Aviation aficionados from far and near
trek to Oshkosh by gosh each year.
When asked why, they reply...
"It's a flying experience high and low.
A chance to fly vicariously you know?"
Pilots who love to fly the beautiful blue sky
say it's heaven without having at first to die.
It's a wondrous sight to behold
as you exit highway 41 road.
Surrounding the runway at Whitman field
10,000 airplanes and more concealed
behind the trees south of Ollie's park
one might find an Aero Commander Lark.
The VHF crackles with a controller's voice,
"Blue and white Cessna you have no choice
follow that red homebuilt turning base
keep it in tight, keep up the pace.
Biplane on final land past the VOR.
Put it on the numbers, Spencer Air Car.
Aerial choreographers in the control tower
skillfully direct the traffic mix of power.
Piper cubs, King Airs, and warbirds too
mix it up in the Oshkosh blue.
Pilots on the ground with awe and delight
watch the traffic pattern with a little bit of fright.
There are flybys all day with amazing craft.
Some so weird the guy next to you laughed
to see such airplanes that shouldn't fly
climb delightfully into the Wisconsin sky.
You can walk the rows in the home-built part
each and every airplane a beautiful work of art.
They are made of plastic, metal, and wood
held together by "I thought I could."
If each airplane could have the same name,
it would be "Dedication, Perseverance and No Shame."
The list of homebuilts is a runway long and growing.
Builders bring their craft to Oshkosh for showing.
On some favorites my eye will fix
Kitfox, T-18 and an RV-6.
The warbird area is macho place.
You can meet those pilots face to face.
Fighters, bombers, singles and twins
props and jets with multi engines.
If I am lucky, I'll see many P51s.
What I would give to ride in anyone's.
"Keep'em flying" is the motto there.
Their natural place is in the air.
The warbirds spectacular is just that,
bombing and strafing and aerial combat.
The classic airplanes seem just right
when everything is original that's in sight.
V-tail Bonanzas and Piper Super Cruisers tied down
along with Tri Pacers and a grand Navion.
The antique aircraft draw admiring glances
from pilots who would fly them and not take chances.
A Tiger Moth, a Pitcairn, and Curtiss Jenny too,
are waiting for a photographer or gathering of a few.
The ultralights are often found buzzing around
you can tell where they are by the high pitched sound.
Walter Mitty flies seated on the fabric and frame
showing us it is an easy beast to tame.
The commercial area has planes shinny and new.
But few are held together with love and glue.
The exhibits are plentiful both inside and out.
Crowded each day with masses of people about.
To build... to fly... your own air steed
an aviation forum helps find your need.
You will ponder this and study that
as you listen to the expert at "bat."
In the forum tent you sit and listen
careful to make sure nothing your missin'.
For the shoppers in the crowd there's the fly market to inspect.
You can find almost anything ... just write a check.
A rare item behind a wing or dusty drawer
airplane art, parts, shirts, and more.
Each night offers an awe-inspiring place.
At Theater in the Woods you may meet face to face
aviation heroes you admire greatly
Yeager and Hoover and those who came lately.
Camping in Scholler Park is another delight.
Aviation ambiance throughout the night.
Pilots and builders and friends congregate
around the campfire into the night late.
Talk turns this way and that
of airplanes, love, and a funny hat.
The yodeler in the morning wakes the sleeping mass.
You tumble out of your tent onto the wet grass.
And greet another great day that you hope will ever last.
Get showered, get dressed, and hurry to the flightline fast.
Each afternoon upon the sky
aerial ballet delights the eye.
White smoke knits a twisted path
as a powerful engine bellows its wrath.
Air show performers from far and near
do aerobatics that cause awe and fear.
Sean Tucker makes airplanes do what they can't do
Hoover, Soucy, and The French Connection too.
Loops and spins and rolls and such
require pilots with a talented touch.
Overhead we hear the roar of P51s
In the distance the sound of machine-guns.
The smoke, the roar, the glistening planes
tumble and dive as someone exclaims,
"That guy is nuts. He's got a death wish!"
No, that's Patty Wagstaff and she's quite a dish.
Too soon it seems the moment arrives
when we sadly leave the exciting skies
of wondrous Oshkosh and EAA
to dream of next year and opening day!
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