Arrivée massive de Cessna à AirVenture

^{Rédigé par: Phil Lightstone
Photo gracieuseté de Dmitry Zaslavsky}

A few type clubs, such as Mooney, Beechcraft and Cessna organize mass arrivals for their aircraft type into EAA Air Venture.  This year, five Canadian aircraft participated in the Cessna mass arrival. The Cessna 2 Oshkosh group (www.Cessnas2Oshkosh.com) has been organizing the Cessna mass arrival since 2007.  With some time off due to the Pandemic, 2024 marks the group’s 18th year, staging out of the Dodge County Airport (KUNU) in Juneau, WI. The mass fly into AirVenture took place on Saturday July 20th with 64 aircraft and 46 passengers.

This year, the mass fly out had 77 aircraft registered, 56 passengers registered, 17 sponsors, and seven aircraft types (150, 172, 177, 182, 185, 206 and 421).  While 13 aircraft dropped out due to personal or mechanical reasons, Cardinals led the way with 22 aircraft, Skylane (C182) with 19 aircraft, Skyhawk (C172) with 12 and six Centurions. Of the aircraft, 37 were fixed gear and 27 were retractable.

Each participant (pilot) pays a $100 USD registration fee. The event is organized by Rodney Swanson (founder and Director of Training and Operations), Craig Chipley (Vendor and Sponsor Relations) and Gil Velez (Communications) and was first held in 2006 (organizing began in 2005) with Rodney’s genesis in 2003.  The organizers keep a container at AirVenture where they store their tent and other “stuff” each year. T-shirts are provided to all participants to commemorate their participation.  

The organizers working with the EAA, have a single parking location for the aircraft, as well as a large tent, located in the North 40.  An annual BBQ dinner is provided as well as breakfasts each day of AirVenture.  Many participants camp under their wings, experiencing the full AirVenture experience. 

 

The mass arrival is organized into groups of three aircraft, with each group comprised of a Lead Aircraft, Number Two and Number Three.  Each group departs KUNU and flies in a triangle formation, with the Number Two and Number Three aircraft in trail of the Lead Aircraft, with 200 feet of separation.  Each group of three aircraft flies in trail of another group, with 1,500 feet of separation between the groups.  Once departing KUNU, each group forms up and flies a holding pattern near KUNU, assembling the formation of 24 groups.  To minimize radio chatter, only the Lead Aircraft makes radio calls.  The Number Two and Number Three aircraft focus on following the lead aircraft.  Hy Hirshberg reports: “this was my first time flying in a loose military formation, with no previous experience.  The technique is to line up one of your main landing gear with the Lead Aircraft’s nose gear.  This creates a 45 degree line between the two aircraft. Flying at 110 KIAS, the group is able to maintain safe separation.” 

The lead aircraft (Gil Velez, N3815S) launched from Dodge County Airport at 16:01 and landed at Oshkosh at 16:37 CDT.  The last aircraft to launch (Rodney Swanson, N9705R) landed at Oshkosh at 16:50 CDT.  The formation used 14 minutes of runway time, landing on runway 36L and 36R.

Once all the aircraft are airborne and the formation created, the first group heads off to Whitman Field (KOSH) following a pre-determined flight path.  The formation does not fly the typical Oshkosh Arrival (e.g. FISK), and head straight to KOSH.  With precision organization and departures on time, KOSH Tower is expecting the formation with the airspace reserved for the group.  Each group of aircraft will fly the approach at 110 KIAS for the high-speed group and 90 KIAS for the low-speed group.  Each aircraft focuses on landing on the last half of the runway, ideally touching down past the halfway point, exiting the runway onto the taxiway or grass as quickly as practically possible.  In training, each participant practices flying final approach at 110 KIAS (for the high-speed group).  EAA ground marshallers are briefed for the arrival and provide guidance to each aircraft taxing to the group’s grass parking (North 40). 

Canadian pilots and participants, COPA members Hy Hirshberg (C182) and Brad Willcocks as well as Rob Millard (C177) meet several times during 2024 at the Peterborough Airport (CYPQ) to practice formation flying.  Hy Hirshberg reports: “I attended a function at the Best Western Plus Hotel in Coberg ON, owned by Brad.  Wearing a COPA logo hat, Brad recognized me as a fellow aviator.  During our conversation, Brad discussed the mass formation fly out to Oshkosh.  After a few days of thought, I registered for the event followed with scheduling a few formation flight training flights.”

Canadian participants on the flight included: Eric Lamontagne, C-GDNM, C177 with two onboard 2; Bruce Spears, C-FVVU, C182 with two on board; Peter Millard, C-GSDI, C172 with two onboard; Brad Willcocks, C177, C-FHBW with two onboard; and Bernard Bartko, C-GDRY, C182, with one onboard. For last minute personal reasons, Hy Hirshberg was unable to attend AirVenture.

Gil Velez reports: “The 2024 Mass Arrival was fantastic. Cessnas 2 Oshkosh put on a real show. The mass arrival flight was flawless from a technical point of view and it was the most fun we have had in recent years. The celebration at Cessna Base Camp was a blast, the camaraderie amongst all of our pilots, relatives and friends was quite apparent. Friendships solidified and we were happy for it.” 

Tom David of Wisconsin Aviation and Airport Manager and his staff assists the organizers and pilots in preparing for their mass departure. The Dodge County Airport has roughly 60 aircraft on the field, with about 20 active.  The Cessna 2 Oshkosh organization transforms the sleepy airport for about one week.  With ample room on the ramp, most of the aircraft arriving the day before the mass departure and the experience gained through 18 years of hosting, the event went off smoothly.  Tom David reports:

“the Cessna 2 Oshkosh organization is a well-oiled machine delivering organized mayhem for a few days. The local EAA chapter puts on a breakfast the day of the departure with roughly 12 aircraft camping on the field.  Local neighbours enjoy the mass departure, with 15 to 20 people watching the departures from picnic tables.  To date, we have not had any noise complaints from the neighbours and we look forward to next year’s mass departure from KUNU.”

Many pilots expand their flight experience through long cross-country flights, adding ratings (e.g. Night, VFR Over the Top, IFR, etc) and trips to airshows like AirVenture. Participating in a mass fly in, like Cessnas 2 Oshkosh, adds another level of excitement, skill and camaraderie to your Freedom to Fly.  Why not think about joining your aircraft type club for a mass fly in, after all the experience would be priceless.