Page 34 - World Airnews September 2020 Edition

AIR VENTURE AIR VENTURE
2019 2019

OLD GLORY HONOUR FLIGHT

he airshow
Tconcluded
with the landing
of an Old Glory
Honour Flight
with 115 Vietnam
veterans on-board, BOEING PLAZA HOSTS
returning after a

day spent at the

nation's capital. WOMENVENTURE 2019
Just off the

runway at Wittman
Regional Airport in
Oshkosh, thou- landed at Wittman Airport in Oshkosh a short time later at 8.52 am

sands of people and was parked at the gate at 9.03 am.
held up signs in The flight left Oshkosh early this size but cheering us on, board don't seem to mind the ow in its twelfth year, WomenVenture, a week-long On board the aircraft were approximately 100 other women rep-

patriotic colours to cheer the Friday morning. During the day, and that tore us up, all of us, extra excitement it generates. Nsocial and networking event for women during EAA Air- resenting a cross-section of United workgroups including airport

115 Vietnam veterans coming the group toured a number of when we got there, and as we Bill Brill of Mt. Calvert was Venture Oshkosh, attracted hundreds of women from all aspects operations, inflight services, tech ops, and network operations.

off the Honour Flight after locations, including the Viet- eased through the day it kind greeted by his entire family

a whirlwind, one-day trip to nam Veterans Memorial Wall, of settled out, but yes, this was after getting off the plane. of the aviation community. WomenVenture began with a WAI’s Connect Breakfast, attended

Washington, DC. Smithsonian National Museum an unbelievable day," Charlie "Who would expect to see Those attended got the chance to get together, to be inspired, to by more than 400 participants and featured former naval aviator

and Southwest Captain Tammie Jo Shults who shared her story of
"It was really awesome. One of American History, and Arling- Wendling of Valders said. that many people here? Yeah, network and to have just plain fun. More than a thousand women safely landing Southwest Airlines flight 1380. She also talked about

of the finest days of my life. It ton National Cemetery. This is the 10th straight year it's fantastic," Brill said. gathered in Boeing Plaza for the annual WomenVenture group her upcoming book Nerves of Steel.

was a special day. That's what "It was very tough when we an Old Glory Honour Flight "It lets me know that the photo, proudly wearing their purple t-shirts.

it meant for me," Dennis Vogel came into Washington. We took off and landed on the EAA country cares," Tom Leach of “Our annual WomenVenture photo is a family reunion for us,” After the Boeing Plaza photo, the annual WomenVenture Power

from Manitowoc said. had a group of people, not grounds, and the veterans on- Fond du Lac said. said Women in Aviation International President Dr Peggy Chabrian. Lunch was held in the Theatre in the Woods and featured US Air

“If we could have bottled the energy in Boeing Plaza during this Force Colonel Kim “Killer Chick” Campbell.

gathering, we would have lit up the sky.” “WomenVenture is a terrific way to share the passion we feel for avi-

The backdrop for the 2019 photo was a United Airlines Boeing ation. Surrounded by airplanes and good friends” said Dr. Chabrian. “A

AIR VENTURE P3: ON THE HUNT 787-8 with all all-female flight crew. It had taken off from Chicago special thanks to United Airlines, one of our long-time supporters not

2019 O’Hare International Airport at 8:13 am after a 20-minute taxi, just with WomenVenture, but with Girls in Aviation Day as well.” Q
FOR A HURRICANE
By Kayla Floyd THE NIGHT AIR SHOW

for these crews flying through a hurricane for three years now. I am going into my Dubbed one of the most popular

surrounded by wind from all directions, third season." additions to AirVenture over the
he National Oceanic and Atmo- rain beating down and violent bursts of NOAA's goal is to collect data that goes past quarter century, the Night Air

Tspheric Administrati on (NOAA) drafts, it's just a typical flight. into weather warnings as well as informa- Show, has proven to be a must-see

Hurricane Hunter made its first Oshkosh Lt. Cmdr. John Rossi, pilot of the P-3 and tion to learn more about tropical storms "skylight" for every AirVenture

appearance this year, as the Lockheed WP- in charge of flying the P-3 into Oshkosh this and hurricanes. enthusiast. And this year was no

3D Orion aircraft made its way to Boeing year, described learning to fly the hurricane "I've flown everything from tropical different. Tens of thousands were

Plaza. hunter as "trying to take a drink from a storms, all the way to category 5 hurri- dazzled by an unmatched display of
canes," Rossi said. "Everything we do is

NOAA aircraft are a key part of hurricane fire hose; you've got to learn it quickly and done very deliberately and very intention- precision aerobatics from many of

forecasting by collecting data from the there is a lot of information coming at you ally. We have a plan in place before we go the world’s top air show performers

storm while flying into it. fast." in to minimize risk and keep everyone safe. mixed with dazzling pyrotechnics.

The work of the crew of the hurri- "It takes planning to fly into Oshkosh," he The goal of the research is to collect data Each of the night air shows concluded

cane-hunting aircraft alerts areas of incom- continued. "About a month ago we started inside the storm, and then use that data with a thunderous fireworks display

ing storm threats and saves lives through our planning to get all the details and to learn about the storm and improve the that has been termed as one of the
best in the entire Midwest. Here

the information they are able to provide. instructions." forecast in terms of intensity and track- a 1951 Ryan Navion B frames the

The information includes how intense a Rossi has been working for NOAA for 12 wise. So that is our goal. The better we get

storm is or will be and also where it will hit years, and started flying 10 years ago. "I at that, the more lives we can potentially fireworks illuminating the brown

land. flew light aircraft for five years. Then I got save. The idea is that we can tell a city arch during the finale that marked
50 years of airshow history.

Flying into a hurricane is an intimidating selected to fly the P-3 for NOAA, and I've like Miami to evacuate, as opposed to the

experience for the average onlooker, but been doing the hurricane research flights entire state of Florida."

World Airnews | September 2019 World Airnews | September 2019
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