This is the 100th installment of The New Owner, and I suppose it’s only natural that the milestone is occurring amid a maniacal blend of emotions swirling around said ownership.

On one hand, EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is next week (July 22-28), so there’s massive excitement for epic times just ahead. On the other hand, some maintenance issues have arisen over the past couple of weeks that create severe trepidation and directly threaten those amazing times.

It’s a perfect representation of aircraft ownership as a whole. Amazing experiences put at risk of derailment from unforeseen circumstances, fighting back and forth like so many Hollywood heroes and villains. But instead of the villains threatening the powers of good with swords, guns, and death rays, the threats come in the form of grounded airplanes and massive repair bills.

Frankly, I’d prefer to take my chances with the guns and death rays.

• READ MORE: Airplane Types Unlock AirVenture Locations for Parking, Camping

The first sign that something was amiss came several days ago in the form of engine oil. More specifically, a few extra drops on the hangar floor, slightly higher consumption than normal, and a new sheen collecting on the bottom of the engine. It wasn’t that my Continental engine was leaking oil. That’s pretty typical for most old Continentals. It was that mine was quite suddenly leaking in new places, at higher volumes, much differently than normal.

At any other time of year, it would be a simple matter of postponing future flights and booking some time with my mechanic. But this was Oshkosh month, a time when the severity of any mechanical problems increases exponentially as the date of the magnificent fly-in nears. And being that the big event was only a couple of weeks away at this point, panic quickly set in.

I immediately texted my mechanic, Ryan. He’s a great guy who embodies rural Wisconsin friendliness and honesty. He’s the kind of person who will bend over backward to help you and happily provide educational lessons about the tasks he’s performing along the way. He and his brother own and operate Johnson Brothers Flying Service in Lone Rock, Wisconsin, about 40 miles west of Madison.

While I was waiting for his reply, I examined my engine. I couldn’t quite pinpoint the source of the oil, but I suspected my Continental C-145 was experiencing weepy pushrod seals. This is a known issue with the type, as well as with the later version, the O-300.

I’ve always been amused at the engine’s midproduction name change from C-145 to O-300. Continental evidently figured that referring to the engine by the displacement (300 cubic inches) made it sound more powerful and impressive than referring to it by the 145 hp it produces. Marketing 101, I suppose.

Ryan replied that he would try to make it out sometime during the week before my departure to Oshkosh. But because he was so busy, he couldn’t guarantee it. I’d just have to wait and hope. In the meantime, I opted to remove my upper and lower cowls for a closer inspection.

To someone like me with close to zero mechanical aptitude, dismantling your airplane’s upper and lower cowls to reveal an entirely naked engine is simultaneously empowering and intimidating.

In one respect, it makes you feel like you know what you’re doing. Anyone walking past the open hangar door would naturally assume you possess some rudimentary level of knowledge and proficiency. But in another respect, you’re pretty sure you’re fooling nobody.

For the purposes of an engine inspection, however, it worked out just fine, and I was able to trace the leak to the oil temperature probe on the back of the engine accessory case. I forwarded this intel to Ryan.

The next afternoon, I received a text from him. Unbeknownst to me, he made it out to my plane and addressed the leak. I was ecstatic and headed right out to the airport for a shakedown flight prior to my trip up to Oshkosh.

Sure enough, the oil leak appeared to be taken care of. I preflighted the airplane, pulled it out of the hangar, and hopped in—only to discover that the throttle was inexplicably encountering some kind of blockage halfway into its travel.

Thinking that a running engine might somehow solve the problem, I started it up but found that nothing had changed. The throttle knob would only advance about halfway to full throttle before encountering a hard stop.

Now, things were getting serious. It was a Friday evening, less than a week before my planned departure to Oshkosh. Ryan was busy and wouldn’t be able to chat until Sunday or Monday. Desperate not to miss the big event, I gave my friend Dan a call.

“Hey, man, have you sold your Ercoupe yet?” Dan replied that he had not. “And you’re not going to make it to Oshkosh this year, right?” “That’s right,” he replied. “We’ll be in Michigan all week.”

• READ MORE: Flying In to AirVenture: A Carefully Orchestrated Cacophony of Chaos

He knew I was angling for something, so I explained.

“I’m dealing with some mechanical issues on the 170, and I’m not sure if it’ll be fixed in time for Oshkosh,” I said. “If it’s not, how about I take the Ercoupe up and hang some of those big ‘for-sale’ signs on the prop so a half million people see it?”

After considering this for a moment, Dan agreed that it would be a win-win sort of situation.

With a backup plan firmly in place, Saturday came and went. On Sunday morning, I received a text from Ryan. He was available to zip out to the hangar and have a look at my throttle issue.

The fix took him all of about five minutes. He explained that he must have inadvertently dislodged part of the throttle cable while inspecting something else during the oil leak work. He assured me it wasn’t likely to occur again and said he’d be entirely comfortable flying it. He also said that because it was his fault, he wouldn’t be charging me for the trip out. I gave him a 100-dollar bill anyway to show my appreciation.

At the time of this writing, I have just about everything packed up. My tent, sleeping bag, cooler, chairs, underwing party lights, and coffee supplies are ready to go. This afternoon, I’ll fly a shakedown flight to check for any errant oil leaks and confirm all is in order. With any luck, I’ll be flying my own plane up to Oshkosh tomorrow and, much as I sincerely appreciate Dan’s offer, hopefully not an Ercoupe.

If you wonderful readers will also be at Oshkosh next week, please come find me. I plan to be somewhere around Row No. 67, right up on the airshow crowd line. I’d like to thank you in person for your readership and support over the past few years and give you a sticker or two.

Just look for the blue 170 with Alaskan Bushwheel tires. Or, depending on how things go, a classy little Ercoupe.

