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CAMS 2012 visit to the USA and 2012 Airventure Oshkosh

CAMS attended Oshkosh again this year – our third visit – the previous having been in 2009 and 2010. As a Kiwi, no matter how often you visit you cannot get over the immense scale of the Oshkosh airshow. This year, along with ten other New Zealand aviation companies, we made use of the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise organised pavilion.

Even coming from New Zealand it was an eye-opener to see the Kiwi projects represented including the very clever composite helicopter pictured (left). My part in the New Zealand pavilion was small but it gave me a great base to meet new clients without being tied to one place. It gave me the freedom to spend time down with the P40s in the warbird section!

There were four P40’s on display belonging to Confederate Air Force, John Fallis, Ron Fagen and Rudy Frasca.

In Seattle we visited the Boeing factory. It’s an amazing place, and again the massive scale is overwhelming. There are three production lines – one each for for the 777, 747 and the new 787 Dreamliner.

Without a doubt the highlight of the trip was a flight in a P-40 out of Sonoma. Anyone who has flown in a warbird will understand the exhilaration that really is quite impossible to describe in words. Suffice to say it was an experience that I will never forget. The flight was with Chris Prevost who runs a business called Vintage Aircraft taking people for flights in Stearmans. We looked around his workshop and went over a few parts that he is going to need for an upcoming project. He then took me for “the ride” in his P40 over Sonoma and surrounding area just north of San Francisco. It was the best flying experience ever. Not only are you immersed in the beautiful sound of the V12 at 3500rpm up front but the acceleration was impressive and the flight remarkably smooth. Many thanks to Chris.