Opening day of AirVenture - the world's largest airshow!
What a decision to make early this morning after checking the weather - stay or leave Oshkosh on the very first day!!
A severe storm was forecast to arrive at Oshkosh that evening, Monday 25 July. The cold front linked to this storm system was then forecast to move east and 'stall' out' over the east coast and southward towards Florida.
Another air race pilot who had to be in New Hampshire by Thursday decided to leave at 07.00 am to make sure he would beat the front. My decision was complicated by the fact I had agreed to an interview with an EAA media reporter at 10.00 am and had to meet with Steve Buss, the Young Eagles program director.
In the end I was at the AirVenture site by 08.00 am and talking to Flight Service on site shortly after this. The impending storm system was clearly visible on the radar but had slowed somewhat overnight. It was still forecast to arrive over OSH on Monday evening, preceeded by rain and poor visibility. However, the briefer did say that if I left by 12.00 noon I might manage to stay ahead of the front all the way to the east coast and then have a clear run to Kitty Hawk and Florida the next day, Tuesday.
My schedule called for me to visit AOPA in Frederick MD on Wednesday afternoon to promote Flying for the Disabled and to visit Kitty Hawk, the birthplace of aviation on Thursday, on my way south to Florida. If I went ahead with this plan there was a chance that 'GOOFY' might be damaged by hail and the forecast tornados, plus I might be stranded on the east coast for three or four days if the front 'stalled out', as often happens. Even being able to fly IFR would not guarantee that a flight could be made southwards.
Indecision is worse than no decision - so I made up my mind to look around the booths in the hour before my interview. I would then call back in on flight service and get the latest update.The interview went well and appeared in the daily AirVenture Today News - both the internet and printed editions.
Steve, co-pilot Goofy and 'GOOFY' at AirVenture
Back with the briefer the storm picture was unchanged, but tornado warnings were now being issued. With this news, and with much regret I decided to leave OSH before noon. Even then I would have to fly a more northerly route through Canadian airspace to avoid storms which were building over the direct route. More lengthy over-water crossings were involved, but it seems as if I had no choice but to fly east, fast!
Heading out over Lake Michigan on a 'Lake Crossing'
Hindsight can be good or bad, and from the stories I later heard of a damaged airplane at OSH, almost 4 inces of rain, tents blown away in the strong winds - that Monday night at Oshkosh was one I was glad to have missed. The cold front did indeed 'stall out' over the east coast and down to Georgia. Indeed, fellow pilots from Spruce Creek could not get back from OSH on Thursday and had to spend two nights en-route waiting out the weather.
My flight east on Monday to Frederick was as good as it could be, once I had diverted north to avoid the storm cells. This meant that once again the route was heading for Lake Erie, and flying at 9000 ft msl 'GOOFY' was cleared overhead Detroit Metro Wayne Co (DTW)
Overhead Detroit DTW Overhead Detroit city
The storm cells over Ohio were moving north east so it was a 'race' to pass them before further diversions were needed. Landing for fuel at Salem OH (38D) became 'interesting' as the airport was on the edge of a quick moving storm system. Finding the airport was tricky as the nearby drag strip looked just like a runway - but where was the windsock?
A quick turnaround was essential as the winds were starting to blow, a sure sign that a storm is on the way. Despite the rush to be off I thought it prudent to file IFR whilst on the ground, and this worked well as 'GOOFY' was identified quickly by Cleveland Centre before entering the clouds.
My next stop was Hagerstown in Maryland (HGR), just a short distance from Frederick but a necessary stop as I needed to contact my host from EAA Chapter 524 to see if I could bring forward my overnight stop by two days. Such had been the speed of my departures from Oshkosh and Salem, that this was one phone call I did not have time to make until now.
At HGR the visibility was poor, so the IFR filing was a wise move, and I was aware that the dreaded P40 probibited area over Camp David was just to the east. P40 can be expanded at very short notice if President Bush decides to go there from Washington - I did not want 'GOOFY' to be intercepted by F16's!
The flight from HGR to Frederick was made IFR and vectors were provided south to the Martinsburg VOR and then V166 to FDK. Perhaps after all President Bush was at Camp David as clearly this route avoided the expanded P40 prohibited area.
My host at FDK was EAA member Dean Stickell, who flies a Glasair III. It turned out that Dean used to fly the F104 and F16, and was a very good friend of EAA Chapter 288 President Keith Phillips from Spruce Creek who was my technical adviser during the build of 'GOOFY'. Keith flew the F104 and F16, amongst other fighters - a small world as I had been staying with Keith and other Spruce Creek air race pilots in Oshkosh.
The FBO at FDK - Frederick Aviation - also came up trumps with hangerage for 'GOOFY', which was greatly appreciated.
