A Goodyear blimp making for better weather away from Oshkosh!

As the FAA struggles to remain relevant, a much needed modernization of the OSH control tower is under way. It's still not sufficient rationalization for user fees.

Katy Pluta performing those Microsoft MVP duties at the MS Flight Simulator booth. It was good to catch up with her although I did break a promise to her. I was supposed to catch up with her again on Saturday and failed. Mea culpa, Katy!

Really low cielings on Friday, 27 July. Performances will have to be cancelled if this doesn't improve.

Very nice little Heath Parasol!

This Stinson Detroiter stopped me in my tracks. It's big, bulky and capable.

Big windows and lots of 'em. Those round windows next to the instrument panel would be so handy today. This plane is from the era of 'contact' navigation in instrument conditions. No, it wasn't safe but those windows are still useful today.

Wicker. It's still popular in the yard for extended periods of drinking. I can only imagine it's just as comfortable for extended periods of navigation.

That's NOT a crappy paint job. It's a fantastic one, in fact. All that texture is the reflection of the grass below the wing. Verah nice!

Staggering the wings of a biplane wasn't a new idea but the Beech 17 is the epitomy of the concept. It's certainly the most famous example.

At the time the Staggerwing hit the market, it was faster than the U.S. Army's fastest pursuit aircraft. A damned sight more comfortable, too.

A Travel-Air 10D. More on this one to come.

Uhhh, having a little issue with bright, shiny, old objects today. Another Staggerwing grabs my eye.

More wicker seats and almost enough room to stand in the cabin.

Look at that wood!

Overall, this photo is a piece of trash. Good thing the subject is of such high quality. The instruments are simple and sparse. The view, space and finish quality are excellent.

There's almost nothing here to remind one that it's not 1938. Old planes in new condition everywhere!

Someday N6931X might be lucky to look like this again. These guys did all the right things to the airplane. The engine still leaks oil like a Continental should while the rest of the aircraft is beautifully finished. They even resisted the temptation to redo the instrument panel to something modern. The effect is wonderful and this is the finest Skeyhawk I've ever looked at.

A surprise arrival; a Super Ryan

The giveaway to this airplane's heritage. Strip away those fairings and you'll find that insect inspired landing gear suspension characteristic of Ryan's aircraft of the day.

Fish Strike!!

Badge of the past. North American Aviation. Builders of this nice Navion.

1954 Cessna 180. Nope, there might not be any new ones being made but it is indeed far from extinct.

Portable shave and shower facilities. You'd think this would be an awkward setup but it's really quite well done!

Even at $50 a person for an average air time of less than 10 minutes, the EAA's Ford Tri-Motor is constantly flying. Ticket sales are brisk enough that if you're not at the counter by noon, you'll be buying a ride that takes off tomorrow!

The ultimate tailgate party; a big wing for shade, a Beech 18 to transport all your buddies and gear...and cargo doors!

If it's airworthy, it's welcome at AirVenture. Paint never tells the story on an airplane. It can be suggestive, I suppose. This machine is actually in pretty good flying condition.

Arrival of the ultra-rare DH-4. It was IFR between Chicago and Oshkosh most of the day, delaying this machine's arrival. At the time he arrived, winds were gusting from the west between 7 and 15 knots. Made some tough work for him but he handled it well.

Another diamond in the rough.

At the EAA Aeromart. These are new Cessna 170 aft cabin shells, complete with side windows. $40 will let you take one home.

Everyone takes a picture of themselves in the mirror at least once in their lifetime. Not many will use a brightly polished P-51 Mustang.

[Jon Kennedy] My father used to arm #176, 178, 284 - a SB2C "Helldiver" - on the USS Intrepid (CV-11) during WWII. The tail marking for that plane, the large white diamond, indicates the USS Franklin (CV-13). I note the lack of skirts on the wheels, which is unusual from all the photos I've seen. I was also fortunate to know the brother of a Helldiver pilot onboard the USS Intrepid from VB-18 (the "Sunday Punchers", later VA-75), LTJG Andrew Rohleder, lost on an attack against Formosa, November, 1944. Interesting to note that the USS Intrepid was the 'most hit' Essex-class carrier, while the USS Franklin sustained the most damage from one attack during the war. As for the latter, you have probably seen the footage of the Navy Chaplain praying over a crewman on the flight deck of a carrier. That was the USS Franklin's chaplain, Lt. Comdr. Joseph Timothy O'Callahan, recipient of the MOH for his actions on that day, March 29, 1945 off Kobe, Japan.

Jon R. Kennedy MS MVP/IE

Uh-oh. This isn't good. "Stang", flown by Casey Odegaard (also the son of Bob Odegaard) is on its nose after a collision in which Gerry Beck's P-51A collided with him. Casey's okay but he and his Dad have lost a very close friend today. And the most I could possibly say is something as useless as it is deeply sympathetic.

"Stang" being towed away for the NTSB investigators. It's ironic, but not funny at all, that this occurs in front of a hangar labeled "Cloud 9". I'm starting to move from concerned anonymous bystander to slightly upset and nauseated at this point. I'm feeling pretty despicable for even taking these photos. I'm feeling even more cheap for walking around and continuing to admire all the work the rest of these airplane owners put into their machines.

Because of the crash, the airshow is being cancelled for the day. The pyrotechnics crew have a problem, though. They have all these explosives set up, ready to be blasted, and leaving them set up overnight is not an option. A mass explosion is executed. It takes less than a minute and pounds the ground with the same tempo as the double-kick bass drum for a speed metal band. It's impressive but no one can forget why all those explosions are going off and I think everyone wishes it hadn't happened.

The airshow has been cancelled and everyone's worst fears are confirmed. No one can imagine a pilot surviving this. It used to be a completely hand-built P-51A. It was built to the original North American plans by its pilot, Gerry Beck. It's a shame and, personally, I'm torn as to whether taking this picture and publishing it are the wrong thing to do. I understand Mr. Beck was well-regarded in the warbird community and had built up a very reputable business rebuilding warbird fuselages in North Dakota.

The best thing I think I can hope for is that the news agencies don't go for the sensational about this accident.

Consider that a total of 3 incidents occurred at AirVenture 2007 by this time. During the event, more than 25,000 air operations will have been conducted. One pilot will have died and two others will have experienced minor injuries. No private property will have been damaged and no one else will have been injured.

3 incidents out of 25,000 opportunities. That's an excellent record. Still makes you wish for one less incident, though.

$2 bucks! That's all you need to get a nice bus ride to the south end of Lake Winnebago (hey, I can't make stuff like that lake's name up all by myself)for a nice, short walk through the woods to...

...The AirVenture Seaplane Base!

The lake was pretty choppy so departures were a bit of a challenge.

Even the seaplanes have a bit of a control tower at AirVenture.

An aborted departure is better than an insurance claim any day. The Cessna returns to the base.

For another $2 bucks, this friendly fellow (forgot his name but he's from Indianapolis and, like everyone else, volunteers at AirVenture) will take you around the lagoon for a closer look at all the bobbing hardware. I enjoyed him a great deal.

See, now nothing pleases me more than a moment like this. Quiet water, airplanes on floats and a moving demonstration of just how liberated you can be if you're not having to constantly look for concrete to land on.

Take a close look but not at the airplane. Holy Crappies, Batman, it's the Bat Boat!

A Franklin engined Stinson on floats. I actually got to fly one of these in Seattle. To date, the most fun I've ever had in an airplane was in that Stinson.