AirVenture 2000 Attendees Come From Far and Near

Ron Karwacky is carefully polishing the polished skin of his 1952 Cessna 195. Ron and the 195 are from Flabob Airport near Riverside California, home to EAA Chapter #1. Ron is a member of both Chapter 1 and Chapter 33 the Vintage Aircraft Chapter also located at Flabob.

This is his third trip to AirVenture. He alternates years attending Oshkosh and Sun 'n Fun.

Ron learned to fly 16 years ago in this same airplane. Since then he's lavished it with loving care and logged many, many hours.

One notable thing about the airplane is its mascot, a stuffed Daffy Duck doll astride the pitot tube.

"I don't know why it's there", he says. "It looked like the right thing to put there." He says that though it's the same airplane he's had for years, he's gone through three ducks.

Larry Van Dam is also from Flabob. His 1957 H model Bonanza is a multiple award winner. It's won a Custom Class 3 award, Outstanding Beech, and Lindy for Outstanding Custom.

Larry learned to fly in 1979 at Flabob. He started his training in a 150, but after 27 hours decided to "get serious" and bought a G Model Bonanza. He's been a Bonanza fan ever since.

He first came to the Oshkosh Fly-In in the early 80s coming every two or three years. In the 90s he attended every year except 1999.

This is the first year his wife has accompanied him. "It took a lot of intricate negotiating," he says with a smile.

Larry is also involved with putting on the Riverside Airshow in Riverside, California. The popular event, which is "like a smaller Oshkosh", is held each year in the last weekend in March.

Hank and Beth Manwarren are sitting under the V-tail of their Bonanza. Just minutes ago they arrived at AirVenture 2000 and they're relaxing for a moment before tieing down their plane and unpacking.

Hank and Beth just arrived from Merced California. They flew by way of the Grand Canyon, Arizona, and Spirit Lake in Ohio. They've been coming to Oshkosh since 1980, and have attended every year since 1993. They're retired now. He's been flying for 55 years, she learned in 1970.

Over they years they've owned over 15 planes. They can't remember exactly how many, but the list is impressive: Porterfield, C-140, Luscomb, Staggerwing, PA-11, PA-12, another C-140, another Luscomb, Waco, 310, yet another C-140, 172, '61 Debonair, '57 Bonanza, and the '59 Bonanza they flew in this year. Oh and they just bought another Luscomb.

Which planes did they like the best? "The PA-11 was a good plane to go up and fly around in. And the Staggerwing was nice. We flew across the country in that one and it made you feel like Lindburgh. Everywhere you went people would come out to see you. But it was a lot of work. For every hour you flew, you'd work on it for ten."

Why own so many different airplanes? "I haven't found one that satisfied me yet." Says Hank. "I like to fly low & slow and high and fast and I can't find one that will do all that."

It's like a family out there. Many of the early arriving campers in the North Forty are old friends who have been camping near each other for years. The Lieskes and the Pattons are a good example.

Dennis and Marilyn Lieske flew in with their yellow and white Cessna 172 from the grass strip at Cindy Guntly Memorial Airport in Wind Lake, Wisconsin, which is near their home in New Berlin, Wisconsin. Joe and Brenda Patton arrived in their brown and white Cessna 182 from Coffeyville Municipal in Coffeyville, Kansas. This year they've parked in the coveted end parking spots of two adjacent rows.

Talking with the Pattons and Lisekes they are quick to point out all their camping friends in the North Forty. There's the guy with the kitchen, and the folks from Milwaukee. The man with the rubber chickens, and Ray with the pink flamingos. Oh, and some normal people too.

The Lieskes are camping for only the fourth year, but have been attending the fly-in for 18 years. The Pattons are here for only their 3rd year. Both couples plan to head home this coming Saturday.

When asked why they come here year after year Brenda sums it up best. "This is the ultimate fly-in. It's flyers heaven."