I have a question for everyone here. The aircraft that took Gold Grand Champion was a 172 that was the first one manufactured. The aircrafts Certificate of Airworthiness was dated 10/4/1955. The airplane was listed as a 1955 Cessna 172 one the EAA's own website this morning listing the winners. Trouble is, "contemporary category" according to the EAA are airplanes MANUFACTURED after 1/1/1956. The one that was ahead of me therefore did not belong in my category therefore depriving me of being Gold Grand Champion. The aircraft should have been judged in the CLASSIC category which runs from 09/1/1945 through 12/31 1955. The bias to get the "first" 172 to win is therefore glowing. Should I challenge? This was CLEARLY a violation of THEIR OWN RULES. This isn't about judging points its about being out of category in a easily documented way.
Not that it changes anything, but could this actually be 11/4/1955, the day the TC was approved? http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/a444abc8f3357f6c86257ea4004e8ae6/$FILE/3A12_Rev_84.pdf I'm sure there is a rational explanation.
That they would reverse themselves seems incredibly unlikely. Would a failed protest result in adverse bias in future competition, or was this a one-tine-shot?
Since the discrepancy is, at most, 3 months, I don't think they thought that anyone would notice. The Cessna 172 is generally thought of as a post-1955 aircraft, so the fact that this one was registered a few months before that probably didn't register with the judges. I'd just accept things as they are - Reserve Grand Champion is not shabby! Of course, I have trouble accepting that a 62-year-old aircraft could even be considered "contemporary"! Yes, the Cessna 172 is still in production, but any similarities between those early examples and the current ones are probably mainly coincidental. (Some people have similar problems with today's Porsche 911s being called 911s, especially since that designation has been in use since 1964.) Maybe EAA needs to add another category.
Something I am weighing. Most likely I will email the board of directors calling attention to the problem. If they don't rectify it by, say, having two "Grand Champions" this year then I will just let it go. But its bull****. Not to mention my aircraft was clearly better anyway. Just one example: Mine has a brand new engine with all new baffling an accessories and a polished firewall. His has an unrestored engine with two really ugly repairs on the firewall and he wouldn't even open the cowling to show the judges because he told them it "wasn't pristine enough". I am not making this up lol....
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Nice angle to get the ultra-rare quad tailed FA-18 Lots of interesting machinery in those pics.. I need to go again and roll the dice and see what turns up!
I absolutely 100% agree. You cannot take it all in without being literally carried off the field after just one day.
I was wondering how many at AirVenture Oshkosh. 2017 broke a number of records according to the EAA. 590,000 visitors, 10,000 aircraft, 123 takeoffs/landings per hour, 1,162 vintage airplanes and 351 warbirds.
I drove up there from Milwaukee on Friday. Arrived about 7:45am, and it took me 40 minutes to get into a parking spot. By far the longest I've ever waited just to park. Could tell it was going to be a busy day, and it was.
Only 1 month to go. I have seen they will have a military tanker display this year. Anyone know where you can find an accurate list of warbirds that will be on display??
Image Unavailable, Please Login Airport friends are heading there to display their new 4 cylinder (?)2 stroke engine thats lighter and more powerful than a IO-540.
With hardly any non US residents this year was not as big. Looking forward to next year and more completed projects coming to the "Pebble Beach" of warbirds. Very nice Hellcat this year. ***en Fighters' Hellcat Wins Top Awards at Oshkosh (warbirdsnews.com)
Oshkosh 2021 >>> Jul 26 – Aug 1 anyone see it? ........... company and/or engine name? .......... Bueller? ... Bueller? .
Oshkosh 2021 Very cool acrobatics, but man, these are rare (and old) birds. Some high speed, low level passes would be good enough for me. Jump to 5:00 for landing and nice, close-up taxi views .
There was alot of smoke this year at the show due to the forest fires in Canada and the western US. Looks strange in the videos and pictures, kind of a yellowish haze. Military aircraft count was way down also. But still good to get started again after Covid 19. This is still the best airshow in North America for warbirds.
Also, a major storm on Wed. cut things short for many who bugged out early. https://www.planeandpilotmag.com/news/2021/07/29/oshkosh-eaa-airventure-dodges-a-bullet/ .
I was disappointed not to catch the night show on Wednesday due to weather, but it happens. Lots of pilots somehow got anything they could find to cover their planes. Bubble wrap, cling wrap, pink foam insulation taped on wings due to hail risk. Lots of people also left before the storm. Wish I had taken a picture of the p51 with pink foam panels. How to make a beautiful airplane look like a jalopy in an hour and for only $100...