AirVenture 2004

AirVenture 2004 will be remembered as a special experience. I was lucky to have participated in the AirVenture Cup Race with my father. I was also able to bring my mother to the airshow. She saw us blaze across the finish line. Mom will serve as co-pilot in next year's race! These pictures give a glimpse of the sights to be had at the airshow!

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Our trip to OSH 2004 started with the Airventure Cup Race. It was a fantastic experience and gave us primo parking at virtually the center of the airshow! Arrival at Fond Du Lac (FLD) at the end of the Race. Big smiles all around!
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Mom and Dad enjoying the fantastic lineup of AirVenture Cup Racers. Eric Whyte briefing the AirVenture Cup Racers on our mass arrival to Oshkosh. The racers all line up on the Fond Du Lac taxiway in preparation for the flight to OSH!
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Velocity XL RG N724X - Race 24. We made it! Mom and Dad are in for a treat as we arrive in Oshkosh! We have great parking near show center. Airventure Cup Race results - speeds are in knots!
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Mom and Dad catch some shade underneath Race 24 and watch the daily airshow. Warbirds galore!
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The amazing Galaxy C5 transport towers above us. A rainy day provides an opportunity to explore the EAA's museum.
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Crowd pleasing Harrier jet taxiing in after a demonstration. Incredibly noisy but an awe-inpiring sight as they hover in place. Dad videos Mom as she watches one of the best parts of Oshkosh: the arrivals! The rapid-fire chatter is awe-inpiring as controllers somehow get everyone on the ground! The sky is full of arrivals!
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Velocity builder Jeff Barnes of 'An Oshkosh Miracle' fame (AirVenture 2002 - see that section for the story!) is once more fixing someone's server by phone while enjoying Oshkosh. Several Velocity's at the front line of the canard section. An unusual bird: a Speed Canard.
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A Velocity XL at the end of the line of canards. A really nice Defiant. A Defiant's canard is enormous.
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Dad compares our cockpit with that of the twin engine carnard. Speed Canard. Speed Canard. A row of Velocity's
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Rene Dugas' super sharp Velocity XL. Dad checks out more canards. A couple of former AvCup racers seen in a really beautiful lineup.
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The sun sets on a veritable field of RV's. Mom at the close of another perfect Oshkosh show day. Daily National Anthem.
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The warbird section is very popular. Sun setting on the World's Busiest Control Tower. More warbirds on display.
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Brendon shows off the new "Dash 5" at the Velocity booth. Duane Swing chats with an interested builder. The former multicolor fixed gear trainer, now owned by Wayne Lanza, is seen behind. Many a Velocity pilot, myself included, has flown this plane. The Velocity dinner at OSH was a great time and a great chance to meet fellow builders and put actual faces to the Reflector posts and web sites. The Velocity factory folks and the DeltaHawk engine staff were on hand too so this made for an interesting evening. It was also a chance for prospective builders to get to know us! See you at next year's dinner!

Front Row:Linda Brainard, Brett Ferrell, Jerry Brainard Back Row:Ricardo ("Rich") Guerra Jr., John Tvedte, Andy Millin of "ANDY'S RIBS" fame (Great stuff!), Ann Tvedte, Ricardo ("Rick") Guerra Sr.

Beech Starship in Aeroshell square. One of the few remaining in existence, this one flew Burt Rutan to OSH to give one of his earliest presentations on the first out of atmosphere flight of Spaceship One.
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Dad and John Tvedte, another Velocity XL builder from Iowa City, IA, check out N724X in preparation for our departure. Velocity buddy, Jeff Barnes and I. Packing up to go - notice the trampled down grass around our plane. I had to wipe off greasy finger and noseprints from the windows every day!
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Setting up the new Precise Flight oxygen system. Checking the oil before departure. The awe-inspiring Galaxy C5 leaving OSH.
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On the way home to Santa Fe, NM - St. Joseph, just outside of Kansas City.
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My old stomping grounds - Iowa City, IA. Pit stop in Liberal, KS. We are joined on the ramp by two beautiful Chinese warbirds. The warbird pilots commented on the sleek lines of the Velocity - it looks fast ont he ground!
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We make it home to our now empty hanger at Santa Fe. Dad says farewell to Mom's anthill directly in front of him. Home at last! Dad is still excited about the race - we placed third in the Sport class. Another great trip!
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Home from Airventure 2004 in Santa Fe, NM.

Comments, questions, and suggestions are welcome! email: rich@rguerra.com
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