Aluminum Overcast Forecast For Oshkosh 2009 - Airbus A380!

Airbus A380 Photo: Airbus

 It's not just a big deal, it's about 1,200,000 lbs gross weight of a BIG DEAL that the Airbus A380 will be at Oshkosh 2009!  This is definitely the kind of overcast we like to see in an Oshkosh forecast!  

 The airplane is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday, July 28 and provide an air demo.  Then it'll be on display in AeroShell square where we can get up close and personal.  Departure is planned for Friday, July 31st. 

 Take a minute to check out this awesome 360 view of the A380 flight deck below.  You can mouse around the big honkin' front office of the world's largest airliner!

 There's no doubt that seeing the A380 fly at Oshkosh, and having it on display where we can walk right up to it is gonna be an extremely special treat.  Hmmm, now if we could just get the 787 there too : )

Click the pic for an unbelievable 360 view of the A380 flightdeck!

Nemesis: -Noun, An Opponent Or Rival Whom A Person Cannot Best Or Overcome

Stunning pic of Nemesis NXT at Reno in 2007  Photo: Victor Archer's amazing gallery

Nemesis NXT at Oshkosh 2008  Photos: Martt Clupper (hey, that's me!)

Visit NemesisNXT.com for more info

 Not a lot of words here, cuz this post is all about that top pic of Nemesis NXT at Reno in 2007.  It might be my excessive intake of Diet Mt Dew talking, but after a lot of staring (mesmerized) at that pic, I've decided it's one of the best modern aviation pictures ever taken!

 The pic was taken by the extremely skilled Victor Archer.  You must visit his amazing pbase.com aircraft photo gallery.  And, you also really need to view the hi-res version of the NXT at AirportJournals.com.  It's now my desktop pic, and honestly, my heart skips a beat every time I see it.  This airplane is extreme aviation art!   

 When Jon Sharp named his curvy exotic beast, he certainly picked the right name.  With a qualifying speed at Reno in 2008 of 409mph, Jon and his team have pushed aerodynamic design and efficiency into an all new arena.  Right now, this airplane cannot be beat.

 To learn a little more about the amazing accomplishments of this airplane, check out the Nemesis article at AirSpaceMag.com.  And you should notice that the two bottom pics here show the airplane at Oshkosh in 2008.  How awesome it is to be able to walk right up to and marvel at one of the world's greatest airplanes!

Mach 1 Ride On Concorde At Oshkosh 88!

 If you tossed all the airplanes ever made into a really big bucket like popcorn and shook 'em up, there's only gonna be so many that work their way to the the top.  Concorde is definitely one of them.

 Few other aircraft have been able to stir such a wide range of people, and do so with such unanimous adoration. And while some might see Concorde's legacy tarnished by the crash in 2000, the truth is that this is an amazing aircraft that stands as a fabulous tribute to those who made her a reality.

 For Americans, possibly our greatest opportunities with Concorde came at Oshkosh in 85, 88, 90, 94, and 98. Not only did Concorde's presence there give us by far the closest look at this exotic beauty, but for a few people it was a relatively affordable chance to actually get to go for a ride.

 I was one of those fortunate few.  I recently found an old VHS tape I'd made in the corner of the basement in a grocery bag, almost forgotten. Check out the vid for a unique look at one of the world's greatest aircraft. 

A total of 20 Concordes were built, with 6 used for development and 14 put
into airline service... 7 for Air France and 7 like this one, for British Airways. 

 
Bristish Airways G-BOAF showing many of the curves that make Concorde so beautiful.

 
Air France F-BVFA on display at the National Air & Space Museum campanion
facilty, the Uvdar-Hazy Center located near Washington Dulles in Virgina.
http://www.nasm.si.edu/UdvarHazy/
 

 The video above is really just a home movie I made to have a record of the day I got to ride in a real SST.  But it means even more to me now that I'm 20 years older, and especially because Concorde is now retired.

 My experience tells me that no airplane electrified the air at Oshkosh like this one.  No other airplane has offered the world so much capability while also being so full of grace and beauty.  I suspect that no airplane will ever surpass the stunning collection of attributes that are found only in this intriguing collaboration between the British and the French.

 If you're young or maybe just new to aviation, I hope you'll take some time to learn about the history of this earth-shrinking machine.  There are so many stories that take you a lot deeper than 'that thing sure looks hot'.

 And while many will argue that Concorde wasn't a financial success... all I can say is that I've yet to see real success ever be defined by dollar bills (or Pounds, Francs or Euros).

 To learn more, a lot more, check out the links below.  Go experience Concorde!

http://www.aviation-news.co.uk/concordeChronology.html
Straight forward chronological history of Concorde 

http://www.concordesst.com/home.html
All things Concorde - great site! 

http://www.wingweb.co.uk/aircraft/SST_rise_and_fall.html 
Nice overview of the SST concepts including Concorde 

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/concorde/
PBS Nova explores Concorde + innovative aircraft 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_uW5sLug_0
Fabulous video tribute to the amazing Concorde