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

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:

A True Gentleman of AirVenture

Jamail Larkins. Yes, I am biased on this vote but it's my opinion, so there. I don't believe I have ever talked to a young person (20 years old) with the intelligence, poise, politeness and manners of Jamail Larkins but if he calls me Ms. Vinas or ma'am again, I'm going to have to hurt him. It's Aleta, if you please. His pathway into the aviation world is amazing and his belief in giving back is unshakeable. His peers have called him an "achiever" and "motivated." He is someone to keep an eye on, for sure. (Aleta Vinas)

Greatest Improvement Over Previous Oshkosh's

The Whole Young Eagle Experience. ANN Reader Ceci S. tells ANN that, "My best experience at Oshkosh was volunteering for the Young Eagles, my first time volunteering for them other than piloting Young Eagles at my home base, Whiteman Airport in Southern California.
 
My first day volunteering at Oshkosh I drove around in the "Green Machine" with Tandy (an experienced YE volunteer) looking for pilots in the RV section. We got to chat with the pilots, asking if they had flown Young Eagles. Most of them had. Most didn't have the new materials, so we gave each of them an envelope with the updated paperwork. All were enthusiastic about Young Eagles and taking them up in their airplanes. Then, it started raining as we were driving around uncovered, so we rushed back to the YE Pavilion for protection.
 
My second day volunteering was at the Young Eagles Pavilion. I got to meet Jamail, the noted former Young Eagle now flying aerobatics in a Christian Eagle. An amazing teenager! Then, since they didn't have anyone to give "ground school" to kids who were going up on their Young Eagle flights, they asked me to talk to the kids. I got to take 2 groups of children around an RV6A, a special airplane owned by EAA and used to fly Young Eagles. Some of the kids were enthusiastic, some not, but I tried to share with them my love of flying and my enjoyment in flying children like them and they seemed to respond to that. It was a beautiful day, and parents took pictures and followed us around the airplane. I let the children who wanted to sit in the airplane and put on the headsets--they really enjoyed that! It was an honor to be asked to do the 'ground school' for the new Young Eagles."

Dead Grass Award

Here we go again… Diamond DA42. This thing ALWAYS had a crowd around it. Pity the people who have to re-sod the area that this bird was kept.

• Runner(s)-Up: Cory Bird's Symmetry. This may be the prettiest cusotm-built bird to show at Oshkosh in many years... and the folks who surrounded it, nearly 24/7, seemed to agree.

The Steel Cojones Award

Bruce Bohannon and his technical support crew. For attempting to break a world record the day after rebuilding a damaged intake and exhaust system due to the turbocharger eating something on the flight to Oshkosh. It's too bad they missed the cracked waste gate flange, or they may have gotten the record. Next year, for sure!

The 'Lazarus' Award

Symphony Aircraft… Once thought to be nearly dead, there is new life in this excellent little airplane series. We hope it continues to survive… it's a great machine.

• Runner(s)-Up: Mooney Aircraft. They've been through a bit of hell over the last few years, but it seems that the Mooney line is finally getting back on track and heading for a far more secure future. We love it...

The Coolest Aircraft at OSH 2004

Lancair Columbia 400: 235kts... 25,000 feet... four seats... sexy looks. That's a LOT of performance packed into a single four-seater. You're going to see a LOT of these over the next few years... but we sure can't wait for a pressurized version....

The Sexiest Aircraft at OSH 2004

TBM 700. (In your best Pepe le Pew voice): "Ah, cherie, zees can only be ze Socata TBM-700, she whisks you to your lover's side at ze 300 knots een ze Eurostyle..."

The Cat's Shepherd Award

Oshkosh Tower's Ground Controllers. The minute the daily airshow ended, these guys had an amazing task to perform... and they did it admirably.

The Reality Check Award

The Luscombe War. Will the two factions warring over Luscombe please wake up and smell the coffee? Ain't gonna be much left for anyone if this keeps up much longer.

The Patience Of A Saint Award

Surviving SportPlane Manufacturers. After years of association hype and government delays... Sport Pilot is real... if a bit ham-strung. The manufacturers who hung in through all this are hoping for a renaissance in the sport aviation industry... if the medical issues don't keep too many senior flyers away. Kudos to those who survived the hype and stuck it out... we hope it was worth the wait. Time will tell.

Things We Got To See Because of Our Press Pass

All the airshow performer's kids playing soccer in the hangar, in the middle of all the airshow performer' planes, while Sean D. Tucker gave a quick preflight brief to the pilots and photographers for a post airshow air to air 6 plane formation photo shoot. (Chris Armstrong)

Best Kept Secret

The Vette Seaplane Base. Picturesque, peaceful and well-supported; the nearby seaplane base is one of the Oshkosh area's best aeronautically oriented secrets.

Highest Price Food Item

A $6 Salad… with fake cheese. Nuff said…

• Runner(s)-Up: High-priced glasses of Lemonade, up half a buck to $3.50.

To Be Continued...

FMI: www.airventure.org