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Periodic Aviation Thread [Roger Ball]

Greetings Horde! It’s the weekend and I’ve been blessed to provide a midday thread for your entertainment. And a great day it is, but not as great as tomorrow! Tomorrow is the opening day of the biggest, best airshow on the planet: the Experimental Aircraft Association AIR VENTURE. So let’s go!

The banner photo was taken by Laurie Goossens who does nice work. I’m not shilling for her, but I like this photo because it takes me back to 1979 on the USS Independence (CV-62).

In those days, aircraft carriers had their own COD (Carrier Onboard Delivery) aircraft. The Grumman C-1 Trader was adapted from the S2F anti-submarine warfare aircraft. The C-1 would allow pilots assigned to ship’s company to maintain their flying skills and retain flight pay while providing great service to the ship by transferring people, cargo and mail as needed. Any officer from the CO down to division officers, if they could find the time, could get checked out. I was a junior LSO in one of the CAG-6 squadrons, so I had the opportunity to wave that airplane and ride as a passenger several times. She [the airplane] was affectionately named “Miss Bell”, which you may be able to make out below the Liberty Bell on the engine nacelle.

Air Venture is the most amazing immersive experience anyone remotely interested in aviation can have. In fact, even if you’re not particularly interested in aviation, it is still a huge party with food, music, light shows and people from all over the world. You never know what you will see or hear. Careful planning must be considered if one plans to attend, otherwise there is a risk of being quickly overwhelmed and exhausted. Why, this year, you might even win an auction for a 1970 VW Kombi. How cool would that be? And you don’t have to know or care anything about airplanes!

The EAA was “founded in 1953 by a group of individuals in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who were interested in building their own airplanes. The EAA expanded its mission of growing participation in aviation to include antiques, classics, warbirds, aerobatic aircraft, ultralights, helicopters, and contemporary manufactured aircraft.” There were over a quarter of a million pilot and builder members as of spring 2024. The organization is a treasure trove of knowledge and talent as well as providing preservation of antique, classic and warbird aircraft. And, by its “experimental” name, the EAA is the largest organization supporting “home built” aircraft which are in the “EXPERIMENTAL” aircraft category.

For some spectacular visuals, check out the Air Venture flickr album. In fact, on February 15, 1977, I flew my very first Navy flight from NAS Whiting North in this airplane:

And here’s my logbook to prove it:

I don’t remember much other than my instructor was a P-3 guy, Lt. Dan Duke, who was a great instructor. I had over 300 hours at that point, and I think he was just happy to have a student that wouldn’t try to kill him right away. I also remember “global warming” had not taken effect yet. It was so cold in north Florida that year that it snowed twice in the Pensacola area. I’m sure many of the Horde remember the “coming Ice Age”?

I apologize for the squirrel moment. I hope this hasn’t bored the Horde but I will admit that I have a sickness: aviation. It has been a lifetime affliction and there is no cure other than the final cure. However, if I have sparked your interest in the “greatest air show on earth”, explore the
Air Venture News and Multimedia website. There is plenty there to occupy your time with your favorite beverage or two. In fact, you don’t have to wait until tomorrow. You can browse the various webcams placed around the field right now. My favorite predictably is the Warbird Plaza camera.

Enjoy a blessed Sunday!

Roger.Ball.OK at proton dot me