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Oshkosh's sunset over Jim Gandee's Centurion at Cessna Base Camp. Click on for a larger image.
The Pirep
First Clinic: A Total Success! Pirep No. 2 March 2009
Mike Jesch and the group of attending pilots during the clinic at Foxy's.Our first formation flight training clinic in preparation for Cessnas 2 Oshkosh 2009 concluded successfully on March 14th at the General Wm J Fox Airfield (KWJF) in Lancaster, California. The clinic was attended by thirteen pilots. Among them, Cessnas 2 Oshkosh veterans Dan Barley, Jim Gandee, Bob Lange and Mike Jesch, the lead pilot; and Bonanzas to Oshkosh veteran and contributor to our cause, Mary (MJ) Butt. As always, thanks Mary!

Capt. Mike Jesch reports that the clinic started promptly at 9:00 am. It was a beautiful day for formation flying, with clear skies, calm winds and 70 miles of visibility! The tower was exceptionally easy to deal with and we had 30 miles of straight line, uncrowded skies to hone our formation skills. The airport restaurant did a fine job catering to our small crowd. We almost had time to go over to the museum on the field, which has a Boeing 377 Stratocruiser.

Jack Hubka in the lead position in his 300HP Air Plains C182 as seen from Tim Farmer's Skyhawk SP in the wing position. Mary Butt's picture."We formed up into three elements, two of two ships, and one of three ships." reports lead pilot Mike Jesch. The third element consisted of a T210, a TR182, and a Bonanza (of all things!). We managed to get into the air just shortly after Noon, and each element flew at least an hour, with the standard position changes, lead change, turns, climbs, descents, etc. I know Jack, the pilot with whom I flew, couldn't believe an hour had passed. "It seemed like ten minutes!" was Jack's exclamation.

Congratulations to Capt. Mike Jesch and all the participating pilots for a successfully completed formation flight training clinic. One of the requirements to fly a safe mass arrival into Oshkosh has been met!

Capt. Mike Jesch in his Skylane in formation practice.You may click here to sign up for any of our clinics if you have already registered for the mass arrival.

You may click here to register to participate in the 2009 mass arrival. Please feel free to email us if you need more information or if you have questions. Our email address is Info@cessnas2oshkosh.com

Read more...
The Pirep is the official newsletter of Cessnas 2 Oshkosh. It is a vehicle to keep all the participants in the Cessnas 2 Oshkosh 2009 Mass Arrival and our friends informed about the progress on our way to Oshkosh. In 2009, it will be published on the fifteenth of each month. Additional issues will be published if the need arises.
Progress Report
To date, twenty-seven (27) pilots have registered to fly the mass arrival. Thirteen (13) states and two (2) Canadian provinces are represented. California leads with ten (10) pilots, Colorado, Michigan and Washington are distant second with two (2) pilots each and trailing are Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas, Wisconsin, Alberta and Manitoba with one (1) pilot each.

The Skylane (C182) leads the models with ten (10) aircraft, followed by the Skyhawk (C172) with six (6), the Skywagon (C180/185) with five (5), the Centurion with four (4) and the Stationair (C205/206/207) and the C310 with one (1) each.

These preliminary results beat our expectations. We encourage each one of you debating whether or not to go to Oshkosh this year to make your plans early. It is going to be a good year. We are optimistic and not even this economy is stopping us. Come celebrate with your friends!
Scheduled Formation Clinics
Sign up for any of these clinics.
As of today, these are the confirmed scheduled clinics. We have planned over ten clinics over the next five months in locations across the nation. Please visit our website for more detailed information about our planned clinics.

We encourage every pilot to plan ahead and participate in one of the clinics prior to the July 24th clinic in Juneau. We anticipate a busy Juneau clinic and, as many of you know by experience, the summer weather in Wisconsin is unpredictable.

If the Juneau Clinic is your only option, by all means come to Juneau. Every pilot present at the Juneau clinic will train and have the opportunity to qualify for the mass arrival.

Read more...
Help Us Spread the Word!
You can contribute to make the Cessnas 2 Oshkosh 2009 Mass Arrival a success by helping us reach as many Cessna pilots as possible.

Download our flyer, make some copies and post them on the bulletin board of your local airport FBO, flying club and everywhere else you meet with your fellow pilots.

You can also spread the word by forwarding this issue of The Pirep to every Cessna pilot in your contact list.

More details...
The Montgomery Formation Flight Training Clinic
Our second formation flight training clinic in preparation for the Cessnas 2 Oshkosh 2009 Mass Arrival will take place at the Orange County Airport (KMGJ) in Montgomery, New York on Saturday March 21st, at 9:00 a.m. EDT.
Gil on lead in his Skyhawk with Craig in his wing in his Skylane over Lakeland.We will meet at Rick's Runway Cafe, the restaurant on the field for a quick breakfast and then move next door to the Airport Operations Building for the presentation. This clinic will be an initial training session for new pilots as well as a recurrent training session for pilots who have previously participated in our mass arrival. The host and lead pilot for the clinic will be Gil Velez, our webmaster. Gil will be assisted by Captain Craig Johnston, an experienced airline pilot and a veteran of previous Cessnas 2 Oshkosh mass arrivals in 2006 and 2007.

The Town of Montgomery in New York's Orange County is located in the lower Hudson Valley Region, approximately 50 miles north of New York City. The Orange County Airport (KMGJ) is located approximately 14 miles west of the West Point US Military Academy and 7 miles west of the Stewart International Airport.

We encourage every pilot interested in the mass arrival based in the Northeast within a couple of hours flight time from Orange County to make an extra effort to attend this clinic. Read more...

The Dothan Formation Flight Training Clinic
Our third formation flight training clinic in preparation for the Cessnas 2 Oshkosh 2009 Mass Arrival, originally scheduled for March 7th will take place on Saturday April 4th, at 9:00 a.m. CDT in Dothan, Alabama.

Rodney, Jeff, Ed, Tom and Gil flying formation during the Dothan Clinic in 2008.We will meet at Flightline of Dothan, one of the two FBO on the field at Dothan Regional Airport (KDHN). This clinic will be an initial training session for new pilots as well as a recurrent training session for pilots who have previously participated in our mass arrival. The host and lead pilot for the clinic will be none other than our Director of Training and Operations, Rodney Swanson.

The City of Dothan in Alabama's Dale County is centrally located in the Southeast region. The Dothan Regional Airport (KDHN) is located approximately 7 miles northwest of the City of Dothan. Car rental facilities are available right on the airport and there are numerous hotels within a few miles. Flightline of Dothan is a full service FBO with a very professional staff who is available to assist with hotel and car rental reservations.

We encourage every pilot interested in the mass arrival based in the Southeast to make an extra effort to attend this clinic. Read more...

Self-Proficiency Formation Training Tip
Next time you go flying, practice this exercise. After lift-off, accelerate to 90 knots in a C-172, 110 in a C-182 and 130 in a C-205/206/207/210 and maintain this speed throughout the exercise. Make smooth attitude and power adjustments to climb at a rate of 500 fpm or less. Maintaining airspeed is primary, rate of climb is secondary. Climb to a cruise altitude of 2,000 AGL and retrim to maintain airspeed and cruise altitude. Practice standard and half-standard rate turns and descents at 500 fpm maintaining your target speed at all times. Take notice of the power settings required for the different phases of your flight.
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