Commanders at AirVenture Oshkosh

[nddons]

I work Flightline Ops at OSH, so we marshal all aircraft coming off of 9/27 or landing on 36. Sometimes I’ll be stationed 100’ from the green dot, or am guarding the threshold to 18R, and ever intersection in between. Best job at AirVenture!

I’ve seen and often marshaled nearly every type of aircraft flown into AirVenture, but I rarely see Commanders. I certainly could miss some, but usually I sense that I could count the number of Commanders on one hand with fingers left over.

Am I just missing them? I know there aren’t a lot of airframes and that’s why I like them, but I’d love to see more come to my home state of Wisconsin!

I joined COG a few years ago, but have gotten sidetracked flying a Warbird for the CAF. I’m still hoping for my own aircraft and if it’s not a Warbird, the only GA aircraft on my list is a Commander.

 

[Jamesdub]

Re: Commanders at AirVenture Oshkosh

Couple of years ago we had 4 at Fond du Loc. Diverted on day one of all things.

Heavy rains the weekend prior had saturated the parking area. There was an adequate bus service to get to OSH.

 

[N4843W]

Re: Commanders at AirVenture Oshkosh

We have had as many as 6 in the North 40. Almost always 3 or 4. Each year we talk about trying to come in together with 10 or 20 but never pull it off.

BTW, Flying a warbird at OSH is sufficient excuse to miss a Commander or any other plane!

 

[nddons]

Re: Commanders at AirVenture Oshkosh

We have had as many as 6 in the North 40. Almost always 3 or 4. Each year we talk about trying to come in together with 10 or 20 but never pull it off.



BTW, Flying a warbird at OSH is sufficient excuse to miss a Commander or any other plane!

Thanks! It was definitely a cool experience. I flew this Commemorative Air Force Fairchild PT-26 Cornell into OSH last year.

 

[JimParker256]

Re: Commanders at AirVenture Oshkosh

Stan, that is one sweet ride! Very cool.

Out of curiosity, what kind of cruise speed do you get, and what fuel burn? (And maybe I should ask about oil usage? My friend with a pre-war gullwing Stinson says he keeps at least 5 gallons of oil on board to feed his radial engine on cross-country flights...)

 

[nddons]

Re: Commanders at AirVenture Oshkosh

Stan, that is one sweet ride! Very cool.

Out of curiosity, what kind of cruise speed do you get, and what fuel burn? (And maybe I should ask about oil usage? My friend with a pre-war gullwing Stinson says he keeps at least 5 gallons of oil on board to feed his radial engine on cross-country flights...)

Jim,

Cruise is about 110 mph, which ironically is only slightly higher than the 90 knot cruise speed for the FISK approach at OSH. We Flight plan for 11-12 gph. 45 gallons usable. The engine is an inverted 200hp Ranger in-line engine and is pretty efficient on oil relative to a radial. It burns about a quart an hour, and most of the oil remains in its 4.1 gallon oil tank. Gross weight is 2,800#, so that engine isn’t going to bring her anywhere fast, but it’s a blast to fly. It has nice wide landing gear and so tailwheel landings are very straight forward.

 

[N4843W]

Re: Commanders at AirVenture Oshkosh

Very cool. My Dad had an AT-6 he sold in about 1960. Wish to heck I had it now!

 

[buchan]

Re: Commanders at AirVenture Oshkosh

Stan:

Nice looking PT-26. I have a PT-26 "Cornell" that served with the RCAF from 1943 through 1945. Very similar numbers to what you quote other than it would be a good day when we cruise at 110 mph.

Don

 

[JimParker256]

Re: Commanders at AirVenture Oshkosh

110 mph cruise sounds good to this O-200 powered Citabria 7ECA driver... Top speed in cruise for me is 90 MPH. I don't know what I would do if I had to fly it to OSH or SnF, because I cannot make 90 knots, even at full throttle with the wheel pants on... LOL

Guess I'll have to wait to fly in until my Bearhawk Patrol is flying. It'll be just "loafing along" at 90 knots! (Top speed around 155 mph, cruise speed around 145-150 mph.)

 

[nddons]

Re: Commanders at AirVenture Oshkosh

Stan:



Nice looking PT-26. I have a PT-26 "Cornell" that served with the RCAF from 1943 through 1945. Very similar numbers to what you quote other than it would be a good day when we cruise at 110 mph.



Don

That’s a beauty Don! Ours served the RCAF during that exact timeframe as well. I’m not sure where you live, but I’m really glad here in Wisconsin we have a PT-26 versus a PT-19 with an open cockpit.

I’m doing our first post Mx Flight tomorrow. It will be 32 degrees. The GIB will be a buddy who owns a Harvard and has awesome heat pumped into the Harvard with that long exhaust stack. No such heat front or rear in our PT.