Airventure 2024 | Day 7

July 23 | It’s Tuesday afternoon, about 3 central time, and I’m sitting on my cot in my tent working on today’s blog with the latest thunderstorm rolling through.

I wonder if they will delay or postpone the airshow today. I also found out that, even with a liberal application of Scotchgard, the wind will drive the rain through my closed tent door in a fine mist, slowly forming a muddy puddle on the tent floor.

I’m glad I have a cot to keep me up from the accumulating water down there. I definitely need to get a new tent next year.

I was awakened at 4 this morning by the outdoor speakers scattered across the field announcing a severe storm warning, with winds expected at 20 mile per hour, lightning (and the accompanying thunder), and possible hail, all to arrive at about 4:30.

This cowboy’s been to that rodeo before. I quickly carried all my baggage and anything other than my sleeping bag and phone to the plane, where at least all my clothing for the next week would stay dry. I made one last check to be sure the window and door were secure and the cover tight, and climbed back into my tent just as the first drops started. I put in my earplugs and drifted off to sleep with the sound of rain falling on the top of the tent.

I awakened at 6 again, with the sun already up and the rain gone, dressed, caught the bus to breakfast at the Tall Pines, and started another day. After yet another breakfast of biscuits and gravy, pork sausage and eggs, washed down with a cup of coffee, I headed to the Ops Shack for another morning volunteering on the flight line.

As would be expected, business was slow because of the weather, even though the ceilings were 5,500 feet broken, 6,500 overcast and visibility 6 miles, plenty of room to maneuver under on the way to Oshkosh. I started out with a scooter today, so I wouldn’t need to walk or run with my tender (bum) left knee. I like working the southernmost point, Point Kilo, at the south end of the Vintage area. I’ve worked there since about 2017, so know most of the regulars, like the point directors Pete and Joe, and some other familiar faces.

After checking out at Ops, I went back to the EAA Chapters Blue Barn and met Samantha, the Young Eagles administrative person I send our completed Young Eagles rally forms to after our monthly Young Eagles rally at Chapter 1268 in Sonoma. It was delightful to meet another young EAA employee, all of whom are an active part of the next generation of general aviation pilots.

For those unfamiliar with Young Eagles, it is a program where EAA member pilots donate their time, airplane and fuel to give young people ages eight through seventeen a free aircraft ride. The program was started in 1993 with the goal of getting more young people interested and involved in aviation. The program has been an outstanding success, with over 2.3 million Young Eagles rides given since the program inception.

I met up with Tim Bloodgood and Sindy Mikelsen for dinner this evening. Tim and Sindy were very active members of EAA Chapter 1268 in Sonoma. Tim flew Young Eagles almost every month, as well pitching in on whatever club projects we had in Chapter 1268. Sindy likewise volunteered for anything needing doing, and is our dinner coordinator for our monthly dinner meetings.

Tim and Sindy moved to upstate Washington to be near Tim’s aging parents. They bought a beautiful house there but still come back to Sonoma County to see the grandkids, Ivy and Iris, who were two of Chapter 1268’s Air Academy participants.

We went out to a lovely pub and I had a genuine salad with lettuce and goat cheese and everything, unlike anything I’ve been able to find on the airport grounds. We spent a wonderful evening catching on each other’s lives, talking about EAA and how to get more young people involved in aviation, and then exchanged fond farewells until the next time we can get together. Thay are talking about planning a trip down this fall and attending a meeting, with Sindy possibly providing another of her delicious dinners for the Chapter.

The rain has stopped and it’s time to brush my teeth, put on my pajamas and crawl into my cozy little sleeping bag until tomorrow. Sleep well, all of you.