Click here for a photo essay on my 2017 Oshkosh trip, right seat with Langley member David Blom in his Mooney M20C.

With apologies, the photo comments are written in context of my non aviation New Zealand relatives, hence some aviation and geography terms that are more obvious to us.

This was my second trip to KOSH, my original being 2007 right seat in a Comanche 250. Both were great trips but each unique. I learned a lot about cross country flying from David. I planned the outgoing route, with the forecasts showing ceiling limitations, so low level routes. Though we did not need them and got out from Bellingham over the Cascades. (Coming home was flying Mooney style, all direct.)

We intended overnight at Sioux Falls SD but stopped one airport short at Pierre SD. There some delays, with rain and ceilings closing Oshkosh all morning. This requiring a modified route north of Minneapolis to get in to KOSH middle afternoon, the arrival in rather bizarre traffic.

I did not take a lot of photos, mostly soaking up the experience. We camped and volunteered with the Vintage group, which put us close to show centre and with shade trees. Of course seven days on the ground in Oshkosh was still a lot of walking.

We ran into a few we knew from Abbotsford and Langley, including fellow AFC members Ken Funk, Gerry Crapo, Bob Fatkin and his son.

Coming home was almost entirely direct using Flight Following all the way. Mostly Canadian identifiers except for the airlines above us (US pilots tend to use 1200 and not talk) . We heard Bob Fatkin behind us in IUK while crossing the Dakota’s. Was Minneapolis Center for most of it, Salt Lake Center in the mountains then Seattle Center in Washington.

Direct home took us to Great Falls MT for an overnight then another bee line for CYXX. The last leg from Omak, WA north of Mt. Baker, which was spectacular. I hope all members can have a similar experience. Was worth every bit of it.

Ed Boon