Oshkosh b' Gosh

[Pat and Dallas Larson]

Second year at Oshkosh-First flying in with my "coupe".  What a delight!  We arrived Monday, Aug. 2 and the weather was perfect. That first week must have been miserable, even for the "die-hards".  Heard that the attendance was about 65% from that of last year, probably due in part to the weather and the increase in admission cost.   The week before the air-show I had spent about 25 hours polishing my plane(N93555 pictured in the photo album at [EMAIL PROTECTED]) , so I thought I might as well fly it to the show with a fellow-couper and display it on the Show-plane flight-line.  I didn't stay around the plane, but I did noticed several people inspecting it as we walked away.  When we returned to prepare for departure after the airshow, I met a very attractive woman who was sitting by the wing of my plane while watching the airshow. She said that she had an abundance of compliments  on my plane, thinking it was hers. Was it because she was attractive or the plane or maybe both? The coupes certainly do draw the attention no matter where you go.  Had to re-polish parts of my plane as there was an abundance of finger prints and hand prints.  There must be something magnetic between polished aluminum and human hands!   We only saw two other Ercoupes that day.   All in all, it was a great day.  The arrival and departure procedure wasn't much of a problem.  Using Runway 36 certainly seems preferred to Runway 27 with the colored circles. For those of you not familiar with the airfield- VFR uses Runway 27 and IFR uses 36.  Showplanes also land on 36 VFR or IFR.   Having a showplane has its advantages with the showplane flightline being adjacent to Runway 36.  By the way, is my '46 Ercoupe an antique or a classic?  What is the difference?  Anyone know?   I was a little bit disgruntled when I saw a Ford Motor tent displaying  cars at an airshow.  I came to see airplanes and accessories, not automobiles.  I happened to walk by the tent enroute to another building when out of the corner of my eye I spotted this beautiful red vehicle.  It was the new Thunderbird.  I don't know if it will be in production or if it is just a concept car.  It kind of reminded me of a marriage between the first Corvettes and the first Thunderbirds.  All I know is that when I returned home that night after a three hour flight, two of which were night flight, my wife was still up.  I told her the flight, the weather, and the show were all great.  However, I had fallen in love at the show.  With a puzzled look on her face, I informed her it wasn't a person or a plane, but that red Thunderbird.  As they say, "it was drop dead gorgeous"!    Do you suppose the next auto show I attend, I will see aircraft being displayed? I'm not complaining, it's just a comment.  I guess there's something for everyone.   For those of you who haven't been to the AirVenture at Oshkosh, try making plans to attend next year.  It is a first-class event. I hope to spend several days there next year.  One certainly can't see it all in one day.  And the BEST thing of all is the everyone seems to be truly enjoying themselves. Hey fellow-coupers, enjoy your "coupe". It is truly the "MG" of the skies! Dallas Dallas & Pat Larson Lakeville, MN 55044 [EMAIL PROTECTED]