Fun first day at OSH 2025. Beavered over from the Twin Cities with my friend Andy and his wife. We were initially turned away from parking and told to go to the seaplane base. We taxied back as i frantically looked for the departure pages of the NOTAM. Luckily someone with more sway was a fan of the the type and put us in homebuilt parking.






First stop was the Aviat display to visit our old friends.


The Bearhawks are well represented this year.





The Vans RV-15 is looking slick.



We ended up being parker next to a Grumman Albatross, which became stuck when the gear sunk into the moist grass.



World-famous Big Renna was tracked down and insisted on an uncomfortable amount of PDA.




More tomorrow.

I am traveling up today, will be there Thursday through Saturday and with any luck getting out first thing Sunday morning.

Zane or anyone else, if you sit in the RV-15 let us know how the visibility is. I hope it doesn’t have that “sitting in a tunnel” feel like some airplanes do. The 170 has a nice amount of visibility over the low panel which I really like. Just curious.

Kurt

Ditto on the RV-15, inquiring minds want to know all available intel

RAF talks today were very good.

Thanks for the update and photos Zzz!! Bummed that I wasn't able to make it this year. Keep up posted on all the new toys!!
If you get by the Badlands Traveler display could you please grab me the literature.

That's a tacticool paint job on that Vans

Dang it. Walked right by ya after Tuesday air show! We bugged out early Wednesday to Dayton for the Air Force museum.

Really nice looking beaver

we landed on Wednesday in the 206 amphib. and we were turned away "its full everywhere and too wet for this plane, please depart immediately".

Luckily the seaplane base was great! not camping under the wing. but was still a good experience!

I realized I didn’t actually take that many photos. Our time at OSH was short—we took off Thursday morning both to beat the inbound weather and make sure we got home in time to pick up the kids from camp.

I didn’t even make the ultralight field. 2 days isn’t enough, but it’s about all i can handle in that heat and humidity.

Made this shirt in hopes that I’d close the loop with a Youtube follower or two but my anonymity was upheld.



Sweet looking Bearhawk. Heard they’re some Youtube influencers who got all their training and toys for free, including a full Garmin complement. Well played. Not envious at all… sniff. Hopefully they’re really attractive.



Sling high wing. Interesting. Composite cabin with aluminum tail. Not sure about the wing. Had 4 seats.


A sample of their kit contents, each component individually packed, even chemicals.


Class E and her grizzled boy toy.


Aviat Aircraft, makers of the class-leading Husky A-1C, treated us to beers and sandwiches. They really know how to treat their guests. ZPilot mugging on the far end of the table. He flew his Lake Buccaneer all the way from Washington state.


Andy’s beautiful 1962 DHC-2 Beaver on Wipaire 6100 amphibs stole the show. If I can’t fly, riding right seat in this baby is a worthy second choice. Fun way to experience Oshkosh.


BigRenna, a close friend, like a gourmet mustard.


Beyond Ripon, westbound for Wautoma.



Canucks from Winnipeg, MB. Nice guys.



Meat servo. I can hold a heading in a DHC-2 but learned a whole lot about the finer points of cruise flaps and maintaining an appropriate center of lift to avoid mushing when heavy.

Awesome stuff Zane, thanks for reporting.

Kurt

I really delved into that Sling High wing last year, sweet plane. Sort of quasi 170/172ish but highly modernized. Of course I would want it in the TW version. Near quarter million plus aviation units put it out of reach though. Sure would be nice to have a newer airplane to enjoy before my flying days are over.

I couldn't make it this year. I was working. Sorry to miss you guys and gals.

Did anyone have a look at that Top Rudder Ruckus? At only 40 AMUs depending on options and avionics seems like a pretty good deal for a play toy with a lot of backcountry capability.

Reminds me of the Airbike which was popular-ish a few years ago.

soyAnarchisto wrote:I couldn't make it this year. I was working. Sorry to miss you guys and gals.

Did anyone have a look at that Top Rudder Ruckus? At only 40 AMUs depending on options and avionics seems like a pretty good deal for a play toy with a lot of backcountry capability.

I follow Top Rudder on social media. My understanding from what they shared before Oshkosh was they were "too busy building airplanes and not going to Oshkosh this year". Looks like a pretty neat little airplane, as an Airbike enthusiast it has my attention.

PilotPeat wrote:

soyAnarchisto wrote:I couldn't make it this year. I was working. Sorry to miss you guys and gals.

Did anyone have a look at that Top Rudder Ruckus? At only 40 AMUs depending on options and avionics seems like a pretty good deal for a play toy with a lot of backcountry capability.

I follow Top Rudder on social media. My understanding from what they shared before Oshkosh was they were "too busy building airplanes and not going to Oshkosh this year". Looks like a pretty neat little airplane, as an Airbike enthusiast it has my attention.

It does seem the successor to the Airbike, which I love, but fixes things I don't love about the Airbike. I believe the design originated with the Just Aircraft guys to be a Rotax 503 or Italian 2-stroke (Polini?) powered Part 103 bird. But like most things, they've 'roided it out. Before long I expect it to be available with an O-360