RV formation at OSH

[N941WR]

I was on the flight line watching the RV formation arrival and they were good, very good!

Much better than the Yak group. In fact, the Bonanzas and Mooney arrivals were better than the Yak group.

Good job guys, it was a pleasure to watch.

One note, one of the RV's had to abandon his formation landing because he was buffeted by a gust and was blown towards another RV. The pilot did the right thing by adding power and going around. Good move on his part.

Did anyone hear if the Yak's did a 50 ship formation? From what I saw, their formation was smaller than the RV group. I left on Tuesday morning so I don't know if they did something later in the week.

[jclark]

Thanks Bill.

EAA photographers got a shot and it made Wednesdays "EAA Today".

See:
http://www.eaa.org/apps/galleries/gallery.aspx?ID=83

James

[Louise Hose]

Very nice photo of a well-done, tight formation. Congratulations to the pilots (and, especially, the person who made the sensible go-around)!

[Davepar]

Even more amazing: a picture of the RVs in formation is on CNET (picture 8, I think) and even correctly identified!! Mainstream media isn't all anti-GA. Lots of cool pics from Oshkosh in there.

http://news.cnet.com/2300-11397_3-62...tag=ne.gall.pg

Dave

[Kahuna]

Thanks Bill,
The arrival is the worst of worlds for the pilots. Fat, full of fuel, bags, wives, etc... Trying to stay in formation with the weight, pitch sensitive tandems loaded...along with the wives beating us over the back of the head to 'land already the formation stuff is starting to make me sick'......

I believe we made a respectable showing on Tuesday and Wednesday. But there is always room for improvement, which we will get the opportunity to do next year

The go around was Speedy, aka Danny Kight of Team RV Atlanta GA. He is a good stick.
Best

[frankh]

Formation work has always impressed the snot out of me... Ok, the next clinic might have another wannabe..

Frank

[Stu McCurdy]

This year, rather than set a specific goal like last years 35, I just asked for volunteers. Twenty (20) FFI formation pilots signed up and showed up at Rock Falls IL (SQI) where we practiced Sat and Sun and then took it to Oshkosh. We had a Mass Arrival reservation this year, so we conducted an arrival flyby and then split up for 4-ship landings. I coordinated for our performances on Tues and Wed at 1130-1200 overhead the pattern and AirVenture grounds. We entered from over the lake with a Criss-Cross maneuver, which Kahuna hit perfectly, then entered the Figure 8 over AirVenture for four more passes changing the shapes on the turn around for each pass. Using photos from each day's practice and performance we tried to perfect successive day's performances. From favorable comments from the Warbird community and others, I guess we did okay.

http://news.cnet.com/2300-11397_3-62...tag=ne.gall.pg

Accolades should go to the individual flight leaders and wingmen who practiced during the year to maintain proficiency, then arrived at SQI ready to blend with other formation pilots from around the country to perfect the skills and exercise the utmost discipline and concentration. Here's the line up:

Alpha Flight
1 Stu "Falcon" McCurdy, Falcon Flight, Round Rock, TX
2 Bill "Gunnbody" Gunn, Falcon Flight, Austin, TX
3 Lowell "Pfantom" LeMay, Falcon Flight, Round Rock, TX
4 Roy "Jarhead" Geer, Falcon Flight, Ft Worth, TX

Bravo Flight
1 Bill "Pappy" Turner, Blackhawks, Marengo, IL
2 Don "Taco" Pfeiffer, Blackhawks, Poplar Grove, IL
3 Gary "Condor" Sobek, SoCal Wing, Manhatten Beach, CA
4 Randy "Slacker" Lervold, Home Wing, Camas, WA

Charlie Flight
1 Ron "Smokey" Schreck, Palmetto Flight, Gold Hill, NC
2 Tad "Stripes" Sargent, Palmetto Flight, Davidson, NC
3 Danny "Speedy" Kight, Team RV, Anderson, SC
4 Ken "Lurch" Harrill, Palmetto Flight, Columbia, SC

Delta Flight
1 Mike "Kahuna" Stewart, Team RV, Cumming GA
2 Len "Leggs" Leggette, Palmetto Flight, Greensboro, NC
3 Jerry "Widget" Morris, Team RV, Dahlonega, GA
4 James "Chatterbox" Clark, Palmetto Flight, Columbia, SC

Echo Flight
1 Gregg "Wizz" Wilson, Cincy River Rats, Batavia, OH
2 Bud "Joker" Newhouse, Cincy River Rats, Cincinnati, OH
3 Greg "Greese" Reese, Cincy River Rats, Alexandria, KY
4 Ron "Giggles" Gieleghem, Cincy River Rats, Glendale, OH

Thanks to the team for dedication, discipline, skillfulness exhibited at both practice and overhead AirVenture. Good show.

Thanks also to Jeff "Friday" Point who made our taxi/parking work like a charm.

Thanks also to Lynn Turner who took care of food, drink, and transportation needs while we practiced at Rock Falls.

And thanks to M&M Aviation at SQI for hosting us, providing briefing areas and equipment, and fueling.

[jclark]

Stu ("Falcon") and
Mike ("Kahuna")

for both all the "pre-work" and the flight discipline instilled at the clinics and thereafter.

Without such, our performances would not be possible.

James

[cnpeters]

I was amazed at the excellence shown by the group. The efforts of Stu and Mike et al to ensure a tight and safe performance is commendable. Sadly, briefing issues were part of the problems cited by the NTSB in the P-51 collision last year. Keep up the great work.

[randylervold]

I'd just like to add my public "thank you" to Falcon and Kahuna as well, you guys rock beyond belief! Your work benefits not only the flight participants but the entire formation community that you both continue to drive. We are fortunate to have you, please keep up the good work!

As a participant this year I can tell you that the general viewing public has NO IDEA how much work and coordination go into making those pretty formations happen. One of the highlights for me was sitting there trying my hardest to just fly my own position while listening to Falcon and Kahuna coordinate the mid-field crossover, cool beyond words. Flying those formation missions is the most INTENSE thing I've ever done and I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity.