Oshkosh 2008
27-28-29 July 2008
by Robert Rombouts, Belgium
After the Ercoupe Convention in Wausau I went to Oshkosh.
Normally the opening of the EEA was July 28th, but because the Ercoupes did their formation flying to Oshkosh on the 27th I was so curious to see them landing. I will not forget the beauty of all those Ercoupes landing one after the other, magic.OSHKOSH, first it is unbelievable and not describable when you see a big airfield full with hundreds or thousand different planes standing one to another. New and vintage, ultralight & rotorcraft, homebuilt, amphibious, helicopters and warbirds, or all flying machines.
There are two parallel runways 36L & 36R / 18L & 18R. A small runway 9 / 27 was available for individuals landing and departure I suppose. In addition a special runway for ultralights.Four huge halls with all the latest electronic instruments and gadgets for the pilots.
Big stands outside, Cirrus with his latest Jet, Honda Jet, Pilot magazine, Icom aircraft a land and amphibious plane with folding wings and Honda car dashboard. Booths with second hand instruments and tools, books new and second hand, grass machines, hamburger tents, shops with all kind of cloths, finally too much to explain.On static was the 1927 Oldest Flying Airliner, a Ford Tri-Motor C-1077.
The 36 Ercoupes where all together at the vintage parking lot. I took some photos but you cannot see the totality in one shot.During the day you have an acrobatic display on the runway or as the new Rocket Racer, a Canard shape plane with rocket fuel who burns from time to time and glide between the ignitions. A Ford Tri-Motor was doing touch and goes between the displays or continuously shows on the runway. Small wagons continuously tour around to bring the visitors around the exhibition. There was a special tent for foreigner visitors where I found a friendly lady speaking Flemish; tested myself, the language not the lady.
Unfortunately I was only 2 days at the fair, which was not enough, as Sven-Eric Pira (Sweden) he was the 5 days and you need it if you like to enjoy quietly the all show. The weather was hot and humid, but they have also mist, clouds and rain.
My impression was, huge, too much to see in a short period, very good marketing people on the organizing board, you have too see it at east once. I hope to go next year but than for more than two days.
The photos are on the website:
http://groups.msn.com/Ercoupe/2008eocamposhkosh.msnw
Regards, Robert
