EAA AirVenture Today - Tuesday, July 25, 2023

The late Tom Poberezny, who served as EAA’s president for more than 20 years and was also renowned for his aerobatic and air show flying careers, was honored with a life-size bronze sculpture that was unveiled on Monday, July 24, at the EAA Aviation Museum. The sculpture stands across from a similar statue of Tom’s father, EAA founder Paul Poberezny, and presents Tom as so many remember him — with a big smile on his face, looking up at the Christen Eagle he performed in for decades.

PHOTO BY CONNOR MADISON

PHOTO BY BERNIE KOSZEWA

STAY CLOSE TO YOUR AIRCRAFT, EVEN WHEN YOU’RE MILES AWAY.

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A Life-Changing Choice

Fifth-place winner — EAA’s Pilot Your Own Adventure contest, supported by Flight Outfitters

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY

BY CHRISTOPHER GAYMAN

I THINK MY story may have sparked from a different origin than most. When I was 5 years old, I had an unfortunate accident that resulted in me losing my foot. I don’t remember much from the event, but there are two flashes of memory that I can still see vividly in my head

nearly 30 years later: when I was being placed in the back of Hershey Medical Center’s Life Lion helicopter and waking up for a short time during the flight to the Philadelphia Children’s Hospital. Needless to say, it was not a great way to experience my first flight;

If I was asked to point a finger at the moment in time when aviation became my life, it would be that one. It may have only been a minute as that helicopter passed overhead and landed softly in the backyard, but that was the moment.

PUBLISHER: Jack J. Pelton, EAA CEO & Chairman of the Board

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After a traumatic accident, you have two choices for your life. One, you can let the emotions and the challenges of your injuries get the better of you. Or two, you can embrace the situation and not let it stop you from doing whatever it is you want to do in life. My parents didn’t even consider the first choice as an option. From the day of the accident, they instilled in me that I could do whatever I wanted. I just had to set my mind to it.

As a child, I was always interested in aviation. It probably stemmed from my father who was/is a private pilot but had to give up his hobby when I entered the picture. As I recovered, my family actively looked for ways to make sure I knew I could make the best of the situation. Knowing my love for aviation, they located a local company at the Lancaster Airport, Dutch Country Helicopters. The company was owned by a gentleman whose name was Charles “Charlie” Hollinger. I concede that I do not know his story beyond his name. The interesting thing was, Charlie was also an amputee. If I recall correctly, he was missing both of his legs.

At that time, we lived in a development on a small patch of property, probably not even an acre. I remember

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the house had a red-painted wood deck overlooking the backyard that was mostly surrounded by trees. It was a sunny day, and my parents had strategically positioned me outside on the deck. I can still remember seeing the bubble of that Bell 47 helicopter as it appeared over the treetops and passed low over our house. The helicopter circled a few times before making an approach and landing in our backyard. Two words could have probably described my reaction: mind blown. It was Charlie, and that was the day he became part of my story. Charlie came that day and didn’t charge my parents anything for the visit. He came to show me what he had accomplished, even with his disability. He wanted me to know I could do it, too.

The actual Life Lion that transported me after my accident. The photo is at an event I attended later, not from the day of my accident.

Me flying the Hummingbird after it was finished. Tail number ending in “WG” for Watts & Gayman, our last names.

Me sitting in the Bell 47, still in the leg cast from the accident. You can tell by the look on my face I was overwhelmed.

This is the saddest part of this story — he wanted to take me for a ride, but I was too shy and overwhelmed by the situation and elected not to go. I did get to ride with him a few years later after meeting him again at a fair where he was giving rides.

If I was asked to point a finger at the moment in time when aviation became my life, it would be that one. It may have only been a minute as that helicopter passed overhead and landed softly in the backyard, but that was the moment.

Fast-forward. As I grew older, I had RC airplanes, and I would ride my bicycle to the flying field and happily enjoyed flying my balsa wood airplanes. In high school, for career day, I shadowed a flight instructor. After graduating high school, I attended a four-year bachelor’s program at Pennsylvania College of Technology for aviation maintenance and became an A&P mechanic. While in college, I started helicopter instruction, running my financially poor college self out of funds quickly.

I pivoted and completed a fixed-wing certificate with a good friend, Scott Welch. Over the next few years, I ticked the box of a few more ratings: instrument and commercial. Then I added an inspection authorization to my A&P certificate. My heart was still with that Bell 47 floating into my younger self’s backyard. I also wanted to finish my helicopter rating.

Charlie Hollinger in his Bell 47 moments after he landed in my yard. He brought his friend, Dave Fisher, who was also an amputee.

The most fun part of aviation, for me, is sharing it with people who wouldn’t otherwise get the chance. These are photos where I was sharing the experience with others.

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PAGE 4 / LIFE-CHANGING CHOICE

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The Hummingbird about halfway through the build process.

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I now had a pathway to my helicopter rating. With the help of another Hummingbird owner, retired Air Force Col. Richard Herr, I completed the requirements and took my checkride in the helicopter I spent nearly two years of my life building. Twenty-five years after that Bell 47 flew into my life, I was finally a helicopter pilot. Now I work for Lycoming Engines. I started as a tech rep and was eventually made responsible for Lycoming’s

Radio Chatter: A Look at LiveATC.net

BY SAM OLESON AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF

WHAT ORIGINALLY BEGAN as a hobby for Dave Pascoe has grown into a fullfledged business and useful resource for pilots and aviation enthusiasts. LiveATC.net, founded by Dave in 2002, allows anyone to listen in to air traffic communications from around the United States, giving listeners a peek into what might be happening in the sky hundreds or thousands of miles away.

