Oshkosh 2006

Like last year, the trip to Oshkosh in the RV-8 was fantastic. This year Kitfox/Maule flyer and RV-9 builder Jack "The Ripper" was my GIB (guy in back) for the trip. Intentions to leave Saturday morning were scrubbed because of weather. Sunday morning didn't start out much better, but the low ceilings lifted just enough for us to depart by 10 AM. We climbed through the lower scattered/broken clouds and were on top at about 6,500. As we neared the mountains to the NW of 8A7, the clouds got a little taller so we continued climbing and eventually ended up at 10,500. There we found smooth air and light winds. Except for deviating around a build-up or two, we went direct to Gary, IN. Half way through Indiana, we noticed our ground speed started to decrease. Checking the winds aloft on the Garmin 396, it confirmed we can do better lower, so we advised approach, and down we go, eventually down to 2,500 to stay out of the clouds. 10,500 was certainly smoother and cooler (43'F), but that's OK because we are almost there. 3.2 hours after departing 8A7, we touched down at Gary for fuel and a stretch. This was the highest and longest trip in the RV-8 so far.

Enroute to Gary, IN. About 170 KTAS @ 10,500.

Climbing to 2,500 out of Gary we immediately contacted Chicago approach for flight following north-bound along the shore of Lake Michigan. A very picturesque leg of the trip, but sorry, no photos. North of Chicago's airspace, we cut inland and continued north along the eastern edge of Lake Winnebago and followed the Appleton approached procedures as published in the OSH NOTAMS. Total flight time from 8A7 to ATW was about 4.2 hours.

East shore of Lake Winnebago, looking west toward Oshkosh.

After we walked next door to the terminal to get the rental car, Jack and I temporarily parted ways. He took the car to hunt for a hotel (he found one 7 miles north), and I went back to the plane to go to West Bend, WI (ETB). Sunday night and Monday I would visit family in West Bend and Middleton, WI -- easily done with the RV, and Jack would go to the show at Oshkosh. Tuesday morning I flew back to Appleton to meet Jack with the car and we drove to Oshkosh. We had a good time at the show. Lots of RV's as usual. The 15 ship RV formation fly-by was impressive. The HondaJet was cool, as was the B-1 and P-38. The RV BBQ was good. I saw a couple familiar faces there as well as many new ones. Oh yeah, one more highlight, I placed my order for an RV-7 empennage kit. :)

By Thursday morning it was time to head back home. We left Appleton shortly before 10 AM, went along the east side of Lake Winnebago again and stayed to the west side of Chicago this time. The weather was sort of low and got lower as we went south. We tried on top for a while, but the multiple layers were becoming more and more broken the further south we went. The 396 confirmed all this with MVFR conditions and showers & thunder storms in IL and IN. Ten miles past De Kalb, IL, we backtracked and landed at De Kalb for fuel, weather check and lunch. An hour later we were off again. The ceiling had lifted a little and we were able to track towards Danville, IL and then turn for Louisville, KY. We stayed at about 3,000 ft and occasionally deviated around some storms. The depiction of the storms on the 396 was very helpful, again!!

The plan was to stop again near Louisville for fuel and a weather check before making the last leg over the mountains. As we went further west, the surface winds started to pick up from the SW 10G20. With this in mind we chose to land at Samuels Field (BRY), as it had a wind friendly runway. The ATIS confirmed the winds and also added "variable" to them. I thought, great, this landing could be interesting. We must have hit a lull in the action or something, because the winds didn't seem too bad. We did have to go-around on the first approach though, but the second try was no problem. I probably psyched myself out more than anything on the first landing!

Gas, weather & a stretch and we are ready to go on the last leg home. Nearing the highest mountains, we eventually climbed to 9,500 to find smooth, cool air again, and plenty of tailwind. At one point we had 204 KTS ground speed in level cruise. Sweet! But that was short lived, because it was soon time to start our descent for 8A7. We were on the ground about 6 PM.

Yet another incredible trip in an aircraft built in my backyard!!