C/LStunt M
y wife, Kathy, and I decided to spend our summer vacation traveling the highways and by- ways of Door County, Wisconsin instead of an overseas adventure. We set the days for our trip to the lovely peninsula of Wisconsin, which extends into Lake Michi- gan, for the period of time between the US AMA Nationals and the beginning of the school year. Setting those days in Door County then allowed my mind to plan what to do on the way up and the return trip. Long story, short, we planned one day to visit the EAA Museum in Oshkosh. Not knowing the schedule of events at the Muse- um site, we were excited to find that the largest collection of flying aircraft was hap- pening just when we were to be there. The day of our visit to Oshkosh was the opening Monday of the EAA AirVenture week, and we spent a neat three hours perusing the displays inside. Noticing that KidVenture was going on, I called my friend, Dan McEntee, to see if he was assisting the group of people who administer the venue each year. Dan told me that he and Bob Arata would be leaving the next morning for the trip, but that we could walk or bus over to the KidVenture area and see what was going on.
Getting to the other side was a quick easy walk, and we found some very helpful old and new friends working the tent and circle. They often provide the opportunity to allow some 1400 kids to be able to fly control line during the entire week of AirVenture. Art Johnson was busy in the tent at the time we got there. He was formalizing the equipment and readying to shut down the event for the day. I found Geri MacArthur and Melissa Olson working registration, and these ladies are very efficient and friendly. I caught Don Adriano, Wayne Stevenson, and Paul Barbour out on the flight circle with one young man just prior to shutting down for the day.
Paul was the chief co-pilot and instructor for this young man. Since I found them at the end of the day, there was not a lot of activity
by allen brickhaus You can reach Allen Brickhausat PO Box 206, Golconda, Illinois 62938, or via e-mail at
abkb801@shawneelink.net
PHOTOGRAPHY: ALLEN BRICKHAUS
There is no doubt where you are when viewing this scene through the glass from the back side of the EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
as the area was scheduled to be shut down at that time. But it did give me an opportunity and more time to talk to this group of fine in- dividuals without the hub-bub of activity that normally accompanies this event. Art is our District VI control line coordina- tor, and I often see him at local contests and swap meets. I knew Melissa Olson from ear- lier visits to the Sig contest in Montezuma, Iowa, and Paul Barbour has been a competi- tor in the US AMA Nationals Beginner Stunt event at Muncie.
Don served as the editor of a monthly newsletter from the Minnesota control line club. I know of him through his service and commitment to control line. This fine staff was to be joined by Dan McEntee and Bob Arata from the Lafayette Esquadrille in the St. Louis area on Wednesday morning after their journey from Missouri on Tuesday. Their tent and circle setup was located di- rectly behind the museum and right where
the visitors of the museum get on buses to move to the various locations on the EAA AirVenture grounds. We did not have the time, nor had we planned the time to get to the main runway, but the atmosphere on site was electric. As I stated earlier, these fine ladies and gentlemen offer over 1400 kids the chance to experience the art of con- trol line flying, and I applaud them for their service. I’ve asked Dan McEntee to give his side of KidVenture for this column. Take it away, Dan.
“About fifteen years ago or so, I was ap- proached by Jim Krueger at the annual Sig C/L contest about a new program that was being put together for a new kid-oriented ac- tivity center at the EAA AirVenture gather- ing in Oshkosh, WI. He and a gentleman named Sean Elliott, who was a former Jun- ior Nats Stunt Champion, were trying to or- ganize a control line training activity called KidVenture and were looking for volunteers.
So you receive the “beck and call” from a sign (above) that says free. The people helping young ladies and gentlemen learn how to fly control line are a bunch of very respectable and talented individuals. The control line learning center tent (at right) is located immediately behind the EAA AirVenture Museum with close access to the full scale aircraft if that is your desire.
30 DECEMBER 2013
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68