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 July 1998.
Roy & Roy are neighbors at Waunakee Airport, a fly-in community near Madison, Wisconsin. Here at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh '98 they've set up their lawn chairs under the wing of a Piper Cub and are keeping an eye on the crosswind landings.
They drive to the fly-in so as not to take up space that can be used by attendees from further away. Roy owns two Cessna 150s, a 195, and a one-third finished Tailwind.
Cleared to land runway 18L. "They see that narrow little taxiway and near to have a heart attack," says the man with the big sunglasses from Niles, Michigan.
"That little thing would be just about right for my airplane." His plane is a 1946 Taylorcraft that he's owned since 1965. "I bought it from the only other guy who ever owned it."
The sunglasses man and his wife come to the fly-in every year. They drive around the lake real early, this year "a week ago Saturday," and stay until after it's over. They do day trips in their car until the show starts, "then I look at airplanes and my wife reads books."
Son, can I borrow the airplane keys? Harry Julian and his son David are admiring the Fisher Tiger Moth on display in the outdoor exhibits area. This plane is modelled after the legendary, original Tiger Moth.
Many years ago, Harry learned how to fly in a Tiger Moth. Years later, David inherited his father's appreciation for the old classic biplane and wished he could one day own one. "I love the way they sound," he says, "the way they fly, the sense of history in them."
A few years ago David bought a classic biplane kit. His plan was to build it, and then sell it to raise part of the money for the plane of his dreams. Then fate stepped in. David suddenly had the chance to buy a fully restored Tiger Moth. Of course he jumped at the chance, but, "I didn't tell dad I bought it. I just flew down and surprised him."
David, with some help from his dad, has put about 40 hours on the plane since getting it in February. And he still plans to finish the kit biplane.
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 by Jack Hodgson here.
General Aviation, Flying, Airplanes, EAA, Experimental Aircraft Association, Wittman Field
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