EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2024 8:37 amGood morning Sonex builders!
For those of who are building, keep at it! It's soooooo worth it!
Wednesday and Thursday I flew an airplane I built in my garage over 780 nm from my home airport to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. I did it over two days, dodged some weather leaving Texas, and stopped the first night in Clinton, MO. (Highly recommended! Free tie down and a nice courtesy car that I used to go to the hotel)
Next morning I flew the rest of the way to Oshkosh. Uneventful day, other than one of my planned field stops having no fuel. (This is exactly why I never go to minimum fuel!!)
I made my last fuel stop in Baraboo, WI - it was just after lunch time and I was hungry, thinking I would not get lunch...but someone was grilling brats and hot dogs and gave me a couple for free. Yay! A nice lab named Jake was politely asking if he could have some of my brat. Sorry buddy - I'm hungry!
The arrival was easy and I landed after about 9.8 total flight hours.
And to share a special moment....The photo is anything but remarkable....but to me, the moment certainly was.
My family was part of hard-core group that settled the territory of Wisconsin in the 1830's, emigrating from northern New York to what was then the wild country of Wisconsin.. Since I was very young, I had often visited a family cemetery located along Highway 14 between Mazomanie and Arena, WI - there is a state historical marker there and some Culver family graves. (In fact, Culver's restaurant is owned by descendants of the same family line)
As I flew from northwest Illinois to Wisconsin Dells to get to Oshkosh, I was a bit surprised to see my route took me directly over the area. As I flew over, I could not help but think of what my ancestors from the 1830's would think of what I was doing - flying an airplane I built in my garage over their graves....
I gave them a silent salute as I passed over...
I am parked straight out from the Sonex booth on the flightline in Oshkosh.
For those of who are building, keep at it! It's soooooo worth it!
Wednesday and Thursday I flew an airplane I built in my garage over 780 nm from my home airport to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. I did it over two days, dodged some weather leaving Texas, and stopped the first night in Clinton, MO. (Highly recommended! Free tie down and a nice courtesy car that I used to go to the hotel)
Next morning I flew the rest of the way to Oshkosh. Uneventful day, other than one of my planned field stops having no fuel. (This is exactly why I never go to minimum fuel!!)
I made my last fuel stop in Baraboo, WI - it was just after lunch time and I was hungry, thinking I would not get lunch...but someone was grilling brats and hot dogs and gave me a couple for free. Yay! A nice lab named Jake was politely asking if he could have some of my brat. Sorry buddy - I'm hungry!
The arrival was easy and I landed after about 9.8 total flight hours.
And to share a special moment....The photo is anything but remarkable....but to me, the moment certainly was.
My family was part of hard-core group that settled the territory of Wisconsin in the 1830's, emigrating from northern New York to what was then the wild country of Wisconsin.. Since I was very young, I had often visited a family cemetery located along Highway 14 between Mazomanie and Arena, WI - there is a state historical marker there and some Culver family graves. (In fact, Culver's restaurant is owned by descendants of the same family line)
As I flew from northwest Illinois to Wisconsin Dells to get to Oshkosh, I was a bit surprised to see my route took me directly over the area. As I flew over, I could not help but think of what my ancestors from the 1830's would think of what I was doing - flying an airplane I built in my garage over their graves....
I gave them a silent salute as I passed over...
I am parked straight out from the Sonex booth on the flightline in Oshkosh.