An electrical engineer by trade, Dave earned his pilot certificate in

2001 and then earned his instrument rating a year later. He was also involved in a Virtual Air Traffic Simulation Network (VATSIM) group at the time and thought that members of the group would enjoy listening to actual air traffic communications.

“I was an air traffic controller on VATSIM. We were a pretty serious group, the Boston Center group,” Dave said. “I was also a pilot on that network. As I was going through my instrument training, what happened there was I realized that a lot of people might want to listen to the communications that are going on. I found it not that difficult because I had a ham radio background. … Even though

I had a comfort of using a two-way radio because of the experience, I still found it challenging, the ATC lingo. In the beginning, it’s just all gibberish.”

Dave decided to place a couple of receivers at his brother’s house, in

Currently, LiveATC has coverage of radio communications at close to 1,450 distinct airports, and typically there’s a few thousand people listening in at any given time.

range of Boston’s Logan International Airport, and it went from there.

“So we put those up on the internet. I knew how to do internet audio streaming at the time, which wasn’t huge, but certainly was out there in its early phases. I said, ‘Well, I want to share this with my VATSIM group so the other air traffic controllers [in the group] can listen in to how it’s really done.’ To get to the ‘as real as it gets’ thing, I’ll put a website out there, and we’ll just throw a couple streams up. Well, one thing led to another, and here we are today.”

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PAGE 8 / RADIO CHATTER

enthusiasts, FBO operators, and anyone with an interest in aviation communications, LiveATC has exploded in popularity since it was launched two decades ago. Currently, LiveATC has coverage of radio communications at close to 1,450 distinct airports, and typically there’s a few thousand people listening in at any given time. To cover that many airports, LiveATC relies on a network of volunteers to set up receivers throughout the country.

“Largely for the public network, it’s cooperation of volunteers,” Dave said. “So plane spotters, airplane geeks, flight schools, FBOs, you name it. It runs the gamut. But typically it’s people who have a vested interest in being able to listen to their local airport and to be able to retrieve communications later on from their local airport. It’s an ecosystem where there’s mutual benefit. We get to have a presence there and get the data, and they get to access the data without having to pay a subscription fee.”

FORUM SERIES 2023

During AirVenture, LiveATC listenership receives a significant bump, and Dave has equipment to catch all the action.

“Over the years, I’ve built up a footprint through some friends in Oshkosh of equipment that’s there all year round,” he said. “We have three, and actually this year it’d be four or five different spots where we have receiving equipment. Listening to different channels, not necessarily all of them in each place, but if one happens to go down due to an internet outage or something, we’ve got overlapping coverage so that we’re there all week, and we don’t have to take everything down at the end. We’ll have coverage before the show and during the show with all the additional frequencies and everything. And then after the show, as people depart Oshkosh for the year.”

Management 101

PHOTO BY JIM ROBERTS

HEADS UP!

Look who’s coming to the Avemco booth Hangar A 1158

Tuesday, July 25

(10:00 am-12:30 pm) Avemco Women Moving The Needle Day. Meet the women making a difference in aviation including Ivy Ericksen, Publisher of Kitplanes magazine; Jolie Lucas, Founder of Mooney Ambassadors and the Friends of Oceano Airport; and Melissa Sprague, Veteran USAF Helicopter Pilot.

Wednesday, July 26

(9:30 am-10:30 am) Ask National CFI of The Year and author, Gary Reeves, your questions about instrument flying, using autopilot, GPS, ForeFlight, and more. Gary will be debuting his new book, Flight and Ground Instructor Pro Tips.

Thursday, July 27

(2:00 pm - 3:00 pm) Meet renowned aviation safety experts and accident investigators Greg Feith and John Goglia, hosts of the Flight Safety Detectives podcast sponsored by Avemco.

Monday through Sunday, July 24-July 30

(9:00 am - 5:00 pm) Say hello to the Avemco underwriters, and get a free personalized quote, Avemco hat and other gifts (while supplies last).

Visit Hangar A 1158

READY FOR A NY T HIN G

FAA TO RESUME COUNTING HOMEBUILDING HOURS TOWARD MAINTENANCE RATINGS

THE FAA WILL soon reverse a policy that barred homebuilders from counting time spent building an aircraft toward a maintenance rating (such as an A&P certificate), according to an FAA letter of interpretation issued to Brenton Ellis, EAA 1326016, this month.

In late 2019, the FAA changed Order 8900.1 to exclude time spent building any aircraft, including homebuilts, from the types of practical experience eligible to count toward the issuance of a maintenance certificate. No reason was given for this change, and EAA has been advocating for it to be rescinded. In a meeting at AirVenture 2022, the FAA agreed to change the policy back; however, the publication of an amendment remains forthcoming.

The interpretation letter, issued on July 7, in response to a well-written and pointed request for interpretation by Ellis, confirms that not only is the current exclusionary policy not logical, it is also contrary to regulation that clearly states aircraft construction counts as experience toward maintenance ratings. The letter states that the relieving policy change is “imminent.”

“We have talked to several homebuilders who wanted to use their experience to earn their maintenance ratings,” said Tom Charpentier, EAA government relations director. “In an era with a shortage of A&Ps, and particularly A&Ps willing and able to work on amateur-built aircraft, this policy made no sense and we are happy to see that this letter confirms that relief is at hand.”

First Aid Expects to Be Busy Due to High Temps

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY

BY BARBARA A. SCHMITZ AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF

WITH SUNNY WEATHER and temperatures predicted to be in the high ’80s and low ’90s by midweek, it can only mean one thing. EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is here, and so is hot and humid weather.

