Well aviation enthusiasts another Oshkosh is in the can as they say. This year the Poberezny clan were celebrating 50 years since that January night in 1953 when several gentlemen decided to meet an talk about airplanes in Paul and Audreys’ basement in a suburb of Milwaukee. My how things have grown.

Arrival time for mr. bill’s clan was the usually Monday at noon. With wrist bands purchased and registration complete we received our FREE FLYING magazine which stated that the FLYING magazine was celebrating its 75th year. Hey they have been around a long time too!!! Well we parked the car (by Captain Ed -another TWA/AA pilot slightly senior to me) and donned the wrist bands so we could check out the flight line. While walking on the main road we saw Volunteer Vince Morris carting around Captain Ron Woodliff and his co-pilot Dennis Baker, both Chapter 32 professionals. We continued our walk down to the very end of the flight line because the flight/show line was fairly full of airplanes. While walking with Sharlene and our two kids and Captain Ed with his son Eddie we happened to stop at the end of runway 36 (North) to watch those manly (and womanly) pilots wrestling their aero machines to the ground in mother nature's 15mph crosswind breeze out of the west. All was well with the FAA (Friendly Aviation Advisors) in their pink shirts standing next to the official white control tower van abeam the 1500 foot mark down the runway. Well, in the process of explaining to the wife and kids about how much FUN it is landing in the crosswind in a tail dragging airplane (can you say ground loop) we became witnesses to an almost perfect ground loop. In fact we were describing every painstaking detail of what this pilot was doing when, in a split second, the plane, an Aeronca 7AC (AC = Attack Champ) decided to leave the runway and cruise by and say hello to those FAA guys. Next in it’s gunsights was ahhh…. Excuse us class but…. Alright people class over!!! RUN!!! I grabbed the ladies and Captain Ed grabbed the boys and we all scattered. The 7AC rolled past the FAA boys and rolled down into and out of the water runoff ditch area and finally came to rest. I have had flights (like this one described with students) where I have had to change my underwear before. This was the first time as an observer on the ground that I had to change them. The airplanes came this year but they did not stay long. The crowds were smaller too. There were two highlights for me. First, listening to four of the gentlemen, who were in the Poberezny basement that January 1953 talk freely on stage about being involved with the first meetings and first airshows. Why Rockford? Why Oshkosh? Why do the airshows still go on? The volunteers make it happen.

Secondly, in the following hour presentation, Chapter 32 was recognized as the first EAA chapter in the state of Missouri. Vince Morris proudly carried the EAA pennant flag attached to its PVC pole. Each pennant was signed by Paul and Tom Poberezny. A representative from each of the 50 states and chapters were there to receive their flag. While the group photo was being taken, Adam and Rachel went to shake Paul’s hand and he played with them for awhile. Pictures were taken and my flight advisor hat was signed. Paul and Audrey shuffled to their RED ONE VW Bug and prepared
to drive off to another meeting. I shook Audrey’s hand and said "Thank you". What energy for people in their 70’s.

Dick Rutan "light his rocket" powered Eze for a ten second blast and we all watched as he climbed up a few thousand feet and flew two "dead engine" 360 degree patterns around the field to a perfect landing. Before the flight could be flown "somebody" had to pay the $ 7000.00 insurance bill for the two flights that were going to be flown that week. OUCH!!!

Mr. Jim Baker had his P-51 Mustang up in "Kid Adventure" Land. There were new and neat "Wright Flyer Replica" pedal powered airplanes made for the coming year. No plans were being drawn up. Marv said there was no market for them. Hard to explain that to my "Orville and Wilbur" as they pedaled around with big smiles on their faces. Gale Derosier flew up in his Mustang II. Ron Wright and co-pilot Gary Heininger arrived in Ron’s Luscombe. Paul Smith arrived in his brother's VW powered Vanagon Camper.

At the Flight Advisor breakfast Sunday morning I received several pats on the back. No not because of anything I did but because I was the only one there with no gray hair. We were told to look around the room of 50 professionals there to see who was going to take our place 10 years from now. "We need young blood" was the call from the podium. Let us all try to pass the "love" we have for this great sport on to others younger and older than us. Next year's convention dates go over the end of the month of July into August so….plan accordingly.

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