It only takes a brief glimpse of my hobbies to know that I am a risk-averse person. First instance, risks associated with "reading" include, oh, paper cuts, falling asleep, mindless snacking. For "gardening," maybe a bee sting or sunburn (or if you asked T, superfluous spending). Cooking is probably the most dangerous what with the fire and knives and all.
By and large, I do safe things like photography and blog writing. Generally I don't take risks, calculated or otherwise, and call them fun. So how did I find myself in the middle of a 40-ship formation of airplanes flying 10 feet apart a few weeks ago? Lord only knows! What I do know is that, despite my nerves, the experience was INCREDIBLE. And, with the same fabulous and safe pilots, I'd probably definitely do it again.
You see, I got to hop a ride in the back of Mr. T's Vans RV-4 and join a collection of Vans aircraft pilots to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the homebuilt airplane. These skilled and certified pilots from around the country coordinated a mass arrival of RVs--40 to be precise--to be showcased at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh. They met and practiced ahead of time, and then took Oshkosh by storm. So cool!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJT7TKzUcAUdzUww6gH8JHtTgmiVom7PjHHIJNUHMLSueLX3KrtCXjCZnISwks6obiOefSEytbts0-b-L6vHbPyCj7nBp3xDTw20P1pQ1MPsgxsflD8rHm3NcqWg78z_g4pKWMszP5DX_/s400/DSC_0218.jpg) |
Somewhere between Denver and Rock Falls, IL. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwR-j-eRrFn6FZPUxW0h5RSkbf3agEowUB5S5s7r0ualj-zMchdWyZtq44nFfhJIfAwIauvDmCE5-QD3LM2tzUjST5af-uLKKI9CySMRC_TtMUBAq341IDvwBdVegruV2DJsjq2cKoAHCg/s400/DSC_0220.jpg) |
Love me some farm land. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszbk5lpumzB5eQVnQTxJvdMBNOfTuJ4JAvXUNhIdmOy4bpW1E7KtVU5NKDLqj1O7ET_lJEXuczYMGh4XlHW-7f1nZlld1v1jiTM7a81VnHWwvSe1MiaoHAaHP8LaB0_Jp5Nmbq4_zjTyH/s400/DSC_0273.jpg) |
Formation practice over the heartland. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZaSf5_r7wwlNuQ21EV5ezTKFpZpqHKzGtXueV9Fv1vNANOVDF5tqLGCnTHNJMjornDhx9yunN0GPM8zoTBkd4JuOAhNzrXau2MiseWckOieofTNOXiOmQAF3VcrpsAf0hLqxnu4tP-mdg/s400/DSC_0276.jpg) |
The gang practiced formation en route. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_nApUN0TylVQoETYBSB05R9x9nH-pzh_bfnzQqBcqPDt5KjQqiljvxNi-b5FGSvU3eeXtvkQXprEF3v6isxWBfYtRRZ7B7m_447KF2vRflmzyRbvtCuxkJjyYHHjvnRY5ZIu7HxTDRJc/s400/DSC_0299.jpg) |
Not my typical view! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVM0gVFxBlN56Vjs3czZ_O8jujhDCgDO1zZtrfzgbZ_z-IoOYh_Tvw2su-mm-dk9haEUj02R4r1XSPyZQPjxfLGWVGBl4R6EsNqr9q95-8nYif-mTNLFY0MO0AX4vdXUPRNO4t2p51iXU-/s400/DSC_0347.jpg) |
A friend, Axel, and his dad flew around the formation to offer critique of the shape (we were creating a number "4") and to take photos. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSKK5rQIxsYRAVzjd3VcXWvx0vmQqiODTpn4MXi3ngT3rqd04Uzrsoz2KPRqzxVyhPCzxq-UB1ytwMYFPWkQ3gsvOPvPyBlFXcjSVm0YWxXAzXhuKcKGwxCR-ZuWEmBXQi5rynnqdWNQ0/s400/Formationing.jpg) |
Such a fantastic photo by Pat Dulaney. That's T, me, and my giant white hat/sunshade in the front. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimyWbmH66duGLokFd7dEEZg_paCwmQBq8v-UHXNj6avQHwdHEsM0RhdmlFYC3uwV1N5Jq5cMxpIHkcB4V0CcJFnz04x5CPeN0rB5tH-JsGuv3FSWG1er_Gj4gUdEurRzs2QEOlUCl7dZSi/s400/DSC_0478.jpg) |
I do enjoy flying above the clouds. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbwjMMKibKiOqCK4rnwg5_4dn1_2jxmqpHiugkGtAariz4m2fACS8ti8LcygZaw2xvB_LRbCccQMXeeosBkkSZEQkJWUapZNuoHotI7U8o2X6kGNd-LDK-6dPodaPxhls_kwzJll2Jh0J/s400/DSC_0588.jpg) |
The guys practiced for hours at Rock Falls, IL. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hSnOV1ekJTExEpf0MHrBklz4v9y4JpHjC7MIK6GGYjwHnf7MKWPpRUHjorp0hWzzOYa7J1juUY2VGaSTUP-eSBgEWjytDLQ9VP2FfYw3QpYKJLCfLgC-SIzJpp-LEwz06uZnsFjxj2na/s400/DSC_0938.jpg) |
And on Sunday, we headed to Oshkosh enjoying a relatively cool day. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-89y8vRO-hFh4zUTPt9s-dC1-5Hn7bMb49DZJIw51cHZP3_FaAXsrQfSdVMVMZbg_22s5VV9RDf6ce390fIrcm9Cvu6SwoQLdXa1YjsaxqyeTkKK2BYo6omE2XORUCNgxan59EPF-CkQl/s400/DSC_0968.jpg) |
Near Lake Winnebago. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRD6uUmRbi7WIdowomIJcZVqYpqDzpwnjXdG-jaJuSYIOcdZMcpU__IrTcuRM59b-O2XIR_1vuM0V5D1LEBZbz5Gd7LSWhtKBiyYnh-TMRz2tBzPavfbpKY6r_oaiZCORYnj5cB6XM63gn/s400/Sue+40.jpg) |
Photo by the lovely Sue Wiseman, our formation!! Falcon Flight in the front, then the West Coast Ravens in the 4, a collection of other groups in the 0, and Team RV bringing up the rear.
