Day 12 - Dayton OH to Oshkosh WI

AirVenture Cup Race Day!

Very different to the race day 2004, when the overcast was down around 1000 ft agl and the rain had just stopped. Today dawned clear and bright, but windy. Indeed, some very strong winds were forecast as the race passed through Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin and the forecast was certainly true to form.

Like last year, 'GOOFY' was sent off first as its speed was almost half of the race winners. However, this year the faster airplanes were started before the slower airplanes, and shortly after my departure. Knowing that most race pilots would be down low, right 'on the deck' I elected to fly at 2000 ft msl to at least give some protection from the fast flying racers. Broadcasting my position on the common race frequency also gave me some comfort, but I will never know how close some racers' came as I saw very few airplanes pass me.

There is a certain rivalry between 'GOOFY' and a fellow race chase pilot, Sal deVincenzo flying a twin Commanche. OK, 'GOOFY' sets off first but Sal always likes to arrive at the finish first. Last year the two airplanes were neck and neck over the the finish line, but this year the strong winds must have slowed Sal down as he was a few miles behind when the finish line drew close. Or perhaps it was the fact that 'GOOFY' was in a 'red-line' descent from 3500 ft msl down to 250 ft agl over the finish line which made all the difference!

Anyway, this time 'GOOFY' landed first at Fond du Lac (FLD), followed closely by Sal in the Commanche. The finish line was a low pass over a private airport south of Fon du Lac, and one airplane was so low on fuel due to the wind that the pilot had to land at the finish line and get fuel ferried over to him from FLD.  

Fond du Lac was the staging point for a mass arrival of the race airplanes into Oshkosh, and 'GOOFY' was certainly not the last airplane to arrive.

                       

Arriving at Oshkosh 'GOOFY' was happy to be tied down amongst the race airplanes

                       

The only problem with the arrival at OSH was that there was a 25 mph direct crosswind and the tower insisted that the race airplanes (with two exceptions) use runways 36 L and 36 R rather than 27 which was directly into wind.

'GOOFY' had to land on 36 R which is normally a taxiway so space for any crosswind error was severely limited. Indeed, one of the taildragger RV's went off the runway (taxiway) and forced some airplanes to 'go-around'.

It's always nice to arrive at AirVenture as part of the race team, and the reception provided for the race pilots was as impressive as ever - thanks EAA!