picked up by network wires.

Deployed to Iraq in 2003, Deborah designed, edited and delivered the first military newspaper to serve coalition forces in the Middle East. Her work there earned her the 2003 Air Force Print Journalist of the Year, the 2003 National Guard Print Journalist of the Year, the 2003 Dave Super Award, and 2003 Air Force Best Deployed Newspaper.

She makes her home in Englewood, Colorado with husband Barry Biggs, and cat Mr. Kitty. Their deck is conveniently located on base leg to KAPA.

Deborah is attracted to loud noises and shiny things.

Maxine Scheer
Maxine Scheer has returned to ANN for a fourth consecutive year to provide coverage of Oshkosh, bringing specific interests and experience in government policy, aviation and aerospace education and workforce development, and clean technologies.
 

Maxine Scheer

Maxine has honed her over 25 years experience in the aviation industry on the infrastructure side, having worked in airport management, airport development and construction management.  Her airport assignments have taken her as far west as Manila and as far south as Tierra del Fuego.  She attended Embry-Riddle's Daytona campus and earned a B.S. in Aeronautical Studies and a private pilot certificate.

"My passion for coming to Oshkosh is rooted in my belief that the aviation industry has much to offer to the many industries that are looking for developing and harnessing passion and innovation, and to the desperate needs of improving the U.S. education system", says Max. "The true spirit of Oshkosh stands head and shoulders above many other events in the transportation industry. There is much to learn about harnessing spirit of Oshkosh to improve education and economic growth for our Nation."

Maxine lives in Los Angeles with her husband Arnie, and two young sons, Marcus and Matthew.  She consults to public transportation agencies and global engineering and consulting firms responsible for leading many large transportation and infrastructure initiatives in California and around the world.

Ben Schreiner
Joining the Aero-TV crew at Oshkosh for the third time, Ben Schreiner brings years of experience from a variety of different fields. Having graduated from Indiana University with degrees in both Philosophy and Telecommunications, he continued his vision of video development through his own production company, Puma Video Productions.

"I enjoy working in a number of different production styles," Ben says. "I'm always willing to take that next opportunity to explore a new world through video."

Ben has certainly proven that range of expertise over the years. He worked for five years at the Bloomington, IN PBS affiliate, WTIU, as a camera crane operator, director, technical director and editor on a variety of productions including "The Friday Zone," and "The Weekly Special." In addition, Ben has worked extensively with the N.C.A.A., N.B.A., and W.N.B.A. as a camera operator, covering both the Indiana University basketball teams as well as the Indianapolis Pacers.

"Sports Photography has always fascinated me; the exciting atmosphere of the crowd is thrilling to capture," Ben says. "Most of all, I love the challenge of tracking the fast-paced action. You really have to be in-tune with the movement of a game to keep up while still maintaining well-framed shots and critical focus. I'm sure that experience will prove beneficial at the air shows!"

Ben's love for aircraft goes back to his childhood and he still dreams of becoming a pilot someday.

Geoff Sobering
Geoff's parents tell him his first word was "plane", pointing out their 11th floor Chicago apartment window at airliners landing at Midway.  He started photography as a hobby as a teenager.  At the same time he was also taking classes in film-making and graphic-arts, getting a very broad introduction to photographic processes, technology, and applications. In high-school he had a part-time job in the advertising department of Macy's doing graphic arts and became very familiar with the tools and processes of photo publication.

Geoff Sobering

Geoff almost pursued a degree in photojournalism and photography at Rochester Institute of Technology, but instead headed into the physical sciences. During college and graduate-school photography temporarily took a backseat to academics. After graduation he merged his his life-long interest of aviation with photography. Geoff is also an avid sailor and iceboater.  He regularly photographs regattas - most enjoyably hanging out the door of a helicopter.  An active member of EAA Chapter 1389, he is looking forward to starting toward his pilot's license at Morey Field (C29).

FMI: www.aero-news.net