Today’s an absolutely perfect day in Oshkosh and we started it by participating in an air to air photo-shoot. A couple of shots are attached. The “photoship” pilot was just so relaxed and competent and it was such a lovely day that we really enjoyed the whole process. There are definitely some things that the Americans seem to do more easily and better than anyone else. The shoot also gave us the opportunity to fly back into the airfield on a special “Prison” approach, which meant we could take some nice movie footage of the field. At least half the aeroplanes have now been packed up and flown off, but that still leaves more than 6 000, so it’s not exactly “small town”.
Yesterday afternoon we spent some time checking out the engine, repositioning a GPS antenna, putting the Indigosat tracker back in a prettier position and generally getting our baby shipshape for the next couple of legs to LA. She looks set for the flight and in LA we’ll do another oil change, replace the idle jets, have the prop control motor welded (at last) and of course give her a very thorough once over for the big Hawaii leg over the water. I think there’ll be a bunch more eyes that’ve become aware of us here in Oshkosh watching us on that leg.
We had a great dinner with our family here last night (the Merkes’s), including a bonfire which any South African braai master would have been proud of, and lots of fireworks. Then tomorrow morning we’ll be off at 06h30 (11h30 UTC, 13h30 SA time) for Sante Fe and the next day on to LA. More from there.
May the force be with you.JamesServus diabolicus dei
