Oshkosh KidVenture 2014

[Dan McEntee]

    Sitting here with my laptop in the dorm room at Oshkosh. Several rain showers today made things interesting, and washed out our desire to do some fun flying tonight at Pioneer Airport, the site of the KidVenture venue. My sone Sean has been here since Sunday night, Bob Arata, my friend Jan Pott and myself arrived Tuesday night. We have  several hundred more kids in the flight log, still using the same 5 Tuff Baby model Bob built and we brought to Oshkosh in 2010. I was asked to fly the afternoon stunt demonstration yesterday, and today it was flown by Veronique Berringer,(mother of 2006 World C/L Stunt Champion Remi Berringer) and she flew my Primary Force and gave it two thumbs up! The whole Berringer family flies well, and I think they can fly the boxes that the airplanes come in and make it look good! It rained during the afternoon airshow right in the middle of Kyle Franklin's routine in his new Dracula reduced sized Waco biplane, so we ducked under the wing of a handy DC-3. It cleared enough after 20 minutes or so for the remaining acts to get there performances in, then the sky really opened up. We made a run for the main building by the Vintage aircraft area, and huddling under an overhand with a bunch of other people, I saw a familiar face with a VSC 2012 shirt on. I introduced myself and it was Rich Giacabone (hope I spelled that correctly!) You just never know who you will meet out on the grounds! We'll it's time to get cleaned up and get to bed. Two more days to go, with performances by the Thunderbirds each day. Sure hope we get to fly tomorrow evening!
   Type At You Later,
    Dan McEntee

[wwwarbird]

 Thanks for the update Dan. I've got some KidVenture pics from Tuesday that I'll get posted here soon...

[Airacobra]

Look for Joe Reinhard, he is there until Sunday

[dave siegler]

I have to miss this year, we are moving a kid into school.  Next year...,

[Will Hinton]

Many thanks to you guys for giving of your time and efforts, you rock!!  Would that we all could be so involved.

[Dan McEntee]

   More funky weather today and rain. Started out OK, but weather moved in and shut us down. I started to get static hits around 2:30, and then some lightning strikes were seen in the distance, and we had to shut down. Within 30 minutes it was raining again. We hate to disappoint the kids in line, but better safe than sorry. Thunderbirds went on with a low show in a slow drizzle for their first time in Oshkosh. No fun flying again tonight so we had pizza in the dorm room with my son Sean.
   We were really short handed this year. Lots of reasons for people coming and not coming as life deals us things we have to put a priority on. But if you have ever wanted to make the trip to Oshkosh for the EAA Airventure show, KidVenture volunteering is a way to help make it more affordable, and make the experience a lot more fun and rewarding for you. This is my 15th year, and I may not be back next year for a lot of reasons, we'll just have to see what the next year brings, but if I think I can at all make the trip in any way shape or form, I will. Working with the kids is a ton of fun, and meeting great new people and seeing sites you will never see any where else is well worth the trip. I ask anyone that can start and engine, launch a model, or be helpful to people in line to consider being a volunteer.
    One more day tomorrow, and then home on Sunday morning. I'll make a longer, more detailed post about how to volunteer when i get home.
   Type at you later,
    Dan McEntee

[Chris McMillin]

Hard to believe you've been doing that for 15 years, as we spoke about earlier Dan. Good show and we all know you give it your all. Maybe if you don't go next year you can finish some of your own stunters!
Chris...
P.S. Here's Michael flying the Stinson, he got about 3 hours dual instruction now. Said he had a good visit with you in June.

[Chris McMillin]

Sorry, goofy red lettering indicated I may want to review my post. Thought I needed to enter again...

[Sean McEntee]

Maybe if you don't go next year you can finish some of your own stunters!
Chris...

I got to go this year, and let dad fly my Frisky Pete and he seemed to really like it. Maybe that will light the fire!

This was my first year of working Kidventure as a dad, and I can say I had WAY more fun doing it then in years past because of it. The laughing, giggling and smiling faces made it all the more meaningful. I HIGHLY encourage anyone and everyone to go next year and spend the time passing the fun along. It is well worth the time and effort to get there!

[Paul Taylor]

Wish we could have gone. We did this in 2008 and we got back way more then we gave. Seeing the kids of all ages enjoy handle time.

Good stuff Daddy Sean!

And nice hat. Lol

[wwwarbird]

 Here's a bunch of photos from Tuesday morning. Sean and the guys were doing a great job out there when I stopped by. Everyone I saw came back from the circle with a great big smile.

[wwwarbird]

 
 More...

[wwwarbird]

 More...

[Dan McEntee]

Hard to believe you've been doing that for 15 years, as we spoke about earlier Dan. Good show and we all know you give it your all. Maybe if you don't go next year you can finish some of your own stunters!
Chris...
P.S. Here's Michael flying the Stinson, he got about 3 hours dual instruction now. Said he had a good visit with you in June.

     Hey Man!!
      Yeah, I found out kinda late that Micheal was in town and with my goofy work schedule, only had about an hour or so to visit. It's bad enough when your own kids grow up too fast, but when everyone else's kids grow too fast, it makes your head spin! Can't believe he's a tall and old as he is! When he get's his ticket punched I'll make a trip out and he can give me a ride in the Stinson! If I change jobs, Oshkosh may be out, but then I may try and do the Chino Air Show, always wanted to take that in. I owe you a phone call, and will give you a buzz once I catch up from the trip.
    Type at you later,
    Dan McEntee