BONANZAS TO OSHKOSH

photo by EAA Director of Photography Jim Koepnick

  2003 actually began ten minutes prior to the briefing for the 2002 formation flight - when we learned from FAA personnel at OSH that we were required to use runway 27 for our arrival. This had never been done previously, we did not have a formal Letter of Agreement for other than runways 18/36 and we had no plans for arrival to runway 27.  With only ten minutes to come up with a plan we did the best we could on such short notice, still managed to land everyone safely and within an incredibly short time.  It was obvious to all after the arrival that the plan had flaws and input came from multiple sources beginning that same day.

     Many gave recommendations and we listened to all.  Plans were tentatively formulated.  Over the winter we learned that long time Tower Chief Manne Torres had been replaced by Don Gunderson.  Working with Don and Jim Casper, the head of parking at OSH, a new LOA was drafted.  I can't stress enough how valuable Jim Casper was.  In an hour long three way telephone conversation between Jim, Weebs and myself final details were developed and agreed upon.  Jim, an unpaid volunteer who donates full time to EAA during AirVenture, was a wealth of information why 18L could not be used for landing, why turn-off of runways 9/27 had to be where they were - all in the name of safety and smooth flow of a large number of aircraft exiting the runway in predictable fashion.  Was it everything we wanted when we started the process?  No, but with Jim's input we knew why it had to be as it is.  With this give and take, exchange of information and preferences, the new LOA now serves as the model for all other group arrivals.

     Formal formation training and practice sessions reached a new high.  Texas was oversubscribed.  A number of us preceded the formation training with the outstanding Advanced Pilot Seminar at ADA - a suggestion proposed by Larry Gaines and quickly adopted. 

     The TX formation clinic was an outstanding success.  Weather was not a factor this year.  Mike Babler was forced to miss the session, so the didactic session was ably handled by Wayne Collins and John "Weebs" Wiebener.  With the large number of safety pilots, newcomers quickly became proficient and most progressed to four ship formation.  Beginners learned cross-under, 4-ship station keeping in finger-4 position, echelon, break and rejoin.  Advanced pilots added diamond, lazy eights in diamond, finger-4 and close trail.  A substantial number of pilots received FFI cards allowing formation flight in waived airspace with some gaining approval as lead FFI formation pilots.  The unsung hero of Texas had to be Keith Rutherford who managed all the scheduling in addition to flying.  A bonus was the FAA.  Yes, I am serious about this.  Enid Kaspar, Safety Program Manager for the Dallas FSDO gave all who requested ground school credit for the Wings Program and renewals for all CFI's who needed it.  What an unanticipated bonus!  Enid is truly a friend of aviation.

     One special formation practice session deserves mention.  Raytheon Beechcraft, participating for the first time as a sponsor, elected to participate in the formation flight.  Weebs set up a special training session at the Wichita factory for their pilot, Mike Elsenrath, with help from Terry Calloway.

    Repeat regional formation practice sessions were held at New Bedford, MA led by Paul Carroll and myself, and at Redmond, OR hosted by Art Brock.  A new regional session was held at Kinston, NC led by Ritchie Jones and Glenn Wimbish.  Larry Gaines again held a very successful practice session in Stockton, CA with great assistance from John "Weebs" Wiebener.  I can't say enough about the volunteer effort.  At personal expense sometimes amounting to more than a thousand dollars (fuel, meals, motel) many came hundreds, often over a thousand miles, to participate as safety pilots.  Robert Mark, for example, acted as safety pilot at North Carolina, Massachusetts and Texas.  Weebs came to Texas and California.  Bubba Wimbish participated in North Carolina and Texas.  These are just a few who participated in more than one training session.  We all owe them and all the other volunteers a huge debt.  This is something for all of us to remember - we need to give back in some fashion what we are receiving.

     Registration this year was the best ever and came within two aircraft of reaching the maximum allowed.  Our limit, ever since the record year of 132 aircraft, is now 100 aircraft - safety taking precedent over numbers.  With an average failure to show rate of 10-15%, this leads to a manageable formation.

