September Sport Aviation – You Pick the Cover!

 

 

 

The two Collaborators flying over the campground is the best picture, the shot of the RV's on the taxiway capture the spirit of the event's homebuilding roots, and the A380 showcases the "big event" of the show. Perhaps the A380 would be the best. It also goes well with last month's WhiteKnightTwo cover.

I'm sorry but I can't help but to get frustrated when I see anything not homebuilt on the cover of SA.

The Airbus for sure does not embody experimental or Sport Aviation.

My vote is for the RV's- but I'm sure there were way cooler homebuilt aircraft on the field (that were also photographed) than cookie-cutter RV's.

Pat

 

 

It's about EAA Sport Aviation!!, not Airbus or Sponsor planes.

The 37 ship RV formation is a great representation of what the EAA is all about. 

 

I'm an RV guy but the first selection gets my vote because it's by far the best photo.   And in my book it's very much "about EAA Sport Aviation".

I thought the best part of OSH 09 was the RV formation flights. This picture is a great representation of that. EAA it should be EXPERIENTIAL's on the cover, period.

Hardly "cookie-cutter" airplanes.

The airbus picture seems totally inappropriate and unexciting.  It's just a snap shot from the crowd!  So far it looks like the voting reflects that.

I think the RVs taxing in formation (they were airshow performers and recently set a world record), best represent EAA, although it is an exceptionally pretty picture of the commercially sponsored factory built Extras. 

 

I suppose variety is relative, but I've never seen two identical RVs.  I appreciate the truly daring experiments, but with my scarce time and money, I REALLY appreciate the solid basic platform upon which to build and experiment with smaller details and lower risk that the RV provides. Plus having many aircraft flying with similar handling qualities allows for the tight formation work that the RV team displayed at OSH.

Sorry, didn't mean to diverge into a debate of scratch vs kit built. 

 

I go with the RV taxi shot. Despite my desire to build an RV, it's not why I think its better.

The shot of the Big Bus on the runway could have been shot at any other airshow it's visited. While it IS Oshkosh, it doesn't do a thing for me.

The collaborators in formation, same thing.. very generic shot. Especially with all the spam cans in the background. Could have been taken at any airshow they've performed at. You kind of expect that shot in any given month of Sport Aviation.

The RV's on the taxi? To me they're saying; "Follow us for some serious flying fun" The colors of the aircraft, the offset of the line up.. Candid shot but still professional looking. Aviators in the aircraft they built, showing the world what anyone can do with enough determination and practice.

Just my 2 cents worth..

The magazine cover  has both Experimental and Sport in it's name.  The organizations name has Experimental in it.  It doesn't have Commercial or Airbus, or General Aviation, which seems to be what is displayed below the sponser planes departing.  (although I have nothing against Vintage planes) 

We try to be all things to all people and end up being nothing special to anyone.  Let's get back to our roots.  What part of that don't you get? 

Looks like the only Homebuilts to select from.

Besides, it is a cool picture.

I'm in that line of RV's.  I'm the second greenest Formation pilot in the bunch.  I'm in that line because I saw the 35 ship two years ago and HAD to give it a try.  I was moved to action by a bunch of folks who were willing to take a break from being the "Rugged Individualists who build airplanes" (let's face it, homebuilders are much more accustomed to being "Large and In Charge") and were willing to follow someone else's lead.

My reason for voting for the shot has nothing to do with my participation in Falcon Flight.

How's this for a reason.  Putting this shot on the cover would be a lot more meaningful to homebuilders everywhere.  Walter Extra, Airbus Industries, and the Collaborators would enjoy a little more corporate exposure...I'm sure their sponsors would be delighted.

Falcon and the 36 other folks in that flight put their own time and LOTs of their own money into attaining a unique goal.  Did we do it for the glory?  Not this guy...I did it to prove to myself I could...sorta like the reason I built an airplane.

Keep the spirit of the home builders!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish this was a shot from the RV formation flight instead of the Collaborators, then it would be perfect. As an RV builder, the 37 ship flights were very inspirational, but I pick this shot because it captures the spirit of Airventure with the diversity of airplanes camping in the North 40 plus the great airshow performances.

IMHO the first pic was a much better picture and it  showed the AirVenture grounds, which is a plus.   While I would have preferred to vote for the concept of the formation RVs, it seems to me there would be many ways to better portray the 37-ship formation than the only such selection we were given.   For one thing, there are only parts of 4 RVs in that pic.  If I wasn't told it was part of the 37 ship formation (or read the caption if it's printed), there's no way I'd even know what it is supposed to represent.

 

So, I had to go with #1