It also means the two First Aid buildings on the Oshkosh grounds, manned by volunteer doctors, nurses, EMTs, and others, will be busy. Very busy.

Chair Connie Campbell, a 33-year volunteer, said the three most important things people should have while on the AirVenture grounds are sunscreen, a hat, and a water bottle.

“People should be hydrated before they get here, and drink lots and lots of water when here,” she said.

In fact, you should be drinking enough that you need to urinate at least once every three hours; if you’re not, you’re not drinking enough, added volunteer Gloria Zehnacker, of Delaware, a nurse for 50 years.

Campbell also recommended people wear lightweight, light-colored clothing; stay in the shade when possible; take rest periods and pace themselves, realizing some events are held more than once; and use the trams and buses instead of walking everywhere, especially on the hottest days.

“The heat takes a lot more out of you than you realize,” Campbell said. If you do get overheated, come to the First Aid buildings — located near the Camp Scholler Security & Assistance Center, and on the main grounds directly across from Lost and Found and near the AOPA tent — and use their misting tents to cool down. Some vendors also have misting stations, she added.

Each year about 600 people stop in the buildings for help, and another 6,000 stop by their porches for sunscreen, bandages, and to get treatment for other minor ailments. The most common problem last year was eye irritations.

“Never put sunscreen on your forehead,” Campbell said. “It will melt, and as you sweat, it will run into your eyes and sting.”

The volunteer nurses and doctors also do a lot of dressing changes, and treat lacerations, abrasions, insect bites, slivers, and ear issues, Campbell said. They also take blood pressure checks, and will store insulin-type medications that need refrigeration.

With a crowd in the hundreds of thousands, the First Aid workers also get people complaining of chest pains, as well as strokes, kidney stones, and gall bladder attacks, she added, noting that two to three ambulances are on the grounds at most times.

FIRST AID LOCATIONS

Main Grounds: Directly across from Lost and Found, between EAA Radio and Major Goolsby’s, and near the AOPA tent

Camp Scholler: Next to Lost and Found, near the Camp Scholler Security & Assistance Center

“If you need to be seen, come on in,” Campbell said. “But if it’s serious, don’t wait. Call 911.”

The volunteers at the First Aid buildings do “more triage and high-value assessing and recommending,” she said. “We’re here for first-line treatment, and then we refer people to local urgentcare centers and ERs.”

Gloria Zehnacker, left, and Connie Campbell get an examining room in the First Aid building ready for opening.

70 Years of Dreamers and Doers

EAA celebrates its platinum anniversary

BY SAM OLESON AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF

SEVENTY YEARS AGO, on January 26, 1953, EAA was officially founded. That first meeting took place in a classroom at Gran-Aire Inc. at Curtiss-Wright Airport (now Timmerman field) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with 36 pilots and aviation enthusiasts in attendance. Over the past seven decades, EAA headquarters have moved a few times and the annual members convention and fly-in has shifted around, but one thing has remained the same — the organization’s dedication to spreading The Spirit of Aviation. As we celebrate EAA’s platinum anniversary at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023, each day we’ll share highlights from a different decade of our history.

1960s

1962: The EAA Air Museum Foundation is incorporated in April to permit tax-deductible donations.

1964: EAA headquarters moves from the Pobereznys’ basement to a new building in nearby Franklin, Wisconsin.

1966: The offices at the new EAA headquarters quickly outgrow the building, resulting in a new museum, office complex, and restoration facility being built.

1968: Bill Fornof’s precision flying in a Grumman F8F Bearcat is one of the highlights of EAA’s years in Rockford, Illinois, with the fly-in convention establishing itself as a national draw.

1969: In November, the EAA board of directors votes to move the fly-in convention from Rockford, its home for the past decade, to Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

NATE HAMMOND TO RECEIVE 2023 BILL BARBER AWARD FOR SHOWMANSHIP

WORLD AIRSHOW NEWS magazine has announced that Nathan K. Hammond is the 2023 recipient of the Bill Barber Award for Showmanship. One of the most prestigious awards in the air show industry, the list of Barber honorees reads like an air show hall of fame.

In less than 10 years as an air show performer, Nathan “Nate” Hammond has established himself as one of the most creative and innovative performers on the air show circuit. His popular night air show features wing-mounted pyrotechnics and bright LED lights, and he was instrumental in the development of innovative theme acts such as Adventures of Aviore, which was featured at EAA.

Nate’s path to becoming an air show star began in upstate New York where his father was a pilot for the air show at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. He took his first airplane ride at just 2 weeks old, riding in his mother’s lap. When the family moved to Kentucky in the early 1990s, his dad became the crew chief and ferry

pilot for Steve Oliver and Suzanne Asbury-Oliver of Pepsi SkyDancer and Pepsi SkyWriter fame. Nate quickly became a 12-year-old ramp rat, helping his dad, Steve, and Suzanne any way that he could.

Nate soloed at age 16, and by age 18, he had earned his commercial pilot certificate. A few years later, he took over from his dad as Steve Oliver’s crew chief and ferry pilot for the SkyDancer, a highly modified Super Chipmunk. As his experience grew, Steve suggested that Nate learn how to skywrite and start working on getting his low-level aerobatic card in the Chipmunk. Steve wanted the show to be able to go on even if he got sick or couldn’t fly for some reason. Nate’s first skywriting assignment was over the Atlanta Motor Speedway with 100,000 spectators and a national television audience looking on. When the Olivers retired from air shows in 2016, Nate took over full control of the SkyDancer, renaming it GhostWriter.

In addition to flying his day and night air show routines, Nate has also been a driving force behind the Black Flag air show training camps, which began in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdowns as a way for aerobatic pilots to stay sharp. Black Flag has since become an annual event, helping experienced aerobatic pilots stay sharp and providing a pathway for new air show pilots to get coaching and mentoring to improve their proficiency and advance their air show careers.

