Oshkosh, social lives of Corvairs

Note: If the first 3 pictures of this post are messed up in your view, I will try to get this adjusted over the weekend. I am working off an I Phone and a laptop to post this, and keep in mind I am a computer troglodyte, so don’t bother to send instructions saying “just convert the Gilfs to PDFs and the send them through the source code” as this will only lead me to explain why I think Steve Jobs had the same ethics as Pol Pot. I know Corvairs and flying, and as far as I can tell, Charles Lindbergh never said “Flying the Sprit of St, Louis was OK, but it would have really been a worthwhile experience if I could have done it while staring at an I-pad made by slave labor in China” -love WW.

Builders,

While the majority of people powering their experimental will settle for an engine they buy and bolt on, the homebuilder who selects a Corvair is often looking for an experience with more depth. While Corvairs have been a long proven option, they are not a ‘mainstream’ choice in an ever more consumer driven aviation world.  That’s OK, we will always be here for the experimental aviator who wants to find out how much they can learn, not how little.

 

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Because Corvair builders all have the common connection of Learn, Build and Fly as a goal, and the fact it is not the mainstream, we have more of a club atmosphere amoung builders than other power plant options. This is reinforced by our Corvair Colleges and events, and the fact my tent at Oshkosh is a central gathering point for builders every year. While almost all commercial displays zip up their tents at 5pm on the dot, we hang out for hours every night and enjoy a week with friends both old and new. Below is a look at some of these moments from Airventure 2017.  If having other like minded traditional aviators to share your hours with is an important element of your plans, consider a place in the community of Corvair Builders.

 

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Above, Corvair builders who flew in: Ken Pavlou, Randy Bush, Joe Sarcione and his better half Lauren. I took this when we were all eating dinner together. See thevery popular story about ken: Ken “Adonis” Pavlou advises aviators: “Life is short, Live Large”

 

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In the evening, we often walk around and look at aircraft. My favorite military aircraft of all time Grumman F8F Bearcat, just finished a flight in airshow.  Read more here: Values of my Father

 

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Legendary aviator Doc Mosher, age 92, recipient of both the FAA master pilot and master mechanic awards, Speaks with my brother in law, Col. John Nerges.  Yes, you can serve 31 years in the Army and still wear a tee shirt picturing Harambe as Che Guevera.

 

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Gene Zastera was a classmate of mine at Embry Riddle (about a century ago) He is one of he very few graduates who have ever earned a 4.0 GPA from the university. He has spent much of his career instructing new generations A&P mechanics.

 

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The flight line side of my display tent is a pilots lounge after hours. John, Joe and Lauren kicking back before the night airshow.

 

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B-2 Bomber fly over.

 

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Corvair builder Greg Crouchley. He has both a Corvair powered Waiex and a Corvair powered Zenith 750 stol. He has been to a dozen Corvair Colleges and he always makes Oshkosh. Read about his engine here: World’s Strongest 3,000cc Corvair, built by Greg Crouchley, and his personal outlook here: Guest Editorial, Greg Crouchley, Waiex/Corvair builder.

 

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Shane and Phyllis McDaniel. They Each, have their own Corvair powered Zenith, Shane a 601XL and Phyllis a 650. They are enjoying a little shade and company behind my tent during the afternoon airshow. see:Zenith Aircraft Open House

 

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Randy Bush in sunglasses, giving a tutorial on Corvair installations using his 3,000cc Cleanex as the prime example. I have intentionally fostered the atmosphere in the Corvair movement where experienced builders can directly exchange ideas and information with builders just starting. see: 3,000cc Cleanex at Oshkosh 2017

 

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Above, Ken Pavlou and Jim Tomaszewski in the shade behind my tent. Jim has built a Corvair powered twin that started out life as his RV-6A. He calls the plane the JAG-2. (JAG-2 Corvair Twin, running on film)

 

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The view from the tent, looking at the flight line. The Close plane is Joe Sarcione’s Zenith 750, next is Ken Pavlou’s 601XL, and third is Randy Bush’s Cleanex.

 

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A friend stops by the lounge with two very calm service dogs.

 

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I got a chance to shake hands with Smokey.

 

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Howard 500: A super bad-ass 14 seat executive transport from the 1950s, based on the design of a Lockheed Loadstar.  This aircraft has two very high output R-2800’s totaling 5,600 HP. It can outrun a P-51D Mustang at sea level. Note the square prop tips that operate at .9 mach. Keep this picture in mind the next time an ‘expert’ tries to sell you the BS story that props have to be shaped like toothpicks or turn and celling fan speeds to turn HP into thrust

 

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“Ginger the Ninja” Tomaszewski, The “G” the JAG-2 twin.

 

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Dan and Rachel Weseman of SPA/Panther, at the exhibitors lunch. They were in the booth right next to us as always, and they had a stellar year with 5 Panthers on hand, 4 of which were new this year, including an example of the tricycle gear model now available.

 

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It was a fun Airventure. Next event is the Zenith open house in Mexico MO, third weekend of September. Dan and I will be there and assemble and test run a Complete Corvair engine start to finish. Make plans now, we will see you there.

 

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Wewjr.

 

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