Hello Mooney enthusiasts and welcome to our Mooney Caravan site! The Mooney Caravan organization is pleased to announce that planning and preparations are well underway for the 16th annual Mooney Caravan to Oshkosh on Saturday, July 27, 2013. This will be our second all-formation Caravan flight and will consist of 3-ship elements. Registration is open and formation practice clinics are taking place. We continue to grow our Caravan community and practice opportunities across the country among Mooney, Bonanza and Cherokee formation groups are multiplying.
The Mooney Caravan first flew in 1998 as a means for fellow Mooney pilots to camp together in the North 40 during AirVenture Oshkosh. The event grew over the years with a peak of 97 aircraft participating in 2000. In 2009, Caravan organizers made the decision to overhaul the organization and flight format to improve the safety and quality of the mass flight into Oshkosh. The complete history of the Caravan is available here.
The 2013 Caravan departs Madison on Saturday, July 27 at 3:30 pm after a mandatory pilot briefing at 1:00 p.m. Optional formation practice sessions will be held on Friday July 26 as a follow-up to previous clinic attendance. Friday evening is the traditional Mooney group dinner. Upon arrival in Oshkosh at the world famous North 40, we will debrief our flight and socialize with old and new friends under the shade of our Mooney Headquarters Tent. Sunday will provide an opportunity to explore the grounds before the show opens. Plan to return to N40 camp for our fantastic annual catered Mooney Caravan BBQ and raffle supported by our generous sponsors. Participants will have the opportunity to win some great products and gifts! As this is the first year we will have a headquarters tent, our BBQ will go rain or shine! EAA AirVenture Oshkosh opens Monday, July 29th through Sunday August 4th.
Our organization is dedicated to facilitating a safe and enjoyable formation mass arrival flight into AirVenture Oshkosh each year, as well as developing opportunities throughout the year to get together and fly our fantastic airplanes. Our participants share a strong sense of camaraderie and the friendship’s born via our common interests in aviation and Mooney aircraft span the continent and the entire year between Caravan flights. The enjoyment and enthusiasm which we all experience at AirVenture doesn’t wear off; we keep it going throughout the year!
Please consider joining our community of active, dedicated and proficient Mooney pilots. In order to participate in Mooney Caravan XVI, pilots will have demonstrated formation flight proficiency - preferably by prior formation-clinic attendance. Clinics are organized across the nation by our team as well as our very supportive colleagues in the Bonanzas to Oshkosh (B2OSH) and Cherokees to Oshkosh groups. Mooney pilots who have participated in these clinics have been warmly welcomed by Bonanza and Cherokee pilots and immediately made part of their community. The training has been absolutely outstanding and the experience exceptional. With prior coordination, most B2OSH clinics are open to Mooney pilots (see http://www.B2OSH.org - check with us first to confirm which clinics will be open to our participation). Additionally, the second annual Mooney Clinic in Yuma, AZ will take place March 15 - 17 and a combined Bonanza/Mooney sponsored clinic will be held in Mojave, CA on April 12 - 14. The Caravan organization may be organizing more clinics pending demand and sponsor availability (see
http://mooneycaravan.shutterfly.com for details). Please contact our Director of Flight Operations, Dave "SARDOT" Marten, Maj, USAF for more information and clinic coordination.
Don’t be deterred if you have not flown formation and can’t make it to a clinic but still want to fly in the Caravan - contact us now! We’ll arrange a formation qualified pilot to fly with you to allow you to demonstrate proficiency as we have resources and pilots all over the US and Canada. Once you’ve attended a clinic or practice session, please contribute your pictures, videos, comments and ideas as we continue to grow our vibrant, active Mooney pilot community.
I would like to take this opportunity to invite all past Caravan participants to return for 2013 and to encourage all Mooney pilots considering a trip to AirVenture this year to join us in Madison for the Mooney Caravan to Oshkosh. Nimis Brevis vita est Volare Tarde - Life is too short to fly slowly!
Chris Shopperly
President
Mooney Caravan Educational and Safety Foundation
March-2013
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Jack Wiegand Solo Around The World
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