The Bill Barber Award for Showmanship began in 1986 and is awarded to air show performers or teams that have demonstrated great skill and showmanship. World Airshow News

magazine and the friends and family of the late Bill Barber present the award annually.

The 2023 Bill Barber Award for Showmanship presentation will take place today, Tuesday, July 25, immediately following the air show.

PAST BILL BARBER AWARD WINNERS

2022 Gary Ward

2021 No Award

2020 No Award

2019 Twin Tigers Aerobatic Team

2018 Greg Shelton

2017 Kyle Franklin

2016 Manfred Radius

2015 Bob Carlton

2014 Greg Koontz

2013 Skip Stewart

2012 Matt Younkin

2011 Rich and Dee Gibson

2010 Steve Oliver and Suzanne Asbury-Oliver

2009 Michael Goulian

2008 Bud Granley

2007 Dacy Airshows

2006 Danny Clisham

2005 Pietsch Airshows

2004 Bobby Younkin

2003 Jim LeRoy

2002 AeroShell Aerobatic Team

2001 Northern Lights Aerobatic Team

2000 John Mohr

1999 Dan Buchanan

1998 Patty Wagstaff

1997 Gene Soucy and Teresa Stokes

1996 Wayne Handley

1995 Bob Hoover

1994 Bob and Annette Hosking

1993 Red Baron Squadron

1992 Sean D. Tucker

1991 Julie Clark

1990 Leo Loudenslager

1989 Jimmy Franklin

1988 No Award

1987 The French Connection

1986 Eagles Aerobatic Team

Nathan Hammond’s night air show features wingtip pyro and LED lighting.

PHOTO BY GLENN WATSON

NOTICE OF ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING

IN ACCORDANCE WITH the seventh restated bylaws of the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc., notice is hereby given that the annual business meeting of the members will be held at the Theater in the Woods on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. at the 70th annual convention of the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc., Wittman Regional Airport, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Notice is further given that the election will be held as the first item on

the agenda at the business meeting. Seven Class I directors (three-year terms) shall be elected. The Class I candidates are as follows:

• Jeremy Behler (Incumbent)

• Ben Diachun (Incumbent)

• Mike Goulian (Incumbent)

• Keith Kocourek (Incumbent)

• David Pasahow (Incumbent)

• Lacey Pittman (Incumbent)

• Charlie Precourt (Incumbent)

Jim Phillips, Secretary, EAA Board of Directors

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Boeing Investing Heavily in Future Pilots

BOEING IS INVESTING $950,000 in scholarships for pilot training to grow and diversify talent required to meet significant long-term demand for commercial airplane pilots. Boeing is donating $500,000 to fund 25 scholarships with multiple aviation organizations committed to developing future pilots.

Boeing is also donating $450,000 to Fly Compton, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that introduces minority youths to career opportunities in aerospace. This investment will increase flight training classes offered to students in L.A.’s Compton community and introduce career topics related to designing, building, and maintaining airplanes and drones.

“The demand for qualified and diverse pilots remains high at airlines worldwide. While becoming a pilot provides a lifelong career, access to training remains a barrier to entry for many,” said Ziad Ojakli, executive vice president of government operations at Boeing. “These organizations are helping the next generation of pilots realize their full potential while also showing communities that are historically

underrepresented in the industry that a future in aviation is possible.”

Long-term demand for newly qualified aviation personnel remains strong. Boeing projects 602,000 new pilots will be needed to fly and maintain the global commercial fleet over the next 20 years. Boeing will release its 2023 Pilot and Technician Outlook this week.

“We are seeing more women and individuals from diverse backgrounds entering the pilot profession because of the mentorship and guidance that aviation organizations like these provide for early career professionals,” said Chris Broom, vice president of commercial training solutions for Boeing Global Services. “The work they’re doing to implement changes needed to remove social and financial barriers to entry are critical.”

Since 2019, Boeing has invested more than $8.5 million to bring pilot training programs to underrepresented populations in communities across the United States.

Free youth admission to AirVenture is supported in part by The Boeing Co./ Boeing.

PHOTO BY CHRIS MILLER

What About These Other Airplanes?

A spotter’s guide to the EAA Aviation Museum aircraft around the grounds

EVERY YEAR, MORE than 10,000 aircraft fly to Wisconsin for AirVenture. Of those, nearly 3,000 are showplanes — vintage aircraft, warbirds, homebuilts, aerobatic airplanes, etc. — that are displayed around the grounds. But some visitors may notice other airplanes parked here and there that didn’t fly in at all, because they’re part of the EAA Aviation Museum collection. Because our museum exhibits rotate, many of these aircraft are only viewable by the

public during AirVenture, spending the rest of the year in long-term storage on the convention grounds. Each day, we’ll highlight one of these airplanes that you’ll see as you wander the neighborhoods of AirVenture.

Aircraft: Cozy CO-Z

The Cozy was developed with inspiration from Burt Rutan’s iconic Long-EZ. The airplane features side-by-side seating, with an optional third seat in the back. The example on display is the prototype, which was introduced at Oshkosh in 1982 by designer and builder Nat Puffer.

