The Mighty Swordfish Takes Oshkosh by Storm

It was a long time coming but worth every ounce of blood sweat and tears to make it happen.

On the afternoon of 28 July at 12:42 EST, the Swordfish departed for Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Swordfish departs Gatineau. Photo by Heather Fleck

 

Bob Childerhose, pilot in command and Team Lead for Gray Ghost Two (Swordfish), took -off with his son Austin getting buffeted around in the back. As the Swordfish still has transponder and radio problems, Doug Fleck flew chase in the RV8 with Andrej Janik is the backseat pretending he knows how to read a map.

Map or no map, transponder or no transponder, the Swordfish did indeed find her way to the infamous EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and made quite an astonishing impression. And why wouldn't she for this Stringbag is only one of two flying in the world, the first in North America.

Here are a selection of images by photographer Stephen J Skelly that document an historical event for Vintage Wings and the greater aviation community of North America at large. Bravo Zulu folks!

https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=3d29db9f0df42b70&sc=photos&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&id=3D29DB9F0DF42B70%21178&sff=1