The post When Unforeseen Circumstances Threaten to Derail Amazing Experiences appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

If you plan to go to AirVenture this year, you can find our “Oshkosh LIVE” Redbird Studio on-site at Redbird Exhibit space 301, adjacent to Hangar A and facing Knapp Street. If you have never been to AirVenture, we hope tuning in to our daily coverage will inspire you to make the trip to Oshkosh one day.

If you’re simply unable to join this year, our goal is to ensure you don’t miss out on all of the excitement by bringing the experience to you live across several of our websites and social media channels. 

• READ MORE: 7 Things to Know Before You Go to AirVenture

What to Expect

Daily live segments hosted by editors from  FLYING, KITPLANES, Plane & Pilot, AVweb, The Aviation Consumer, and AirlineGeeks will host daily live segments featuring interviews with the world’s top airshow performers, a look at some of the most rare aircraft in the world, tips for how to build your own aircraft or pursue a career in aviation, and features on the rich history that has shaped AirVenture.

When and Where to Watch

Our live broadcast will run daily, Monday through Thursday, July 22-July 25, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT (9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. EDT). 

• READ MORE: Airplane Types Unlock AirVenture Locations for Parking, Camping

On Friday, July 26, we will livestream additional original content from the week throughout the day. You will find us broadcasting and streaming live across all of our brand websites—on the FLYING and AVweb YouTube Channels, as well as FLYING and Plane & Pilot Facebook pages. 

Follow us on Facebook or click subscribe to one of our YouTube channels and you’ll receive alerts that we are live!

We hope to see you in Oshkosh or that you’ll tune in to see all the exciting news and activity from this year’s EAA AirVenture.

The post FLYING Unveils ‘Oshkosh Live’ Video Programming Lineup appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

You’ll see volunteers at the show wearing vests. They do everything from parking cars and airplanes to driving trams and making sure the infrastructure of the grounds, such as walking paths and parking lots, are ready for use. 

• READ MORE: 7 Things to Know Before You Go to AirVenture 

EAA doesn’t yet have an exact tally of how many volunteers will be helping out at this year’s event (July 22-28) in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, said organization spokesperson Dick Knapinski. 

“It’s tough to gauge the exact number right now, because the big influx comes as people arrive,” Knapinski said. “However, last year we had nearly 6,000 volunteers assist before, during, and after the week.”

As the airshow approaches, many pilots have taken to social media to discuss contingencies for weather, as the area has been inundated with storms. When it rains in Wisconsin, it really rains, turning aircraft and automobile parking areas and roads into nearly impassable bogs.

• READ MORE: Airplane Types Unlock AirVenture Locations for Parking, Camping

“We have had quite a bit of rain, 7 inches in June alone,” Knapinski said. While a significant amount, it’s not as bad as it was in 2010 when the show was waggishly renamed “Sloshkosh” by some.

“The additional drainage efforts done after 2010 certainly have helped, as there are large open fields used for parking and camping, some areas are lower than others, and therefore mushier,” Knapinski said. “We’re moving early arrivals into the dry areas as they come in at this time. With two-plus weeks until opening day, a lot can happen to dry the grounds between now and then.”

• READ MORE: Flying In to AirVenture: A Carefully Orchestrated Cacophony of Chaos

Knapinski noted that there are stockpiles of wood chips and gravel that will be used to shore up soggy locations. 

“We’ve got large tractors to assist those who find themselves stuck, literally and figuratively,” he said. “EAA AirVenture is a massive public event with countless moving parts. Our volunteers and staff work very hard to make sure it runs smoothly, but sometimes factors cause it to run less so. With this many people in one place, chances are that if you’re headed someplace, so are other people. Bring your patience along with you.”

The trams will be operating this year as they have in year’s past—driven by volunteers. The tram stops and routes are marked on the AirVenture map.

For the people who chose Uber to get to and from the grounds, the four drop-off/pickup locations that have been in place for the past four years will be in use, Knapinski said.

• READ MORE: Oshkosh 2024 Notice Outlines Changes for Pilots Flying to AirVenture 

“They are designated by the black-and-purple circles on the site map available online, in the app, or via printed map available on-site,” he said. “Those points are off the North 40 near Friar Tuck’s on South Park Avenue; Foundation Road adjacent to Homebuilt Camping; the Camp Scholler West gate on Poberezny Road; and the South 40 gate at the intersection of Knapp Street and County Highway N.”

Oshkosh Rules

It also helps if everyone remembers the Oshkosh Rules started by the AirVenture founder, the late Paul Poberezny:

• Pick up your trash, and if you see trash on the ground, please pick that up too, and put it in a waste receptacle.
• Respect the no smoking rule on the flight line.
• Do not touch an airplane unless you have permission from the owner. Be very careful about lanyards, camera gear, etc. to make sure they do not scratch or bump the aircraft.

Questions About Aircraft on Display

Because AirVenture is an outdoor event it can be a challenge to say with certainty what aircraft will be on-site for outdoor display. It can change day to day. A common question this year is “Will there be B-17s on display?” There are just a handful of these left in airworthy condition, and they are expensive to operate, therefore, they don’t always make it to the show.

• READ MORE: EAA AirVenture: A Vintage Aircraft Paradise

Knapinski said he had not been made aware of any B-17s visiting the show, with the exception of the EAA’s Aluminum Overcast that will be parked on outdoor display next to the museum.

He said it’s important to have the right frame of mind when you are at Oshkosh—that is, focusing on what brings us together rather than what drives us apart.

“One reason is that we’re all here for the airplanes and each other,” said Knapinski. “Especially in these times, leave the politics and other dividing stuff at home and come enjoy the fun of flight.”

The post Army of Volunteers Gives AirVenture Its Lift appeared first on FLYING Magazine.