Breezy Rides... A David and Goliath thing... More than just a gate guard.

Arnie Zimmerman is devoted to getting kids excited about aviation. Arnie is the owner and pilot of the Breezy that gives rides each year at the fly-in. The Breezy is a unique airplane design of exposed metal frame and fabric covered wings. The pilot and passengers ride in seats perched at the front of the aircraft.

Arnie's fly-in rides are free to anyone willing to wait in line - a donation to EAA Young Eagles is suggested. First priority is given to kids, and then to EAA volunteers and FAA personel. He gives as many rides as possible before the daily showcase flights begin.

This is the 10th year Arnie has given Breezy rides at the Oshkosh fly-in. He's been giving rides whenever possible during the 22 years that he's owned the airplane. He estimates that he's given over 5000 rides. He expects to give about 175 rides at AirVenture '98.

Arnie is a big believer in the EAA Young Eagles program. Every kid who flies with him here at the fly-in receives the official Young Eagles certificate. He's also active giving Young Eagles rides through EAA Chapter #461 at Clow Airport in Bowlingbrook, Illinois..

"I got my start in aviation through a guy who helped me and showed me about flying. It's rough for a kid today to earn enough to fly." So Arnie and the Breezy do what they can.

Is this a David and Goliath thing? It's not unusual for someone to be proud of their airplane, but Brian McShurley has numbers to backup his boast that the big guys should be looking over their shoulders.

McShurley, from San Jose, California, is only a builder of the S-51, which is a 3/4 scale mustang clone from Stewart 51, Inc., but he is spending the week hanging out in the Stewart tent to help make converts.

He points out that there are four completed, flying S-51s here at AirVenture '98. He says that there are four more that will be doing taxi tests in the next 90 days, and he expects at least four or five more to fly each year after that.

"We counted 22 P-51 Mustangs at the fly-in this year. The S-51 fleet will easily overtake that number in the next few years."

Not just a gate guard. Chloe Jezeski is the EAA AirVenture gate guard at the Camp Scholler north gate. She's worked as a gate guard at the fly-in for eight years now.

Although this is only a seasonal job for her, she really enjoys it. "I love meeting the people," she says. She must love it, she works 12 hour shifts during the fly-in, then heads off to her regular job each night. "During the show I work about 20 hours a day," she says.

She likes to do a bit more than her job requires. In addition to her regular duties, such as keeping traffic flowing and patiently explaining the bicylcle regulations, she prepares each year to answer attendees questions about things like the best restaurants, shopping places, laundries, and car repair shops.

Working the gates at EAA AirVenture is a family affair for Jezeski. Her husband Dan has been doing it for 11 years, and her 18 year old daughter, also named Chloe, for 3 years.

Packing up, and heading home. In writing this column over the past week we've met some amazing people and seen some thrilling things.

We've seen 747 heavies and ultralights; we've met widows and war heros; we've talked with a high school girl from Finland and retired naval officer from California. And as always, it's been a wonderful experience.

What we've tried to share in these columns is that, whatever we call this event, the real heart and soul of the Oshkosh fly-in is its people.

Founder Paul says we're a big family. He's right. If we could gather together in the evening, around our kitchen table, we'd thrill each other with our day's adventures, we'd squabble over who gets the last dinner roll, and we'd fight over our differences. But when all is said and done we'd know that we all share a bond, going back over a hundred years, between all people who are drawn by the joy of flight.

Oshkosh is a special place, and already we can't wait 'til next year. Some cultures have one phrase that they use to express both greeting and farewell. We think that works here too. So until next year...

Welcome to Oshkosh.