Lee Bradshaw is sitting in a low folding chair under the wing of his Lake Buccaneer amphibian, watching the planes fly by. He came to AirVenture this year for four days from his home in Forest Lake, Minneapolis.

Lee took his first flying lesson in January 1952 and retired a few years back as a 747 Captain for Northwest. As an istructor he talk his first student in the mid 50s and he says, "back then all the training for the Private license including dual and solo only cost $300." He's also an seaplane and glider instructor.

He came to his first Oshkosh fly-in in the early 70s. He says it's a little more commercial now than it was when he started coming. "Now you can get anything from Brats to Fords," he says.

When asked why he keeps coming back to AirVenture he jokes, "I love the heat." But seriously, "I love aviation. The ambience here is great. When you get downwind on 27 it's a real thrill to see everything."

Lee's home airport is Osseola, Wisconsin. "Where they built the Champ."

Danger: Fly Market ahead. On a personal note: I should not be allowed in the fly-market. Every year I go in there to just look around, and I end up having to buy my way out.

This year, on numerous visits, some of the things I bought included: a pulley system, 30 feet of rope, a plastic brush, a bag of tiny cable ties, two clevis pins, a battery charger, 12 AA batteries, and an alligator clip.

The last row. There's a sign along the taxiway way down at the south end of the field that says, "Fond du Lac County Line". It not really that far away, but those who arrive at the height of the convention get to park way down beyond the three-six numbers.

This year the highest row where planes were parked was number 140. Two of the planes in that row were a pair of Kitfoxes from EAA Chapter 1169 in Rochester, New York.

Representing Chapter 1169 are Russ Worthington, Jeff Ely, Ken Stein, and Chapter President Bill Dominiak. The Chapter meets at a grass strip located at Dominiak's Company Cuestock, Inc.

The Chapter has two project planes under construction. A Cubby, an orphan project that the Chapter took over, and a Starduster.

The guys left for Wittman Field on Wednesday morning, expecting to arrive later that day. But thunderstorms caused them to make repeated precautionary landings. As a result, they didn't arrive in Oshkosh until late Thursday. "It's OK though," they say. "Some of the most interesting airports are the ones where you end up waiting out the weather." For example in Tiffen, Ohio the FBO opened up the hangar for their planes, and loaned them a car to get a bite to eat while the storms passed through.

This is Russ's first visit to the Oshkosh fly-in. "I love it," he says. "It's great. Everything is here. It's really sensory overload."

The gang had planned to stay until Saturday. But the forecast bad weather on that day was making them think about leaving earlier, on Friday night. "But we'll be back," they say.

It's a family affair. Dell McCoy, Priscilla Kenney and their four girls are part of a community of planes that gather at AirVenture each year. They fly their 1963 Cessna 205 into Wittman Field from their home in Aurora, Illinois.

Priscilla is here for her 15th Oshkosh fly-in, Dell has been coming for 30 years. Dell learned to fly just before his first time here. He got his license just two days before he flew here with his Dad, that first time in 1971.

Dell and Priscilla enjoy meeting old friends here at Oshkosh, and now-a-days, like so many Oshkosh friends, they stay in touch throughout the year via email.

Their girls enjoy meeting and playing with old friends here each year too. Fiona is 10, Bridgett is 8, Colleen is 6, and Shannon is 4. "Can you see the pattern?" Priscilla asks. But when it's pointed out that they're missing a 2 year old they reply. "We had to stop. All the plane's seats were full."

Although the kids aren't old enough to start flying lesson yet, they all love aviation, and Mom, who is a CFI, is planning to teach them when they're old enough.

Dale and Priscilla are members of EAA Chapter 579 in Aurora. He's a Past Treasurer of the chapter, and between them they've flown 300 Young Eagles.

Well that's it for another AirVenture. It was a year of extremes. Hot & humid and cold & rainy. Big jets and little jets. Boeing 307s and Vicker's Vimys.

In past years I've written about how Oshkosh is about history, and old friends, and memories. This year we can add neighborhoods and camaraderie to the list.

A lot of us at AirVenture are part of many little neighborhoods that exist here for ten days each summer. It's Brigadoon, it's Shangri La.

Dave Guinn, who I spoke to earlier in the week, said it best. "If you come here repeatedly, you probably come for the camaraderie." There's the Bonanzas group, the Replica Fighters, and the Cajun Condo. And those are just the tip of the iceberg.

Next year, if you aren't already a part of one of these Oshkosh communities, I suggest that you seek one out. At AirVenture 2002 hook up with some people with the same plane, or who camp in the same area, or have kids the same age. As we've seen this year, it will make the fly-in experience richer than ever. And when you arrive each year it will give you someone who will say, "Welcome to Oshkosh".