Then was next day. I planned couple workshops visited old and new friends and lost myself again between show planes,vendors and homebuilders.

This two fellas from WWI didn't pay attention at me at all.



but when a nice lady joined them they changed in a snap .



I've met Big Beautiful Babushka







and this strange bird from Pandora



the Pandoran pilot exits here



I like those propellers. Interesting will they fit my experimental? Width about 18".



They may diameter just a tad bigger




At the corner there stood Jerry's One Man Band. Old folks told me Jerry was here since EAA was established and he is coming every year. Cool guy.

 

I walked past DRUANNE several times during the week.

 

My buddy Jeff is a top manager at a top company in a big Wisconsin City by a lake. But at Oshkosh he is a parking attendant. He runs his scooter and airplanes follow him to parking.





Doesn't matter how sharp and smart a pilot you are if Jeff said you park here you do park here



Very futuristic concepts were presented by a Yuneec. Electric glider with a foldable propeller.



Inside the panel looks like this




They also have an electro-para-gliding back pack. They say they flew it. If they flew it then I can strap my MINI to a bigger one.



Mighty Air Force was represented by the best. Crowds were always around them.





This experimental has emergency recovery system. Do you see those veins?
That's where the cables are. If pilot, engine or GPS are in distress or fail the tiny rocket in the baggage compartment fires the shute and airplane goes ballistic. Pretty self-explanatory isn't it?



Tomorrow we will go to see seaplanes and hopefully some MINIs.

 

Oh goodness, I hope someone can catch me before I faint from that blast of hot air. Give me a break! Ahem..yogurt? Passion? Really? Oh go drink a warm toddy and take a Geritol and dream of warbirds! Enjoy your wonderful trip N666BK!

 

Ok, I'll take the bait, at least after you wake up from you fainting spell....

Culver's? Fast food. A dime a dozen; there are Culver's all over the place. It's ok custard, nothing special. Is it memorable? No.

Leon's? Pretty darned good. In kind of an out of the way place in Oshkosh, nothing really memorable, not in that great of an area, seating is horrible, unless you eat in your car.

Ardy and Ed's? Atmosphere, good food, good ice cream. Top ten list, highly recommended by several travel sites. By far the most memorable place to eat of the three; beautiful location on the edge of the lake, bellhops, not to mention close to the EAA. And, if memory serves me correctly, that's what this trip is about, doing something memorable?

Way too young for Toddy's and Geritol, how 'bout you? Course you might be better off with a diet supplement from all that yogurt and custard you're eating....

Anyway, go ahead, take the last word, this is too good a thread to ruin; just trying to give recommendations to the BEST places in the area....

 

Yum the food in Wisconsin is very good. Everywhere. It tastes totally different believe me. One night after the air show I decided to visit Blackcommons Buffet by the University. I fired up my MINI and drove her to the Campus. Had nice meal watched some clips on my iPad answered emails and decided to wrap it up. On my way to the airfield I saw a police cars across the street and the bravest were directing traffic left and right. WTH? Nobody told me that they are blocking the streets in the evening leading to the airport. All visitors cars go only one way - out of the field. Nobody can go in until the wave runs out. You not gonna believe me but I tried hard to get to my place, took detour then the second one and missed right exit twice Here is the proof on that APRS track



Next day was seabase visit. I could not find any MINIs but got
amphibian and this last century Soviet era motorcycle.







Actually I took a brief ride in the boat. The volunteer was cool guy and was entertaining his passengers all the time.




He showed us all kind of stuff and explained who is who. Honestly I am not a big expert in sea planes, especially ultralights. Below just random slides.










I like this picture it looks like a postcard.

 

On my way back from Oshkosh I drove through Chicago. Man I was like home in New York. That smoke in the air, traffic crawling to a stop... Feels like home far from home.







Stopped at Ohio Turnpike and parked close to this green MINI. Probably I was too close because in couple minutes there was nobody only smell of burning tires...





Diverted to Cleveland to see my St. Lucian buddies. They have singing dog and old Austin Mini back home on the island. Decades ago they didn't have a jack and lifted Mini by hand to change a tire.





They asked me to transport some trees to Brooklyn saying that they survive only in a MINI. So I did. These trees are now planted by a house in East New York.





Driving picturesque Pennsylvania roads was lot of fun too. I met a pack of strange bikers. Three wheelers and almost all of them ladies.





At a rest stop my MINI found a bigger buddy with almost identical paint scheme to talk to.





Couple hours more and the trip officially ended.

MINI drove 2,161 miles, burned 57 gallons of premium fuel which cost me almost 167 bucks. Great budget trip. Go.

 

You should have stopped off in Indianapolis and waited for MTTS to come thru, done the Indy circuit then continued on to Denver for the hookup with MINI's IN THE MOUNTAINS. When that ends next Sunday you could have come on over to Salt Lake City and taken a little trip on some of our twisty roads, then headed south to Vegas, LA, then up the coast to San Francisco. Heck once you have come this far, continue on to Portland, Seattle, Vancouver BC, across the Canadian Rockies, on Toronto, Montreal then home to Jersey. This little trip would have filled in a lot more states and provinces on your map.

Seriously, once again a fascinating travel story, you really do a good job with lots of good photos. By the way how about posting a picture of the plane you are building, I think we would all like to see it.

 

Ben,
I can not travel that far as of now, I still have a full time job Mini Air Force One I am building is airport ready but not painted yet. I am on a long waiting list for a hangar. I will post some pics of the airplane by Xmas.

 

HEY VLAD,
Sorry you can't make it out here to the wild west, plenty to see and do and MINI driving roads galore and lots less people to get in your way. Save some vacation time next summer and plan a western adventure, I will take you to see the sights

I am still interested in more details on your plane how about a little spec sheet and a few pictures even if it is still in white. PM me please--BEN

 

I will think about the trip Ben. Sounds like a great idea. Having somebody knowledgeable on the other side to show the sights only adds to the spice.

As of last month Mini Airforce One looks like an airplane. Prop is off now and I am fiberglassing the cowling air inlets. Full beige leather interior (MINI style) is coming in five weeks.

 

Very neat story! Sometime I am planning on making it out to AirVenture. I'm currently a student pilot in NJ.

Nothing would be better than a trip in my MINI to Oshkosh!

 

Love this adventure! Thanks for sharing!

 

Great story and photos! I'm planning on going to Oshkosh this year. Became an EAA member a week ago. Trying to decide on what to bring, my RV or my MINI - maybe both!

Buck