|
Q:
I would like to know who is responsible for the gorgeous flowers
on the AirVenture grounds and how long those petunias have been
potted.
C.R., Burlington,
Wisconsin
A:
Potted petunias? Watered with alcoholic beverages? No, of course
not. Karen Gilgenbach and her staff and crew of volunteers get
the credit. The flowers are terrific, which is quite an
accomplishment, considering how dry everything is. The petunias
were potted for AirVenture.
Q:
When I arrived in Oshkosh, I was led through the grass taxiway
by marshallers in camouflage uniforms. Who are they and where
are they from?
A.S., Fairbanks,
Alaska
A:
No, AirVenture doesn’t have its own army. That’s the Civil
Air Patrol. Its members are encamped near the North 40. They
volunteer their time and effort.
Q:
How come airplanes sound so much different? Is it the difference
in engines?
J.W., New York
A:
It’s just so airplane aficionados can identify a particular
aircraft by its sound. It’s a little like birdwatchers who can
tell a yellow-shafted flicker from a purple grackle, just by
their songs. Experts tell me that the engine is part of the
difference, but there are other factors. The propeller and its
pitch make a big difference.
A large-diameter
propeller, for example, will make a "popping" sound as
the blade tips break the sound barrier. The exhaust system
matters, too. The P-40 and the P-38 have the same engine, but
the P-38 sends its exhaust through superchargers in the tail
booms, resulting, they say, in an organ-like, musical sound. The
P-40, with a more direct exhaust, makes something more like a
"barking" sound. Now go out there and listen.
Q:
Two small items: I still like to send postcards. For the last
two years, there have been none on sale at AirVenture showing
scenes from the convention, especially the dramatic overheads of
thousands of parked airplanes. I did find a couple in Member
Village at the "$1 and we’ll mail the card for you"
desk. I don’t think that’s adequate.
Second, I’ve
worn out two Eisenhower jackets. You know the blue shell with no
lining that you used to be able to buy, made of cotton poplin or
nylon.
D.W., Richmond,
Virginia
A:
Dick Knapinski, EAA spokesman, said postcards "are like
soda fountains. People just don’t use them anymore." No
market, no cards. Regarding the jackets, they should be
available on the convention grounds or online.
Q:
Has anyone thought of creating an EAA online posting of seats
available on aircraft going to or from OSH this week? I envision
a web listing where EAA member pilots could post their travel
intentions and list available seats to other members in their
general area who might want to share the ride—and the
expenses.
J.B., Howell,
Michigan
A:
Around here, you’d have a tough time thinking of something
that somebody hasn’t already thought of. You will find the
Ride Board, with just that sort of information on the AirVenture
website—www.airventure.org.
Q:
I’m hoping to attend this year’s AirVenture on Saturday and
Sunday. I’m wondering if there are any special discounts I
could get for attending on my birthday, July 29? I am planning
on getting an EAA membership.
R.A., Appleton,
Wisconsin
A:
They tell me that if you are going to be older than aviation
itself (104) on Sunday, they will consider giving you a
discount. Otherwise, no.
Q:
When was the EAA first in Oshkosh?
C.K., Appleton,
Wisconsin
A:
If you said 1956, you win the trivia contest. The EAA convention
was here that one year. It rained like crazy. The next year, the
convention returned to Milwaukee. It wasn’t until 1970 that
AirVenture, as we know it now, returned to Wittman Field
permanently. And here we are.
Q:
Where can I get some cheese curds?
N.N., Seattle,
Washington
A:
Now there’s a Wisconsin question. I haven’t been able to
locate any cheese curds on the AirVenture grounds, but you can
find them in virtually any grocery store. And there are numerous
cheese factories in the region. Just make sure that they squeak
when you bite them. That means they are fresh.
Q:
Do you know if the P-38 Glacier Girl will be going to any
air shows this year after Oshkosh?
S.L., Clarkston,
Michigan
A:
Next it goes to San Antonio, then back to Chino, California, to
the Planes of Fame Museum, where its new owner, Rod Lewis, will
complete training in it. Then it goes back to San Antonio. Lewis
promises to keep it on the air show circuit and bring it back to
AirVenture.
Q:
If someone lives in an airplane factory, do all the airplanes
made there qualify as homebuilts?
P.N., Oshkosh
A:
That’s enough of that. I do the smart aleck bit around here. |
