Oshkosh Airventure Fly-In 2010


This was the third time I got to go to Oshkosh. Since the second time, I had completed and flown my Sonex and had two children. The grandparents were good enough to watch them for several days to allow us to make this trip. This is the first time I had a plane that I might fly to Oshkosh, and to that end I did a test flight to Deming, NM. From that, I concluded the seat isn't comfortable enough (I have no excess headroom for additional seat padding), and that the cost in time (would have to plan 3 days each way to feel comfortable about the flying time each day) was so much that I wussed out and bought an airline ticket. Of course HL flew Jim Arbore's Xenos from the Tucson area to give me a hard time about it. I did arrive in time for the Sonex open house, and saw the roll out of the Onex and got to sit in it. Also got to see the SubSonex Jet and the electric Waiex up close.

Our row in Camp Scholler. Out near the main road, still reasonably passable with only a little slipping and sliding of the rental car. Arrived Saturday evening prior to the show start on Monday. There were hundreds of RV's and camp trailers on the road that could not be let in due to soggy ground.

Our tent. See the trick is, lay out a vapor barrier (sheet of plastic) first, then the tent has a fighting chance.

On a walk around early Sunday morning, to get a feel for how soggy it really was.

Yes, that is a stuck car, which had to be left until either a 4x4 or tow truck could get to it. And yes, on Saturday night, we did see a 4x4 patrolling the rows, pulling out stuck vehicles.

Later Sunday morning at the annual Sonex factory open house. The airport itself was closed to landing traffic, but Sonex aircraft got in by telling the tower they were parking at Sonex, where there was some drier ground.

Another customer airplane, with some of the factory birds in the background.

The jet project (Sub Sonex) with new tri-gear.

Counterweighted ruddervator tip on the Sub Sonex. The (much slower) Sonex/Waiex tails are not counterweighted.

Another view of the tip weight. Pretty smooth. Can't tell if they finished off the lead this smooth, or if it's a composite cap over a bonded-in weight.

Nose of the electric Waiex. So no air linlet on the left side of the cowl.

Looking in the right air inlet of the electric - so no cylinders either.

Ground-adjustable prop on the Aerovee. Since they showed the turbo project, I suspect the adjustable prop may be a nice tool to have when working on the adjustable-power engine.

Wingtip camera on the Sonex Aerobatic optioned airplane (longer ailerons, shorter flaps).

Cockpit, N111YX.

Throttle quadrant, N111YX.

Interesting paint theme, N157SX.

Nice paint.

Factory airplanes between the factory hangars.

Overall view of the customer airplanes. Then we headed over to the museum.

EAA museum, air racing gallery.