1993 EAA Oshkosh Fly-in Colour Report

While the number of homebuilts, antiques and classics were down there were increases in warbirds, contemporary and new generation ultralight aircraft.

For the faithful that attended they were treated to the sight and sound of such things as a flypast by the world’s only flying Short Sunderland flying boat, three B-17s in formation and aerobatics by a Beech 18 twin complete with display smoke! The Budweiser Blimp was airborne most of the time and at A few years ago the very thought of a Russian built fighter or trainer flying in private hands in the USA was almost impossible to comprehend and yet today they are simply everywhere. No. 11 is in fact a two seat Yakolev Yak-11 rebuilt as a single seater to give it the appeal of a fighter. The Yak-11 has sometimes been called the Russian Harvard but in fact it has better performance given its role as an advanced combat trainer. The rare 750hp Shvetsov radial engine has been replaced by a P&W R-2000 radial of 1500 hp.

It had to happen! A civil Bell AH-1F Cobra attack helicopter warbird. Now owned by Chuck Aaron of Chicago the aircraft was sold off as surplus due to heavy landing damage. Chuck, who has been flying and rebuilding helicopters for more than twenty years, bought the machine and soon had it rebuilt and flying. It was after he had registered it that the Government realised a Cobra had got loose and said there will be no more of the type released. Needless to say it was a hit at Oshkosh. The interior is leather, and the chin turret gun barrels are real even if the firing mechanism has been removed. Incidentally, the Australian Army is currently studying the purchase of 40 surplus US Army Cobras for use as armed recce helos.

one stage there were five P-47 Thunderbolts in the air at once. For those who like numbers what about 25 Mustangs, 30 plus T-6 Harvards or 40 plus Beech Mentors as well as a Liberator, Super Connie, WW1 replicas, Martin 404, Ford and Stinson Trimotors and a C-5A Galaxy. Other sights included the replica Gee Bee racer barrel rolling all the way down the display line and a Pitts biplane flying sideways.

Kit built and fibreglass aircraft were as popular as ever while the traditional tube, wood and fabric types were less obvious; perhaps an indication of the way the homebuilt movement is going.

Oshkosh ’93 may have been a damp one for some but the faithful came, saw and they were not disappointed. (And for the record the raincoat seller went away with truck loads of unsold stock).

The Australian Aviation/Torii Tours tour of Oshkosh and the USA was a great success and unaffected by weather. For those contemplating an Oshkosh visit this is the proven best way to travel. Planning is already underway for the 1994 tour, Ensure that you are on it. Contact Torii Tours for further details, (02) 233 8500.