Here is an excerpt from Volume One of "Around the Field: The stories of the people places and planes of the Oshkosh Fly-in". Excerpt from Tuesday July 28, 1998.
Pia Penttila is a Finnish high school student who has spent the last 12 months as an exchange student in Indianola, Iowa. Pia was introduced to flying by EAA member Craig Cable, who was her exchange host while she was in the States as part of the program "Youth For Understanding". She's earned her private pilot license, and now, before returning to Finland on August 7, Craig has brought her to her first Oshkosh fly-in.
Pia took up skydiving back home three years ago, but only started flying since coming to the U.S. "Flying and skydiving are very different," she says. "Flying is more peaceful, but skydiving is extreme. I think aerobatics is more like skydiving." When she gets home to Finland she hopes to continue her flying by piloting jump planes.
She's already planning to return to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh next year with an IFR rating. What kind of flying would she like to do in the future? "Fighter pilot!" She says with a big smile.
OK, it doesn't get much better than this. You are on the front lawn of the new EAA Air Academy Lodge. In front of you a taildragger is doing fly-bys and touch-and-goes on Pioneer Airport's grass runway.
You and a few of your fellow Academy attendees are flying balsa-wood, rubber-band-powered aircraft that you made in the Academy shop. There's a friendly rivalry between attendees and counselors for best flights of the small planes.
Danny Diggerson proudly tells how he's from EAA Chapter 1 at Flabob Airport in Rubidoux, California. Ben Herron is from EAA Chapter 35 in Fort Worth, Texas. Arlington Airport is his home base. David Barkham is from Langley, British Columbia. Not to be outdone, David points out that the log beams in the new Air Academy Lodge are from British Columbia.
"Counselor" Brandon Nesmith is a 1996 graduate of the Air Academy. This year he's returned as a Wittman Intern, which doesn't keep him from competing with the younger guys for best airplane. Brandon is with Chapter 445 in Tallahassee, Florida. Quincy Airport is his home base.
Across the field a beautiful Wisconsin sunset silhouettes the taildragger as it gently settles onto the grass.
Learn more about Volume One of "Around the Field: The stories of the people places and planes of the Oshkosh Fly-in" and other books about AirVenture, the Oshkosh Fly-in here.
General Aviation, Flying, Airplanes, EAA, Experimental Aircraft Association, Wittman Field
