Oshkosh 2013

Pilots dream of going to OSHKOSH ...
The biggest Airshow in the world, it takes place every year in the USA State of Wisconsin, near the Great Lakes. I never thought I would have the opportunity to go there, let alone meet the legendary Bob Hoover; but, in 2013, aged 70, and thanks to a group of friends who are regular visitors to Sweers and who visit Oshkosh every 2 years, I achieved my Dream...

Oshkosh is a spectacular event in itself, spanning a week of special events, including aerobatics displays, military aircraft, launches of new type aircraft, special fly-bys, and hundreds of display stands and workshops. The Oshkosh M'Gosh Guys add to this by incorporating a tour of the USA. So we flew to the west coast and drove across the north of the USA, arriving in time for the Airshow.

My trip began with a solo cross country in the Pelican from Sweers to Mount Isa, 212 (aero)nautical miles to the south. From there I took a jet to Brisbane, met up with friend and fellow pilot Glen Grams, who is the proud owner of a Cirrus SR22X, which celebrated its 25th flight to Sweers Island in April 2016. We flew commercial to Sydney to meet up with the rest of the crew, then flew jet to LA and onwards to Portland, Oregon, USA, where we hired a vehicle for the rest of the trip. And what a trip!

We drove to Seattle where we visited all the major aeronautical museums - including Evergreen with the Spruce Goose; the Museum of Flight with the awesome SR71 Blackbird, Concorde and Space Shuttle; then the Boeing factory. We were treated to a special tour by Greg Sweers, who is descended from the family after whom our island home is named, and who specialises in Lightning Strikes in Composite Aircraft (such as the 787).
Then we drove east, through South Dakota's Deadwood, where Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane met their end, Mount Rushmore with the amazing rock carvings, Sturgis where the Harley Davidson motorbikes were gathering for their annual event, the Cirrus factory near Duluth, and so many fascinating places in between...

You can view a slideshow below to join us on our incredible journey...