Aircraft of the Vietnam War

THIS YEAR AT EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023, we’re commemorating the 50th anniversary of the official end of U.S. military involvement in Vietnam — honoring the remarkable aircraft of the era, the nearly 60,000 American troops who made the ultimate sacrifice during the war, and the thousands of Vietnam veterans who served their country valiantly in Southeast Asia. We’re expecting to have a strong presence of Vietnam War-era aircraft at AirVenture Oshkosh this summer to honor those who fought in the jungles of

Vietnam half a century ago. While many of the mostfamous aircraft from Vietnam have only one or two flying examples left (if any at all), we anticipate a number of the following aircraft, either still serving on active duty or in private hands as warbirds, will potentially make an appearance at AirVenture. Note: Not all of these aircraft will attend Oshkosh this year, nor at the time of this writing do we know definitively which ones will be attending, so keep your eyes open as you wander the grounds.

DOUGLAS A-4 SKYHAWK

WHILE THE A-4 was considered a light attack aircraft, it certainly could pack a punch. Introduced in 1956, the Skyhawk was used by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps during the early years of the Vietnam War, with A-4s carrying out some of the first air strikes of the conflict. Although only 40 feet long and 27 feet wide, the diminutive Skyhawk could carry a bomb load equal to the B-17. It would serve through the war and later in an adversary role before its final retirement in 1998 by the USMC and 2003 by the Navy.

DOUGLAS A-1 SKYRAIDER

A WORLD WAR II design that was introduced just after the war in 1946, the Skyraider saw its first combat in the Korean War operating from carriers for the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy. During Vietnam a little over a decade later, the A-1 was still used by the Marines and Navy as a medium attack aircraft but was also used by the Air Force for search and rescue air cover as well as its “Sandy” role: escorting helicopters on combat rescues.

DOUGLAS A-26 INVADER

FIRST FLYING IN 1942, the A-26 (designated the B-26 between 1948 and 1965) was operated by the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, but it also served in Korea and eventually in Vietnam. Initially, Invaders arrived in Southeast Asia in the early 1960s for CIA reconnaissance purposes, but they went on to serve as attack aircraft during the war.

FAIRCHILD C-123 PROVIDER

SERVING WITH A variety of air forces over its career, the C-123 was introduced in the mid-1950s. Although designed as a transport aircraft, the first C-123s to reach Vietnam were used to defoliate the jungle as part of Operation Ranch Hand. In 1962, the CIA acquired five C-123s from the U.S. Air Force for covert operations in Vietnam and Laos, where they would be used for years.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Blending a Passion for Aviation and Coffee

BY ABIGAIL OLENICZAK

WHAT STARTED AS a hobby for Thomas Varep-Popov has become a combination of his passion for flight and roasting high-quality coffee.

Hangar 22 Coffee Roasters creates specialty coffees inspired by different aircraft and pilots.

Thomas became interested in aviation after flying on a Boeing 747 when he was 4. In high school, he enrolled in an introductory flight course in his hometown of Collingwood, Ontario.

“I fell in love with aviation and knew I wanted to do it the rest of my life,” Thomas said. He soloed at 16, earned his pilot certificate at 17, and graduated from flight school in 2020.

But Thomas also had one other passion: coffee. At 15, he realized that coffee from mainstream companies was too expensive for a high school student. So he began researching how to efficiently roast his own coffee beans. He purchased a hot air roaster and spent the next few years in his hangar learning how to use it.

When Thomas wasn’t flying or working at the airport, he was roasting himself a cup of coffee. Over time,

pilots in nearby hangars wandered over to Hangar 22, where they found him brewing his unique coffee.

“[It] was really cool, roasting coffee as well as having people from other hangars coming by to have a cup or two,” he said. Not long after, those people were buying bags of coffee from him, and Hangar 22 Coffee Roasters was born.

Thomas and his wife and business partner, Jenna Kitchings, made it their goal to produce and distribute unique coffee blends with a focus on aviation. While Thomas’ main job is as a CFI-I flying a Gulfstream G150, on his off days, he is roasting coffee at his Toronto hangar.

The couple plans to eventually move to the United States and grow their coffee company, hoping to distribute their airplane-inspired coffee to FBOs nationwide, as well as to aviation-themed restaurants. But Thomas also collaborates with aviators

PHOTO BY KAITLIN PIETTE

to brew special roasts inspired by their stories and airplanes.

Throughout EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, Hangar 22 Coffee Roasters is serving free cups of coffee in Textron Aviation Booth 78, located near the Main Gate, alongside selling its specialty coffee beans.

WOMEN IN AVIATION INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS CHANGE LIVES

We are pilots, mechanics, homebuilders, air traffic controllers, airport managers, aerospace engineers, flight attendants, astronauts, educators, enthusiasts, and members of the military. We are Women in Aviation International. Join Today! | WAI.org

To learn more about WAI and our scholarship program, visit BOOTH 2041 HANGAR B and the WOMENVENTURE CENTER

Pratt & Whitney Engine Maintenance Training Scholarship Halen J. Ashley, WAI 103366

CAE 2023 Citation Bravo Type-Rating Scholarship Betty Mbatha, WAI 78344

WAI Mechanical Engineering Scholarship (OSU Grant) Daisy Belmares-Ortega, WAI 100997

TECH OPS

OSHKOSH MOMENTS

Father and Son Adventure to AirVenture

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY

BY ROBBIE CULVER AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF

JEFF BROWN OF Boise, Idaho, flew his Glasair Sportsman into EAA AirVenture Oshkosh with his father, where AirVenture Today found him in Homebuilt aircraft camping. Jeff, a retired U.S. Air Force C-130 pilot, built his Sportsman with his father at the factory’s Two Weeks to Taxi program in 2016. This is their third trip to Oshkosh in the airplane. Jeff spent 25 years in the Air Force, and his father spent 26 years in the U.S. Army, resulting in an annual family wager on a certain football game. Something about a bottle of whiskey.

