EAA Sport Aviation - September 2010

I USED TO BE THE highest time U.S. Storch pilot. I was flying two of the three flying planes. They were both here in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. I flew many air shows in both of them, including a “fly-off” with Dave Smith and his Stinson L- 1 and at another show a racehorse. I read where Kermit (Weeks) wants to fly the Storch and the L- 1. Been there, done that! The Storch was slower than the L- 1 and the horse!

West Sanders, EAA 134636

Fort Worth, Texas

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I WANTED TO COMPLIMENT the EAA staff on the July issue of Sport Aviation. I’m sure STOL isn’t the sexiest topic in the aviation world and quite a few pilots really couldn’t care less about it, but for those of us who appreciate STOL flying, this issue was a welcome breath of fresh air. Thanks for allowing such a “backwoods” topic to take center stage!

Dwayne Parkinson, EAA 674989

Medford, Wisconsin

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For the Fun of It

How refreshing it was to read Lauran Paine Jr.’s recent commentary on airport hopping (Sport Aviation, July 2010). He describes basic flying for enjoyment, and at the end of the article he comments on the side benefits of flying (stress reduction). Not once does he mention any of the latest electronic gadgets that seem to be the primary discussion topic of most aviation magazine articles and hangar discussions lately. I enjoyed his discussions of navigating with a VFR map and traffic pattern flying, both seemingly forgotten arts. He renewed my belief in flying for the fun of it.

Bruce Baranski, EAA 408817

Madison, Wisconsin

The “Old Oshkosh” Versus the New

Mark Pensenstadler, EAA 9030636, of Westland, Michigan, wasn’t sure he liked the idea of some of the additional entertainment scheduled for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh this year, and he kicked off a lively conversation about the “old Oshkosh” versus the new. Did he eventually have a change of heart? Read on!

Here are some highlights from this lengthy and thoughtful discussion:

What happened to good old-fashioned Oshkosh? Why does the EAA find it necessary to jam more and more entertainment into it each year? I miss the days when Oshkosh was all about airplanes. –Mark Pensenstadler

Agreed! I don’t think I even stayed to see any of the bands or entertainment acts in the last few years…. I’m happier spending the time in the evening at the beer garden or the folding-chair movie theater. –Scott Schuster

I don’t see the harm in attracting non-aerophiles into the aviation world… embrace the aspects of it that interest you, and don’t fear getting exposed to something other than aviation for a couple of hours. –Owen O’Rourke

(The) average age of an EAA member has gone up five years in the past 10. If we can get some new members based on the funner stuff, that could help in the long term. –Paul Dowgewicz

I don’t like some things, but would never think someone else shouldn’t have the right to look at it…. I just want to say, “Thanks, EAA, for doing this for our family.” –Frank Juedes

There is something for everyone. You simply have to pick what you want to be involved with at any given moment and not worry that a few hundred thousand others are doing something else. –Paul Gernhardt

AirVenture 2010 marked my 33rd time attending an EAA fly-in convention…. None of the non-aviation stuff got in the way of enjoying the total immersion in aviation that I have come to expect. I don’t feel like anything I want to get out of that one week has been diminished by their inclusion. –Christopher Kinnaman

I went to Oshkosh this year and, as always, had a blast! I think the EAA could have brought in dancing pink elephants and I would not even have noticed. Perhaps I spoke too soon? I’m already looking forward to next year, especially because my plane will be done and I should be able to fly it there! –Mark Pensenstadler

I think Oshkosh is very family-oriented. Isn’t that what it is all about? Building interest in flying, and a family event? Seems to me it is working and working very well. First-class event run by a first-class organization. –J. Beischel