Well guys, I just got home from Oshkosh, ( 4 weeks in the USA) All I can say is WOW. 5 days of walking around Oshkosh and adding to my wish list.
I got a flight on the B17 what a hoot, I have so much video footage and photos, it will take months to sort them out. I got my USA Pilot Licence while here and got to do a few hours around Florida with Glenda. I arrived at the forum just as Mark Langford was starting his talk. It was great to finally meet some of you guys, Mark Langford, Mark Jones, Joe Horton,Glenda McElwee, Steve Glover,to name a few. So many names I can not remember them all. Mark got me up to say a few words to the forum, I hope the jet lag did not make my talk to confusing. But I need to say sorry for loosing Mark Jones and many others. Mark, I wanted to sit down and have a chat with you all, but after a very friendly welcome, we went out to look at Mark L's plane and everyone just seem to vanish in the crowd. I asked around, but could not find you guys again. I'm very sorry. That was not the sort of talk I was hoping for after travelling so far. I want to thank Glenda McElwee for her great effect in arranging my stay and accommodation at Oshkosh. She was great company and friend during my visit. After Oshkosh I travelled by car with Glenda, via Larry Flesner's hanger then on to drop off her travelling companion John Michael in Atlanta.and Flordia. We drove over 2500 miles over the next 3 weeks. Visiting all the air museums and Space Centre, Fantasy of Flight ( YOU MUST SEE THIS PLACE) Again WOW. Larry, thanks for your time and effort to meet us at your airport and show us your wonderful KR2s. I took heaps of photo's and had a very long talk about his 0200 set up and flying KR2's. Larry is a true gentleman and again wish to thank him. Glenda then took me to see her KR2, while there I was honoured to meet Bill Clapp. ( I seem to remember a lot of talk about Bill on the net, but I was able to hear things straight from the horses mouth, seems to much gossip goes on here sometimes.) Bill has a fantastic and very professional Corvair Aircraft Conversion Factory. I looked over all areas of this manufacture and assembly process, his beautiful and fantastic 3rd bearing design. Bill has now sold many engines. I was lucky enough to take Bills plane for a quick spin, and I thought I would never hear myself say this, BUT I was VERY impressed with the performance and smoothness of the engine. I purchased two new noise reduction head set ant Oshkosh, and was able to test them, but Bills plane was so quiet I did not even need them. We made a few low passes with the wheels almost on the ground (so it seemed) at 180+ mph. I would have believed it, but I had my own GPS with me at the time. I did meet William Wayne at Oshkosh and looked over his site and engines, It was difficult to get a word with him as he as very busy, He seems to also have a good looking engine. http://www.flycorvair.com/products.html seeing William was so busy I got to meet Steve Glover again. So I sat down with Steve Glover and talked KR's, What a great guy!!!, He to has and great supply of Kr parts, I did happen to pass on some Aussie $$$ for some parts, Hope they arrive here soon. Thanks Steve for your time and friendship. Steve parts can be found here http://www.nvaero.com/ Speaking of KR2 Parts ...... No one talks about Bill Clapp's engines or 3rd bearings, very strange, I thought this was a KR2 net and we discussed all areas of the Building, Flying, building and supply of parts and information. We I'm here to tell you that its not right when someone like Bill has the technical know how, the material, and supply of a great product and we do not know or hear about it. What going on? we should have all the info we need to make up our own minds as to what engines and parts we can buy, so we can all get on with finishing the best KR2 we can. So if you wish to find out more check this out. http://www.aeromaxaviation.com/light-aircraft-kits-engine So I would like to thank Bill for his hospitality and friendship while was there helping Glenda work on her KR2, We got a lot of jobs finished on her KR and I hope it has helped get it closer to flying. Thanks again to Glenda and to all the guys I meet in the USA, I had a great time, and hope to return again one day. If you all get time as you say to call in and see me down under I will need to start up my own Travel Agency All the best, Fly safe!!!!!! Phil Matheson Down Under KR2 VH PKR ( 275 Hours) SAAA Ch 37 http://www.philskr2.50megs.com/
