BK1 Oshkosh 2005 – What Is The Category?

Getting there early is exciting, but it did not take to long to learn that Oshkosh is not exactly geared for my kind of travel plan. Had room on board for only a small tent, air mattress, sleeping bag, and a few changes of clothes. Every thing else has to be scrounged up locally. Oh, did I mention that gross weight limitations prevented me from carrying large amounts of money (its so heavy). Actually like before the budget was tight and my needs are simple, some food, water, and a good parking place to show the BK1.0. Anything else has to be considered a luxury. So first things first, let’s pay the admission, camping fee, tie down, etc... right now and hope that the sticker shock will wear off before the convention actually starts in three days.

Went up to the new last year Homebuilder’s Headquarters building and joined in on a training session they were having for new recruits at the registration computers. They were happy to have a test subject to work with. Convention admission, 10 days of camping fees, tie downs, etc… just about does in a $300 bill. Well, it’s a donation to a good cause to keep airplane building legal (keep telling yourself this over and over until the pain goes away).

Then came what should have been a very easy question, “What is the category for your plane?”

That’s an easy one, “It’s my own new design”, I said proudly.

“Did you build it from plans or a kit?”

“No plans, no kit, just made pencil sketches, bought raw materials, pounded it out, and flew it 1200 miles from San Antonio to get here”. “Plans means building someone else’s design, did that with the Hummel Bird that was parked over there a couple of years ago. Kit means I bought a partially disassembled factory plane and put it together.”

“Well we only have Plans, Kits, or Special to choose from.”

“Ok, put it in Special, whatever that means.”

They he said, “They used to have a category for new designs, even an award, but not anymore.”

Staggered away dazed, confused, and a little depressed. For years I dreamed of building a plane and flying it to Oshkosh, got that a couple of years ago. For much longer dreamed of putting my own ideas into the mix. Now at what should have been a big moment in my aviation history, find that the “E” in EAA seems to have gotten lost somewhere.

All this started with pioneers following a dream of flight. There are still some us dreamers still around, looking for a way to accomplish something new. At this convention we will see Space Ship One, it goes higher and faster than any privately built plane has ever gone. We will see the Global Atlantic Flier, which holds the un-refueled distance record now. We have seen barriers for altitude, speed, and distance broken by these dreamers.

Well not going to give up that easy, if there is a record for the least amount spent getting to Oshkosh and staying there all week I am going for it.

Got a ride over to the Antique (that refers to the aircraft parked there) camping area. Set up my 5’ x 7’ home for the next 10 days in a beautiful spot under a tree. It was past lunch time, so went looking for food. Now for the next complication, its too early for any of the usual places to be open, no transportation, besides that would be too expensive. Looks like that bag of trail mix will have to sustain me for a while.

Did not know that I was about to find a part of Oshkosh that was missed a couple of years ago. It started when the man setting up a tent nearby noticed my tiny tent and figured that I had no room for food or cooking gear.

He ask, “What’s you plan for dinner, I was thinking about running into town to get something. Want to go along?”

Thank, Bruce King

www.geocities.com/dbk4939

dbk4939@yahoo.com