Oshkosh ’95 Report

On a more pleasing note people watchers would have observed that Oshkosh ’95 had an increase in younger visitors aged from their 20s through to their 40s. The EAA noted all these trends a few years ago and as a result started their Young Eagles programme in 1992 with the aim of providing aircraft experience rides to one million young people by the year 2003. Over 150,000 youngsters have been taken on a flight to date. For America at least those introductory flights will see a number of young people continuing to fly and that can only be good for the industry, the nation and all that the EAA is about.

The themes of Oshkosh ’95 covered not only the 50th anniversary celebrations of the end of WW2 but also the pre-war golden age of air racing and jet days ’95, with displays of civilian owned and flown jet fighters. Some 20 air race aircraft, both original and replicas, showed what all the excitement was about before the war and the jets showed the enthusiasts combat aircraft up close and with noise. Where else would you see MiGs, Sabre, Shooting Star, Panther, Thunderjet, Phantom, Starfighter, Harrier and F-117A fighters on the same programme? For those enthusiasts who like piston engined warbirds try these numbers: two P-47 Thunderbolts, ‘Fifi’, the sole flying B-29, three B-17s flying out of the five on the field, two Corsairs and no less than four Spitfires. Mustangs, yes there were some two dozen present and around 40 T-28 Trojans plus more T-6 Texans and SNJs than one could photograph. Other types included a Hurricane, Avengers, P-40s, Sea Furies, several Grumman Trackers and a Tigercat, four B-25s and a Liberator. In all there were some 450 warbirds present. All the combat warbirds played a role in the aerodrome attack sequences that must have had the special effects crew working overtime to arrange the huge display of pyrotechnics.

The finale of the Saturday airshow came with the simultaneous crossing of three formation flights of warbirds over the field. Altogether almost 150 aircraft. The ground shook and the crowd roared. The flight was one of those once in a lifetime spectacles.

While warbird numbers were up, the number of custom or homebuilts, classics, ultralights and seaplanes were down, but not down enough for the fans not to enjoy and appreciate the types present. Of the ultralights present one obvious trend was the increased number of helicopters.

This year saw aircraft parking beyond the southern end of the N-S runway. Ouch! It was a long way to walk. Two new commercial display buildings were in place west of the heavy aircraft park and helped to take the pressure off the three existing and previously crowded commercial buildings. Unfortunately the bus pick-up area was moved 500m further from the entrance, a move not appreciated by the foot sore faithful at the end of the day.

For nearly 25 years the Eagles Aerobatic Team has been thrilling airshow crowds across the USA but this year they chose to make their final performance at Oshkosh before disbanding.

One aircraft that would have attracted a lot of attention had it been at Oshkosh was the prototype of the new Cessna 172. The reason given for its absence was that it was being flight tested and certificated. The Cessna display stand did however have a model 208 Caravan and Citation on display. The end of Oshkosh ’95 also saw the end of the name, Piper Aircraft Corporation. The revitalized company changed its name to Piper Aviation Inc on August 3, along with a new logo and a new slogan in a major effort to remake its image, an image that had become somewhat tattered over the past few years with stop start production, layoffs, chapter 11 bankruptcy, ownership changes and a marked reduction in output.

Regardless of the best description of what Oshkosh is all about and how big the whole event is there is only one way to really experience it and that is to go there in person. Interested? Why not go with the Australian Aviation/Torii Tours group and experience not only Oshkosh but a good slice of America at the same time. Contact Torii Tours for further details of the forthcoming 1996 group tour on (02) 233 8500.