Oshkosh 2004

Thanks to one very special supporter of the Port Townsend Aero Museum we were able to send one youth volunteer and one adult chaperone to the EAA's Air Venture 2004 in Oshkosh Wisconsin. The trip was an all expenses paid, chance of  a life time to see what may be the world's greatest air show. Kevin Vogel was selected by the museum trustees as the youth volunteer of the year for 2004. Kevin volunteers at the museum one or two days a week, somehow fitting us into his busy schedule which includes college, working for the Dept. of Natural Resources and hauling his younger brother around town in his truck.  Earlier this last spring, Kevin and his father, Steve Vogel also took time away from their family to go back east to Philadelphia and pick up a Travel Air 4000 project airplane that was donated to our museum. The adult chaperone who accompanied Kevin on his trip to Oshkosh was Michael Payne, the museum's shop manager. 

Oshkosh was packed full of learning opportunities for both of our Port Townsend visitors. They were able to attend many of the classes offered at the show which ranged from aluminum welding to de Havilland Tiger Moth restoration. They even got to sit in on a talk given by Burt Rutan covering his quest for privatized space flight. When not sitting in on one of the symposiums, the two were busy looking over the thousands of aircraft. Of course, they were paying particular attention to the antique and classic airplanes that numbered in the hundreds. Of special interest was the E.A.A. museum. Since the Port Townsend Aero Museum will be breaking ground later this year on its new building, the chance to take a look  inside the beautiful E.A.A. building could not have come at a better time.

And then there were the air shows. Each afternoon around 2:30PM the flight demonstrations would begin. For three plus hours it was non-stop aerobatic flight activity directly over the runway. Bi-planes, mono planes, war birds, jets, wing walkers, and even jet powered semi-trucks, were featured in every conceivable flight attitude and configuration. Lots of smoke and thunder would be an understatement. Speaking of thunder, the U.S. military was well represented on the ground as well as in the air. The crowd was treated to a few high speed F-18 fly bys and landings, as well as several Harrier vertical take offs and landings which took place right in front of the crowd.

To sum it up, both Kevin and Michael would have to agree that it was the most amazing collection of aircraft, pilots and aviation industry people, that one could ever hope to see in a life time, let alone in one week. Our heart felt thanks go out once again to the special donor whose generosity and kindness made this trip possible.

Kevin Vogel gets the royal treatment as a VIP cart came                Alan Reber's beautiful custom built De Havilland            along and asked if our museum representatives needed                                      Tiger Moth. (Award Winner)                                      a ride.

    Pylon racers inside the E.A.A. museum's main building.                     Kevin posing in front of an Aeronca Model K.

       Hard to find Monocoupe in original condition.                         Immaculate Aerocar looks like it just came off the line.

Satellite Photo-Oshkosh 2004. Click photo for high resolution image. (recommended for cable or DSL connections only due to file size)