     A core group arriving at RFD a day early toured other potential party sites, but found problems invalidating their use for our group.  Meanwhile, our party Saturday afternoon and evening at HoJo was the best yet with appetizers, endless pizza, beer, wine, soft drinks until everyone turned in for the night.  Our Saturday attendance was the largest yet and it remains a great vehicle to renew friendships, meet newcomers, tell war stories and be in place for the formation the next day.

     Sunday was a change from the prior two years.  Weather was warm, not unbearably hot.  Visibility was superb.  Everyone had a chance to see the newest Bonanza fresh off the line brought by Dave Copeland, Vice President - Worldwide Piston Sales for Beechcraft.  The plane first flew from Wichita to OSH setting a record with an average speed of 209 mph, then came to RFD for the formation flight.  Parked on the ramp next to the oldest Bonanza, a 1947 model 35 owned by Frank Heinisch and flown by Gary Biba, it was a great contrast and a testament to the staying power of the Bonanza line.

     Lead pilot for the formation this year was Bob Siegfried, a participant since the beginning of B2Osh.  (Bob was also significantly honored this year at the ABS convention with the Outstanding Airman award and previously had been honored on the back page of the AOPA magazine for his outstanding contributions to aviation).  His wingmen were Glenn "Bubba" Wimbish, a regular since the second year of B2Osh, and Dr. Tom Kendall, another long time regular (all three hold FFI cards).

     Take-off and landing went expeditiously and smoothly, the flight routine with a few serpentine turns necessitated by some parachute jumpers.  With weather cooperating and no turbulence, Bob elected to fly the route at 1,000 feet AGL, the only complication being the premature death of an enormous number of insects.  Parking this year was perhaps not as smoothly handled as in years past, but Kevin O'Halloran and Joe Brevetti met us with complimentary cold margaritas and beer as a great way to unwind before setting up tents.

     One bonus of the low altitude, insect killing flight was a chance to see American industry and go-get-'em attitude at work.  Erika Wiebener rounded up a number of her teenage girlfriends and made the rounds, cleaning bugs from windshields and leading edges for a fee most of us felt was a bargain.  Spending money galore for the week.

     Weather held again for the party the next day.  I can't say enough nice things about our primary sponsor, General Aviation and Modifications, Inc. (GAMI), who again underwrote the major costs of our parties at RFD and OSH as well as providing us with great raffle prizes.  It is especially great to be sponsored by such an outstanding company.  With kegs of beer, tables of wine, soda and bottled water, the party again gave us the opportunity to socialize and appreciate the true meaning of B2OSH.   Food?  Well, we anticipate about 225 people (198 listed on registration forms as coming, 10% no shows, plus invited guests); we buy platters designed to feed 500, and the food disappears.  Scott Thomas again accepted the responsibility of running both parties (buying food, tables, beverages, gazebos) and was helped by Paul Carroll, John Sulyma and others.  The Sopranos did yeoman work setting up the food at OSH.  We had a great group of volunteers helping me with distribution of shirts, caps, cruise tickets, raffle tickets.  Thanks, everyone.

     Again we had the opportunity to hear from Tom Poberezney and Don Gunderson (tower chief).  Our raffle gave us the opportunity to hear from many of our vendors.  The raffle was so outstanding this year that, for the first time, all raffle tickets were sold.  In fact, the raffle was so outstanding that the tickets sold out Saturday night.  We will correct that for next year leaving ample opportunity for Sunday arrivals to participate.   In addition to underwriting our parties, GAMI donated a set of injectors and several videos.  Raytheon Beechcraft donated $2,250 worth of Rapid parts and surprised us with several additional prizes (leather bomber jacket, etc.).  Adrian Eichhorn donated one of his landing light systems, Oregon Aero a seat upgrade, JPI a fuel flow gauge, Sam Lyons a beautiful print, BPPP and Advanced Pilot Seminars each a course, others too numerous to mention (see the sponsor page).

     The weather this year was typically ever changing.  Absent was the unbearable heat and humidity.  In exchange we alternated between beautiful weather and isolated thunderstorms, the latter sufficient to ruin Wayne's tent, flood out Babler, raise mischief elsewhere.  Never dampening spirits, we all enjoyed a great time.  The cruise was again a success, but, learning from the past two years, will be limited to one cruise next year (register early for this if you want it).

     Summing up, most felt this year was outstanding and are eagerly awaiting next year.