The Man at the Helm

You are just back from (EAA) Oshkosh. What were your main impressions and learnings as may be applicable to Australia? This was a personal trip, for which I paid my own way, so I was there as a pilot and aviation enthusiast, like so many of the 650,000 others who attended this year

My main impression was one of admiration. The EAA does an incredible job, in every respect. I also reflected on the EAA’s 50 years’ experience in running the event at Oshkosh, which has enabled them to refine it, and the huge resources they can bring to bear, for example, admissions fee revenue, thousands of volunteers, and the purpose-built existing facilities. I was also staggered by the sheer numbers of pristine aircraft, especially the warbirds.

In terms of lessons for Australia, we can use some of the best parts that are relevant for us, but being much smaller, and with