I flew my Homebuilt to AirVenture!

Yes I did!! The proof is my yellow-white-and-pretty-periwinkle Rans S7 tied down in Homebuilt parking just 2 planes from the Rans tent. I’m so happy to be here!

We lady taildragger pilots had big plans today starting at 8:30 a.m. with a long overdue Beaver flight with Russell Armstrong.

But at exactly 8:30 a.m. a blob of meanness decided to zip across the state of Wisconsin, dead center over Oshkosh.

Thankfully Beaver owner and pilot Russell Armstrong from Texas would not let a little thunderstorm ruin our day. Just like every good pilot, we hung out, waited it out and were airborne without much delay. With Julie Vessigault, CissyCole-Rawlings & Karen Ewart.

Departing OSH, inbound for FLD and a high speed, low pass down runway 18. Awesome!!

So how is it we ladies get a fantastic flight in Russell Armstrong’s Beaver? Just dumb luck? No no no. Russell flew his Beaver to our LadiesLoveTaildraggers TX flyin the first weekend in June and he and his bird were a big hit. He offered me a right seat flight not once, but twice, but things were so hectic I couldn’t stop long enough to take him up on it. Bad ME! But Russell persevered! He said, no problem, we’ll do it at OSH and he was true to his word. Thank you Russell. You rock!! Thanks for letting me fly your bird for just a few and for letting me bring 3 ladies who love taildraggers along with me.

For all those following Julie Vessigault, YES, she made it to OSH. Thanks to you, I collected $820.00 to pay Julie’s expenses to OSH and back. As far as I can tell, she’s having a blast and got in on the Beaver flight too. FYI to those that don’t know Julie. She travels around the country cleaning aircraft for “not big dollars” and loves Warbirds. So we land, all jump out of the Beaver, use a little elbow grease to push it back in & tie her down and Julie announces to Russell,  “I’m going to clean your airplane because you gave me a ride.” Really? You sure didn’t hear me saying that. She is amazing and would not take no for an answer. I think Russell finally agreed to Julie cleaning the belly and the struts but no more. Go Julie!

But enough of that. I’m here to airplane shop too! With 3rd Class Medical Reform passed and waiting on the FAA to do what they must do, I’m moving on. I’m a private pilot flying Light Sport Pilot privileges but will soon be able to fly whatever I want. WOW!! There are at least a dozen aircraft I could easily be obsessed with, and low and behold, I found one of them wondering around at OSH today.

This Fairchild 24 is For Sale. $54,000 to the first person who comes up with the cash. This is on my list and I can see me flying this baby but the maintenance might kill me. But I would love…….

This one is new to me. I’m wondering by and see this spectacular aircraft sitting so lonely in Vintage. No signs. No nothing. I google the N number and find out it’s a Cessna 165 Airmaster. It’s a wood and fabric Cessna I know nothing about. You gotta see it in person to get it. Superb!

A Ryan ST. The only Ryan ST. On display in Vintage.

No signage up yet. AirVenture begins tomorrow, Monday, but I managed to get the scoop today. You need to get here to see this amazing aircraft in person.

And finally, I should mention the 2nd oldest Boeing still flying.

At first glance, you might wonder by and your mind might think it’s a Ford Tri-motor. Corrugated metal all over, radial engine. But wait, it’s small, has only one radial  – what the heck?!! It’s a Hamilton H-47 Metalplane built in 1929 and soon absorbed by Boeing. I’s the second oldest Boeing still flying.