After some research, Jeff chose the Sportsman because he wanted an aircraft that is multipurpose and could fly in the Idaho backcountry as well as cruise well on cross-country flights.

Jeff said when he retired from the Air Force as commander of the 317th Airlift Wing at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, he really wasn’t looking to get into general aviation. An experience while driving changed that, as he watched a Van’s RV zip by and something inside of him clicked.

After some research, Jeff chose the Sportsman because he wanted an aircraft that is multipurpose and could fly in the Idaho backcountry as well as cruise well on cross-country flights. It cruises at 130 knots with big tires installed for the rugged bush strips in Idaho. Jeff wanted an experimental aircraft instead of a certified aircraft “because of price and avionics.” He said he had a “great experience building it at the Two Weeks to Taxi program.”

Jeff and his father left Boise on Thursday morning and stayed overnight in Rapid City, South Dakota, with an old Air Force buddy and had a quartering tailwind the whole way with no weather problems. In the small world of aviation, he met the father of a friend by sheer coincidence at the New Lisbon, Wisconsin, airport during a fuel stop, also on his way to Oshkosh in an RV-14.

Jeff said this year’s Fisk arrival was easy because he came early. There was a line of aircraft, but it was manageable. He and his father came in through the Endeavor Bridge arrival with no hold required.

The Browns join thousands of other homebuilders at this year’s family reunion, EAA AirVenture Oshkosh!

Designed to keep you sustainably flying

As part of the Williams Blue Planet Initiative, you can already fly your FJ33 and FJ44 engines using Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Now, TAP BlueTM members can seamlessly implement carbon offsets with a simple, easy option added to their existing program - the same program that covers all engine maintenance for a fixed cost per flight hour - scheduled and unscheduled, all service bulletins, plus whatever nature throws at you. In fact, TAP Blue is the only engine maintenance program that covers foreign object damage (FOD) including bird strikes and lightning strikes. That is Williams’ Total Assurance Program for our Blue Planet. That is TAP BlueTM .

Scholler Shorts

STORY AND PHOTOGRAHY BY KAITLIN PIETTE AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF

CHRIS AND REBECCA HALL from Kansas City, Missouri, love to travel with their dog, Chloe. Chris has been attending EAA AirVenture Oshkosh for 11 years, since his first visit in 1986 with his dad, when they slept in a tent under the wing of the airplane. He is a professional skydiver and pilot who helps others practice jumps. Chris and Rebecca’s favorite thing about AirVenture is all the excitement and energy brought to the event by the people and airplanes. They also enjoy seeing the many learning centers and opportunities for those wanting to develop new skills. To them, “Attending EAA, you get to see the best of the best.”

John Schryock was born into a military family who moved around the world. In John’s words, “I was born and raised in the tail of a jet plane.” Growing up around airplanes and living in other countries, John’s experiences took him from working in the Peace Corps to being a structural analyst for R182s and R172s, along with being a test pilot for Cessna. His favorite airplane is the homebuilt 1930 Great Lakes 2-T-E biplane. He now volunteers at the South 40, directing airplanes as they come in, and enjoys being the person who gets to welcome everyone flying in for AirVenture. For John, every aspect of EAA is enjoyable, saying, “All of it together is just powerful.”

Quiet the noise. Amplify

NEW BOSE A30 AVIATION HEADSET

Less distraction. Less noise. Less pulling you away from the joys of flight. With unparalleled comfort and three selectable modes of active noise cancellation, the Bose A30 Aviation Headset enables flight the way it was intended.

VOLUNTEER PILOTS GIVE HOPE

BY LIFELINE PILOTS

HANK WAS BORN in January 2022, and apart from newborn jaundice he seemed happy and healthy. However, his jaun dice never seemed to completely go away. After a whirlwind of tests, he was diagnosed with a rare liver disease called biliary atresia.

At the age of 6 months, Hank received a liver transplant and with it endless follow-up appointments to ensure he remains a healthy little boy. Hank’s family lives in North Dakota, but his specialist medical team is the University of Minnesota Fairview Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis, a six-hour car ride away.

The frequency of visits has put financial stress on the family, and ongoing medical costs have depleted the family’s income. While in the hospital, Hank’s parents learned about LifeLine Pilots and the possibility of free medical flights to and from treatment. The flights reduce the burden on Hank’s family, from a six-hour drive each way to a quick flight. Thanks to numerous volunteer pilots, Hank receives the best medical care possible.

Hank was given the gift of life through an organ transplant. Now, at 18 months old, Hank is a happy little boy with a beautiful smile. Every day, volunteer pilots are changing lives through flight. They generously share their special skill to fly people like Hank to medical treatment far from home.

What is the mission of LifeLine Pilots?

LifeLine Pilots coordinates free air transportation, through volunteer pilots, for people with medical or humanitarian needs far from home. Each year, volunteer pilots complete hundreds of missions, bringing patients to and from lifesaving medical care.

“We believe that everyone, regardless of income or location, should have equal access to health care,” said

Lindsey Kerr, executive director of LifeLine Pilots. “By removing the transportation barrier, LifeLine Pilots helps to ease the financial burden put on families during times of medical uncertainty. The best thing we can tell families is there is no cost, ever.”

“Some fly once a month, while others take a volunteer flight once a year. Every flight helps a family in need.”

Lindsey Kerr

LifeLine Pilots receives no government funding. Instead, they rely on donations from individuals, businesses, and foundations to fund the coordination of every flight. The volunteer pilots are the biggest supporters of LifeLine

Pilots, giving $1.7 million last year in donated flight time and airplane use.

“Volunteer pilots are located throughout our 10-state region and come from a variety of backgrounds,” said Kerr. “Some fly once a month, while others take a volunteer flight once a year. Every flight helps a family in need.”