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzrgE1e3b91CCV7ZF41AKYweko1EkgZvP-u6q6HoUb9XNFYr5grDdW0sD8YYABGNjCaQNvkZmFHb5OXVyPTEAs6DNKIdroI7QZE0UvKymgy0FMrPkiR-ixnhrCJvfvvdat2Pb9rS3purW/s400/DSC_0982.jpg) |
Just flew over show center. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSgdapqD43t74UGZBtAASRCF1jPYtNwIPvx-vwCuMQncuV_z1HUYbL-5R8ue-KJq0-h2MNEYDy50tjqqvAtSFLAetvHvTdyNamgVH1pYnhiA_5FDmFl6OWB9AHSva5SQw4pHzSMBERQDW/s400/DSC_0987.jpg) |
See the smoke? |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_eynof1Lpfz7vRAjvoDjB-6GvpXDeAn7sToTEI7ZS7cb5Vzjj7pld-hXTI5ltgzXOi9l-MKv6uIRiSxU1t_YOPyRPhAdEbL21LIer5v3ad8mFiKIDby-Hc4mfbQPe6QwdLwICEM4IMLK/s400/DSC_0050.jpg) |
Of course, I noticed a B-29 in the distance. The only airworthy B-29 in the world! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38tEcF0RDK8hsOzWuklXQMVabFuUwlu3V6dIoq5m0687bHrHrGWbvIDi5aQ05YEHx3x3DWZ5qdhVflaUlKGeCyOlO_hUJydgHklbC04glpovlbTsJsGznRJnezycpxecMQ-fHrUvK5vq4/s400/DSC_0051.jpg) |
To give you an idea of proximity. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikX3wDee2i4ZXc4Z8lubuyhDSa1W4TBncELzSacg2Pi7Jsi4ndAo_bQq5dclocEbOJHn5tUo3WxFH8qVVjx7-u-JJkaQvpHtHskhTVpGHBFKSJhGH3SJp9Roz5DHmRTsf3EFL6jb1yG6XW/s400/DSC_0066.jpg) |
Overhead break for landing and we passed over 2010's parking spot in the back-40. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9MXFIdLkfxuzGH_kYx1oI6LDnx_MEqn4irpqQaWzJlO9cNaWHfd_JM7MYA_IRfNK8SU9nL9XIrWKrGmCi1W-McZ6lEd3AVnFFhps7CZKPfU8E50CcHqYAWxYqdT09bCDP3-IxH3OnZlY/s400/DSC_0070.jpg) |
Mr. T made an excellent landing. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguefSQILZJJ8TvEfxO6st0VNLdJwE6XjWitjBW6IumzpNKuQgOuytMObIvV5OKC21QqszhLrSET86_i54iX9hZ0tfAly_g0yNPTrV6OfwceqVTmq3lndg8-rojM91jc0IIU73-8qk493GE/s400/DSC_0083.jpg) |
Volunteers waved us in. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6q3PhI4goxDKuRsEd9FBaN-0c-7nhzuUPGyOYFuKVbk8GscLUViSbMM3tmgyPvpZ0ydrHdlHvacxI2j_cnAu2VF2FEKiMeJ3ZBGxJQf-x-Wun4zbeoZkiFB3MY1s41z3_YwqsiscAQqm2/s400/DSC_0088.jpg) |
I enjoyed seeing our friends waving on the flightline, too. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Wl8c1ZKdNxPXgzJOaodmY7rJ2FZiWPgqMR-7onJf23efNUx17u_3f8KDKNUOqOizOuHX9dg07VKf8ceEvCKZwd1agqYFAZOO0FGm-ixsaDaisk2IrjD5_SnYOlmaCQWPbwM9SXtzfSP7/s400/DSC_0089.jpg) |
We made it! |
Next up: Out and about in Oshkosh.
xoxo,
shawna
P.S. All photos by yours truly unless otherwise noted.
- Things you must know about EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh
- EAA Oshkosh 2012: The good, the airsick, the awesome
- Things I miss about EAA Oshkosh
- 2010 Oshkosh B'gosh! part 1
- 2010 Oshkosh B'gosh! part 2
- 2010 Oshkosh B'gosh! part 3
- 2010 Oshkosh B'gosh! part 4
- 2010 Oshkosh B'gosh! part 5Labels: Airlines, Airventure, aviation, EAA, flying, formation, Mr. T, Oshkosh, personal, photography, risk, RV, Travel, Vans, Wisconsin