October 2014 AirMail: Volunteers and Lindy Winners

The EAA as well as the VAA witnessed a near perfect performance from the Air Show to Food Services to all aspects of what it takes to get people to came back each and every year. Then, mix in a good deal of fantastic weather and you have a tough formula that will again be difficult to exceed in the future.

But…standby, because the EAA Leadership Team has already began to seriously engage the EAA Staff and the EAA Communities in the planning of the next episode of “Oshkosh”, the Spirit of Aviation.

The Thunderbirds show was also very well executed, and most importantly a safe event. They really bedazzled the Air-show crowd, and were very well received by all of our attendees.

Mixed in with the T-Birds we were treated to several fabulous demonstration flights by the Alaskan fellows in their STOL Aircraft. Now that’s what I call exciting flying! Those folks were very impressive, and they know how to entertain all of our Aviators.

As planning for the 2015 episode of EAA Oshkosh continues, the EAA and VAA are working hard to bring the Membership yet another awesome display of Aircraft & Events to Oshkosh 2015.

For those of you who were fortunate to attend this year’s event, I hope you took the time to check out the all new upgraded VAA Merchandise Store in the old Red Barn. We were offering an all new line-up of quality merchandise, and we experienced a very successful year in the Red Barn store. Each and every piece of business we oversee in the Vintage area performed well beyond expectations.

Of course, we are only successful in each of these venues when you have the best of Volunteers. I was amazed to learn that the Vintage area of Operations enjoyed the support of 537 Volunteers who collectively volunteered over 26,832 hours of Volunteer time to our Organization during 2014. You folks are just amazing!

Many thanks to each of you! We simply cannot do what we do as an Organization without your engagement. Be assured that you are all very much appreciated.

Remember, It is never too early to begin your planning to attend the “World’s Greatest Aviation Event”.

Thanks for being a Member, and we hope to see you at Oshkosh 2015, July 20th through July 26th.

The adventure lives on!

Geoff Robison

President, EAA Vintage Aircraft Association

EAA Life Member 268346

VAA 12606

• 537 VAA Volunteers Log 26,832 AV Hours
• Oshkosh 2014 Lindy Award Winners
• Airport Action: “Delta Gold” Chapter 25
• Vintage Volunteers of the Year
• October Mystery Airplane
• August Mystery Answer
• Helpful Web Links

537 VAA Volunteers Log 26,832 AV Hours

WOW. Please read those numbers again. 537 of you logged hours at OSHKOSH AirVenture 2014 for a total of 26,832 hours or an average of 49.97 hours per volunteer!

2014 was our best year ever for active Vintage Volunteers.

Coordinated by Vintage Volunteer Center chair Gerry Larkin and her team at the booth, our turnout of both new and returning volunteers continues to grow.

Each of you, whether you gave a couple hours or more than 200, helped us to have the smoothest convention in recent history.

Oshkosh 2014 Lindy Award Winners

Click here or on one of the images to see all of this year’s Oshkosh Vintage Lindy Award Winners.

Antique Grand Champion

Marlin Horst, Bird in Hand, PA

1929 Fairchild 71, N9708

Classic Grand Champion

Dillon Barron, Perry, MO

1954 Cessna 170B, N1899C

Contemporary Grand Champion

Raymond Cook, Spring Grove, IL

1959 Piper PA-18, N4273S
Airport Action: “Delta Gold” Chapter 25

Vintage Chapter 25 does not a have home field; it is a Chapter of flyers, travelers, and aircraft enthusiasts who meet each December in the Aviators Restaurant at Sacramento Executive Airport to set up a calendar of events at different locations for the upcoming year. Members share help and advice frequently, thanks to email, cell phones, and meetings that roam. (read more)

Vintage Volunteers of the Year

Each year at OSHKOSH AirVenture two volunteers are selected who best exemplify the hard-working spirit of Vintage Volunteers. One volunteer is selected as Flight Line Volunteer, representing our largest and most visible volunteer group. One other volunteer is selected as Behind-the-Scenes Volunteer, representing all of the additional service areas provided by Vintage.

Chris Haeffner from St. Peters, Missouri is this year’s Flight Line Volunteer of the Year. Chris has been volunteering with Vintage for 13 years, beginning as an airplane parker.

This award was started on our Flight Line by Art Morgan, long-time board member and Flight Line Chairman at Oshkosh.

Upon Art’s death this award was renamed in his honor and his Oshkosh call-sign, Antique 1, was retired.

Mary Knutson from Lodi, WI is this year’s Behind-the-Scenes Volunteer of the year.

Mary, who has volunteered with Vintage for 8 years, is also part of a dedicated Vintage Volunteer family.

Mary’s husband Dan is also a long-time volunteer, serving as a Vintage board member and currently treasurer of the association.

(read more)

October Mystery Airplane

Can you identify this aircraft?

This little known biplane that appeared in the late 1920s may be a challenge for even our most knowledgeable aviation historians, so give it a try.

Click here or on the image above to view a full size image and submit your response, including your name city and state with descriptive copy identifying the Mystery Plane.

August Mystery Plane:

Of the many responses received for the VAA August Mystery Plane only one correct identification was received, the one submitted by Larry Cole who identified the aircraft as a Thunderbird W-14.

Click here or on the image below for more photos and to read Wesley Smith’s thoroughly researched article about the General Aircraft Corporation W-14 Thunderbird that follows.

OSHKOSH 2015 – July 20th thru July 26th, 2015

Helpful Website Quick Links:

• Vintage Chapters
• Type Clubs
• Upcoming EAA Webinars
• Vintage Store
• Mystery Airplane

The Adventure Lives On…