How can you get involved?

If you live in the Midwest, LifeLine Pilots has an easy-to-complete volunteer application form available on the website LifeLinePilots.org. To become a volunteer pilot, you must be 21 years old, have 250 hours PIC, have your current medical and insurance documents, and complete the AOPA Public Benefit Flying online course.

If you live outside the Midwest, there are volunteer pilot organizations located throughout the country looking for volunteers. The Air Care Alliance (ACA) is a public service organization supporting

public benefit flying. The ACA has a list of volunteer pilot organizations on their website AirCareAlliance.org.

To learn more about charitable aviation and how you can make a difference, join LifeLine Pilots on Tuesday, July 25, at 4 p.m. in the AOPA pavilion. Their panel of pilots includes Martin Pauly, Natalie “Fly Girl” Kelley, and volunteer pilots who will inspire you with the topic “Take Your Passion and Change the World.”

PHOTO BY CONNOR MADISON

H H H H PLATINUM LEVEL SPONSORS H H H H

H H H H GOLD LEVEL SPONSORS H H H H

DeltaHawk Engines H Epic Aircraft H HondaJet H Honeywell BendixKing H Lightspeed Aviation H

Lycoming H Mars Wrigley H PenFed H Phillips 66 H Redbird Flight

H H H H SILVER LEVEL SPONSORS H H H H

AeroShell H Airbus H Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) H Aspen Avionics H Cirrus Aircraft H Collins Aerospace H

Dynon H Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University H Icom America H John Deere H Piper Aircraft, Inc. H Pratt & Whitney H Wipaire

H H H H BRONZE LEVEL SPONSORS H H H H

Air Wisconsin Airlines H Aircraft Specialties Services H American Airlines H ASA (Aviation Supplies & Academics) H

Blackhawk Aerospace H Bose Aviation H Cleveland Wheels & Brakes H Continental Aerospace Technologies H Covington Aircraft H

CubCrafters, Inc. H Delta Air Lines H Electroair Acquisition Corporation H Flight Outfitters H GE Aerospace H Gulf Coast Avionics / Pacific Coast Avionics H Hartzell Engine Tech H Hartzell Propeller H Horizon Hobby H Jani-King H JP Instruments H Lincoln Electric H McFarlane

Aviation Products H NATCA H Pepsi H Piedmont Airlines H Pilatus Business Aircraft H Poly Fiber, Inc H PowerLift Hydraulic Doors H Red Box Tools and Foam / Priceless Tugs H Rotax Independent Service and Training Centres H Siemens Digital Industry Software H Southwest Airlines H Superflite H Superior Air Parts, Inc. H SureFly Partners H Tempest Aero Group H True Blue Power H United Airlines H Van’s Aircraft H WACO Aircraft Corporation H Williams International H Women in Aviation International (WAI) H Zenith Aircraft

H H H H PATRON LEVEL SPONSORS H H H H

B & C Specialty Products Inc. H Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company H

SOFTIE PARACHUTES by Para-Phernalia, Inc. H Starr Aviation H U.S. Air Force H uAvionix

H H H H SUPPORTER LEVEL SPONSORS H H H H

4imprint H Arena Americas H Crewchief Systems H DATC H Endeavor Air H EnerSys ® H FliteTest H General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) H GES H Global Aerospace H Green Bay Austin Straubel Int. Airport H Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation H

Honda Power Equipment H JSFirm.com H Scheme Designers, Inc H Sherwin-Williams Aerospace H UND Aerospace H Walkabout Hats H WILCO H Wing Aviation H Wisconsin Imaging, LLC

EAA would like to thank its sponsors for their support in making your convention special

PHOTO BY ANDREW ZABACK

PHOTO BY LAURIE GOOSSENS

PHOTO BY CHRIS MILLER

PHOTO BY BRETT BROCK

PHOTO BY BERNIE KOSZEWA

PHOTO BY LEWIS BERGHOFF

EAA AVIATION GATEWAY PARK

the Next Generation Inspire

After 30 years of providing free flights for youths aged 8-17, now is your chance to get involved and share The Spirit of Aviation. Visit the EAA Blue Barn to learn more!

Next steps also available at EAA.org/YEPilots

Young Eagles pilots will be automatically entered quarterly to win a Lightspeed Zulu 3 headset!

Featuring a Continental C85 engine, McCauley CF7147 propeller, Bendix/King KY-97A communications transceiver, Bendix/King KT-76A transponder, Sigtronics Corporation SPA-400 intercom, UAvonix tailBeacon ADS-B system, and a SureFly electronic ignition.

EAA® Four Corners

From first-time visitor to seasoned attendee, new EAA members to Lifetime, and aviation enthusiasts to pilots, the EAA Four Corners has something for everyone!

EAA Youth Welcome Center

> Learn about youth activities on the AirVenture® grounds

> Register for AeroEducate™ and Young Eagles ® flights

> Take your picture in a jet cockpit and participate in a model airplane activity

EAA Merchandise

> Pick up your favorite souvenirs

> Commemorate EAA AirVenture Oshkosh™ 2023 with event apparel

EAA Member Center

> General event information, schedules, and maps

> Join, renew, or become an EAA Lifetime Member™

> Explore EAA’s many programs and benefits

> Learn about EAA’s rich history in a 70th anniversary display

EAA Learn to Fly Center

> Enjoy daily “Learn to Fly” forums

> Take an introductory flight lesson on a Redbird flight simulator (pre-registration required)

> Apply for your student pilot certificate

> Try out EAA’s Virtual Flight Academy at home simulator

> Ask our friendly volunteers all your “Learn to Fly” questions!

