Some things at AirVenture are hard to categorize. But that makes them no less interesting. Compare arriving by plane to EAA in 1956 versus today … how a young man’s visit to AirVenture started his career as a professional drone racer … and the competition for truly ‘landing short.’
Podcasters descended on AirVenture again this year, but seemingly in even greater numbers. Here are three podcasts that caught our attention and seemed interesting for you to check out.
50 years in Oshkosh. This was EAA’s golden anniversary of hosting their annual convention and gathering in Oshkosh, WI. We walked the grounds looking for pieces of AirVenture that have perpetuated over the years.
With the holidays fast-approaching, we thought you’d appreciate seeing the oddball pilot’s contribution to the Christmas tree industry. Regardless of your personal holiday preferences, you have to admire the skill these Oregon helicopter pilots demonstrate.
“Air Mail Pilot.” It’s not a title we see any longer. But it once described aviators with a single mission … to fly the mail. They were oddball pilots indeed. Looking back and hearing from those who actually did it might help give us some perspective about new ways on the horizon for flying the mail.
BBC reporter Poonam Taneja tried to forget about aviation when her father was killed in a crash while delivering a plane from Scotland to Canada in 1999. 17 years later she wanted to learn more about what he did, and understand his passion for it. The result is a thoughtful short documentary that recently aired on BBC Radio 4.
Marty had been intrigued by the Pilatus Porter PC-6 STOL for years, but had never actually seen one in person. But when he walked through the gates at AirVenture 2015 in Oshkosh a few days ago, there it was. Inspired, he couldn’t help doing some research. If you’ve ever dreamed of flying a PC-6, this overview will point you in the right direction.
We’ve been wanting to explore aerial firefighting for a long while. After all, it’s one of the most oddball flying jobs out there! Marty gets the ball rolling with this overview of some of the opportunities, and what it takes to get in the door.
Our new addition to the Oddball Pilot team, Marty Blaker, is headed to Oshkosh next week for AirVenture 2015, and that got him thinking about airshows and the pilots who perform at them. Here are the results of some research he did about becoming an airshow pilot. Think it’s impossible? We actually know someone who got there.
In 2011, China announced a plan to spend a quarter of a trillion dollars to jump-start its aerospace industry. Alex Haynes has been ferrying Cessna Caravans and Quest Kodiaks from the U.S. to China for a while now. Aidan caught up with him in Seattle to find out what it’s like to fly to China, what it’s like to fly in China, and what job opportunities there are for oddball pilots.
