Oshkosh Airventure 2016 the biggest airshow on earth
Oshkosh Airventure 2016 the biggest airshow on earth
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FOR MOST IT’S A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME IMMERSION
Oshkosh then and Now.
Time travel: Have you ever wondered what it would be like to pack an entire year of events into just a few days or even a few moments? What if you could see more kinds of aircraft than you have seen in your entire life, or perhaps ever will? What if everyone you met warmly greeted you and asked to see your airplane or invited you to see theirs? What if the educational opportunities available dwarfed those of your college days? From wakeup to moonlight walk. This is the Oshkosh Airventure experience in a nutshell.
Another world.
The last time my friend Herbert (Jay) Drury, CFII and I attended it was way back in the pre-pandemic world where people readily mixed and smiled. Starting day one, like a kid in a candy store, I soon found myself scratching over 95% of the workshops I wanted to attend, too little time! So much to learn!
Frosting on the cake: Further, everyone we met were especially friendly and super helpful. Moreover, the daily flyovers served as a tiny sampling of the aircraft sleeping on the grass field – stretching almost as far as we could see. Airventure was then – and still is, America’s aviation mecca. For aviation enthusiasts, it doesn’t get any better than this.
Alas, seeing and hearing all these amazing aircraft prompted me to better appreciate my own. After twelve years of toil and unending technical challenges, I had an experimental airplane that could do what less than 0.01% of all others could do; land on water too. Further, with 2/3rd of the world covered in water. In comparison, I knew I had a true adventure plane that could take me and three others anywhere in comfort.
Furthermore,
crowds that kept gathering around my Super Seawind certainly seemed especially impressed when they learned it was also a flying boat – And that it flew at over 200 MPH KIAS – faster and higher than some twins. This, some acknowledged, beat most single-engine airplanes and many twins too at this biggest airshow on earth – a fitting place I thought to show off this incredible Super Seawind.
Fast forward to 2022. I do not know how this pandemic will change Airventure 2022, but I am confident it will not be positive. The pandemic downdraft may have taken a bite out of the spirit of aviation, but not the Super Seawind crew. We still plan on making the 763 NM pilgrimage with only 5-6 hours flight time – depending on ground speed. Furthermore, for bragging rights, we plan to officially break a world speed record months ahead of Airventure. How?
For 2022,
Oshkosh Airventure 2016 the biggest airshow on earth
my Super Seawind will be registered with the National Aeronautics Association for a flight between two airports in New England for a specific date and time. One yet-to-be-selected lucky EAA member copilot and I will plan and conduct this flight. If successful, both pilots will become newsworthy and famous for piloting the fastest single-engine-amphibious airplane in the world! That will likely make these pilots instant AIRVENTURE celebrities! What a wonderful way to begin Airventure. Interested? Join the Seawind team! Become a Seawinder. Let’s make history for EAA 106 together!
Wrapping up: After a handful of informative workshops, meeting scores of pilots, and seeing thousands of airplanes including other Seawinds, we were ready to catch some tailwinds and perhaps set a new unofficial groundspeed record.
On the last day, Jay and I packed all our camping gear in my Super Seawind ten-foot cargo bay, fueled up all four tanks and got a departure window. After an interminably long hold for departing airplanes on the taxiway, my Super Seawind finally roared off the runway, climbed high, and minutes later crossed lake Michigan for the journey home at, you bet, 200 MPH. From here, I reflected. I knew these times would never be repeated. They were unique and precious. That’s our Super Seawind spirit. That’s Airventure!
About Steve Wightman.
Oshkosh Airventure 2016 the biggest airshow on earth
Starting at age 19 as an army repairman and crew chief on Beavers and Otters during the Vietnam War. A 20+ year EAA and AOPA member, Steve Wightman built N71RJ – a PT6A-20-powered Seawind instrumented it with a G900X, the G1000 experimental equivalent and a Grand Rapids back up PFD/MFD, each capable of mastering its TruTrak autopilot.
Retired now as a Financial Planner and from the U.S. Army, Steve enjoys and supports PBS for its movies and news. He also supports aviation safety and education missions. Steve holds sea, land, and instrument ratings. He resides in Bedford, MA.
Interested in a seat to Airventure 2022 or being a member of the Super Seawind ground or flight crew? Drop Steve a line or two at Superseawind@gmail.com and list your flight status (student, VFR, IFR CFI, A&Petc.). For more articles and video about Oshkosh and the amazing Seawind story, click www.SuperSeawind.com.