Get Hands-On

Homebuilding gets to the heart of EAA, and you can learn virtually every skill and gain the confidence you need to build an airplane while at EAA® AirVenture® Oshkosh™. Presented by Aircraft Spruce & Speciality and patterned after the highly successful EAA SportAir Workshops, these mini workshops let you experience a taste of aircraft building.

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh Workshops is sponsored by:

Presenting Sponsor

Learn from Experts

At the AirVenture Forums Plaza, the very best from the aviation world come together for one week to share their knowledge with you. Hundreds of innovators, authors, experts, and legends are on hand in the most comprehensive collection of aviation knowledge available anywhere, all at EAA® AirVenture® Oshkosh™

Supporting Sponsors

by:

A scholarship has been established within the EAA Aviation Foundation™ to recognize Tom’s impact and help a new generation of aviation enthusiasts pursue their aviation goals. Contributions will extend the legacy of Tom Poberezny, who was dedicated to the world of flight and inspiring people of all ages to be a part of it.

SHARE

The SPIRIT of AVIATION

Now is your chance to pass the aviation torch by gifting an EAA membership to someone you feel will help carry on the legacy of EAA founder Paul Poberezny.

To thank you for sharing this membership, you will receive the following recognition items for the corresponding number of Legacy Memberships gifted.

Meet Your Favorite Authors!

COME AND MEET the authors of your favorite aviation books! From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., various authors will be available in the EAA Wearhouse, located between the EAA Member Center and the FAA Aviation Safety Center.

9 a.m. — Pam Ward, Miss Blue!

10 a.m. — Erin Miller, Final Flight, Final Fight

11 a.m. — Jim Busha, Bazooka Charlie and Gunslingers

Noon — Brian Smith, Soaring to Glory

1 p.m. — Laura Savino, Jet Boss

3 p.m. — Scott Thompson, Final Cut

4 p.m. — John Slemp, Bomber Boys

5 p.m. — Lori Layne, Pilots for Christ

We offer hot coffee, doughnuts, fresh fruit, salads, sandwiches and much more. Red One Market has everything you need to make your stay more enjoyable.

CONVENIENTLY LOCATED SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO LEAVE THE GROUNDS!

Head over to one of our six Red One Market locations today!

RED ONE MARKET CENTRAL* | RED ONE MARKET WEST * RED ONE MARKET SOUTHWEST | RED ONE MARKET NORTH* RED ONE MARKET SOUTH 40 | RED ONE MARKET EAST

*Cold beer and wine are for sale at our Central, West, and North Red One Market locations.

DOWN:

1. After the Tiger Cat but before the Panther.

2. Curtis built the _____ Special.

4. Thrust, drag, gravity, and ____.

5. He changed the world, so we named an award after him.

6. In WWII, they flew the same airplanes as men did.

8. EAA’s advocacy department works closely with them.

9. Many people use these in aircraft lighting.

ACROSS:

3. It runs north and south between the runway and the crowd.

7. The Brown Arch is the symbolic _______ to aviation at Oshkosh.

10. Like a biplane, but with one wing, not two.

11. Steen’s sporty biplane.

12. Some airplanes have one of these for yaw, the rest of us just use our feet.

MONDAY 7/24 ANSWERS

YOUNG EAGLES® RAFFLE 2022 Ford Mustang

$100

TRY YOUR HAND at these trivia questions and find out. The answers, along with a new batch of questions, will be in tomorrow’s paper.

1. What was the full name (title and subtitle) of EAA’s first publication?

2. In the ’80s and ’90s, long before The Adventures of Aviore, we had Captain ______.

3. Which of the following was one of the radio call signs that EAA founder Paul Poberezny used for his wife, Audrey:

a. Little Audrey

b. Diamond 1

c. Red One-and-a-Half

d. Mama Bear

YESTERDAY’S ANSWERS.

1. 1989 2. Cliff RobeRtson, Gen. ChuCk YeaGeR, haRRison foRd, sullY sullenbeRGeR and Jeff skiles, sean d. tuCkeR, and JimmY GRaham

3. a. 13,248

YOUR JOURNEY. YOUR OSHKOSH.

FROM FIRST ARRIVAL to final takeoff and everything in between, we want to see AirVenture through your eyes. Check out today’s featured social shots of the day! Share your highlights on social media using #OSH23 to possibly be featured in a future issue of AirVenture Today!

@fischerflies

Dreamlifter at Show Center!

BLUE BARN

Your go-to destination for EAA Chapters™ and EAA Young Eagles® at AirVenture.

> Attend a forum about growing your chapter, engaging youth, and more

> Represent your chapter by placing your pin on the chapter map

> Become a Young Eagles or Eagle Flights volunteer

> Learn about chapter resources and best practices

> Connect with chapter leaders and EAA’s Chapters staff

@msrachelramsay

Can’t believe I’m actually here! A real bucket list item and I’m looking forward to covering the show with @flyermag all this week. Let me know if you’ll be here!

Visit the EAA® Pilot Proficiency Center Today!

Tuesday, July 25

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

• Lazy Eights, Chandelles and Accuracy Landings

• How to Co-exist with Weather

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

• In the Search for Excellence in Execution, fly with Passion and Reverence

• Energy Management for General Aviation

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

• Could You Still Pass a Pilot Exam Today? Check Yourself with the DPEs

• Things that go Bump in the Night, or in IMC

• Do No Harm

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

• Emergency: Three Steps to Success

• RMK-able METARs

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

• Threat and Error Management for GA Pilots

• Flamping Across America

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

• Flight Planning with your EFB

• IFR Regulation and Reality

Presented by:

PHOTO BY ANDREW ZABACK