"Around the Field" at the 1998 Oshkosh Fly-in, AirVenture 016
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 August 1998.
Not just a gate guard. Chloe Jezeski is the EAA AirVenture gate guard at the Camp Scholler north gate. She's worked as a gate guard at the fly-in for eight years now.
This is only a seasonal job for her but she really enjoys it. "I love meeting the people," she says.
She must love it, she works 12 hour shifts during the fly-in, then heads off to her regular job each night. "During the show I work about 20 hours a day," she says.
She likes to do a bit more than her job requires. In addition to her regular duties, such as keeping traffic flowing and patiently explaining the bicycle regulations, she prepares each year to answer attendees questions about things like the best restaurants, shopping places, laundries, and car repair shops.
Working the gates at EAA AirVenture is a family affair for Jezeski. Her husband Dan has been doing it for 11 years, and her 18 year old daughter, also named Chloe, for 3 years.
Packing up, and heading home. In writing this column over the past week we've met some amazing people and seen some thrilling things.
We've seen 747 heavies and ultralights; we've met widows and war heros; we've talked with a high school girl from Finland and retired naval officer from California. And as always, it's been a wonderful experience.
What we've tried to share in these columns is that, whatever we call this event, the real heart and soul of the Oshkosh fly-in is its people.
Founder Paul says we're a big family. He's right. If we could gather together in the evening, around our kitchen table, we'd thrill each other with our day's adventures, we'd squabble over who gets the last dinner roll, and we'd fight over our differences. But when all is said and done we'd know that we all share a bond, going back over a hundred years, between all people who are drawn by the joy of flight.
Oshkosh is a special place, and already we can't wait 'til next year. Some cultures have one phrase that they use to express both greeting and farewell. We think that works here too. So until next year...
Welcome to Oshkosh.
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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