Ultralight Fun Fly Zone - One of my favourite places at Osh
By Willie Bodenstein
18.08.2024
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From my first visit to EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh in 2009 the Ultralight Fun Fly Zone has been one of my favourite places to visit. I found the weird and wonderful machines that flew from the 900-foot immaculate grass runway in the morning and late afternoon fascinating and embodying the true spirit of experimental aircraft.
Located south of the Vintage area along Wittman Road and a brisk walk away from the South Forty and the bus departure point to the sea plane base it is here that the very basic of flying machine and others that are technically advanced can be viewed up close. Ultralights, powered parachutes, weight shift trikes, gyroplanes, homebuilt rotorcraft, and later on hot air balloons, all call this small and intimate corner home.
Beside the Ultralight Barn and the extremely popular Ultra-Light Cafe each year more than 60 commercial exhibitors showcase their products and wares in the zone.
Daily grass runway operations during AirVenture run from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. with a break from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. for the afternoon air show. The flight schedule is divided into time periods to allow similar aircraft in the pattern at the same time.
Two ultralights celebrated their anniversaries this year: the Titan Tornado (30 years) and the Mini Max (40 years) photo Wikimedia.
I have been fortunate to have flown from the main runway of Wittman Airport three times in the Ford Tri Motor as well as four times from the grass strip at Pioneer field, three time in the Bell 47 and once in a 1928 Travelair as well as once from the seaplane base in a de Havilland Beaver. I also flew from Appleton Airfield, a feeder to Wittman in the Boeing B17.
So, this year, when on Monday evening when I was offered a flip in a Just Highlander from the Fun Fly Park by Jeff Tensfeldt I jumped at it. Jeff, a retired Lt Conell in the US Army, is an instrument rated Private Pilot as well as the holder of an expert parachutist license and a member of the US Army Golden Knights Alumni Association.
Just Aircraft LLC is an American aircraft manufacturer based in Walhalla, South Carolina and founded by Troy Woodland in 2002. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of STOL light aircraft in the form of kits for amateur construction and complete ready-to-fly light-sport aircraft.
Jeff's Highlander, the first of the make that I have ever flown in, is a 2020 model is powered by a Rotax 912. In absolute perfect condition it is surprisingly spacious and with the two of us on board used I would guess no more than two thirds of the runway and climbed like a homesick angel.
The view was impressive and I was surprised by all the new additions to camping that was added in the last year or so. All though some way from show centre they were almost at full capacity.
The Fun Fly circuit was all too short but most memorable and the flight is one that I will, like all my Oshkosh flights, treasure. Many, many thanks to Jeff for the opportunity. It is much appreciated.
Whenever you are at Osh do visit the Fun Fly Park. Besides the usual weight shift trikes, we associate with the lighter side of aviation, it offers so much more and such a variety of weird and wonderful machines that you may just find yourself spending more time there that you have planned for.
