About Us
How Do We Do What We Do, And Who is Doing It?
Read this to learn how the Mooney Caravan to Oshkosh Educational and Safety Foundation, a section 501(c)(3) charitable organization, is organized.
The Mooney Caravan is an IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization. The Caravan was formed for the purpose of facilitating a Mooney-specific mass arrival to the world's largest airshow. Why formation? Arriving as a group is (and remains) the only certain way a group of pilots can be assured of camping together in the North 40. Since 1998, volunteers working and donating their time and resources year-round have grown the organization to its current vibrant status.
The first formation flight in 2010 was limited to only three aircraft as “Sploshkosh” canceled mass arrivals. The 2011 Caravan tested three elements of three aircraft each successfully, and all subsequent Caravans have been all-formation. Each has improved and proven better than the last, and subscription remains at or near the capacity of our host facility and resources.
Each annual Caravan has three goals: Be safe, execute the briefed flight as well as possible, and have fun! Initial involvement in basic Caravan formation flying has led dozens of Caravaners to work towards and earn advanced formation flying skills, including FAST, FFI, and FAA SAC certifications. Best of all, formators gather locally in their home regions during the year to practice, fly veteran/honor and airshow flights, or just arrive in style for their $200 hamburgers. The camaraderie of AirVenture lasts year-round.
To participate in any Caravan, every pilot, from the newest, least experienced formator to Caravan Lead, must demonstrate proficiency in all required tasks/maneuvers within six months of the mass flight. This is a mandatory prerequisite for any Caravan participant; it is not waivable.
The proficiency must be observed by a Caravan Safety Observer (“SO”). An SO is a current, experienced formator who is well-versed in Caravan skills and tasks. Many SOs hold advanced formation credentials, but most experienced formation pilots, including former military check pilots and GA pilots flying in mass arrivals, are not current CFIs. SOs do not provide flight instruction, and each individual new formator is PIC of their own aircraft practicing what they've read, been briefed on, and observed.
To assist pilots in developing their skills and demonstrating six-month proficiency and currency required for the annual mass flight, the Caravan organization sponsors clinics. These clinics are administered by an experienced Clinic Host. The host is a volunteer who has taken on the daunting challenge of organizing pilots in a region to come and fly together despite schedule, weather and other challenges. Any clinic fees collected cover expenses such as t-shirts, transportation, food and beverages.
As many of our Mooniacs fly other types as well, Caravan clinics are open to anyone, although not all aircraft are compatible with Mooneys. While Beech and Piper retractables are obviously the most compatible, we have had formation flights including Cessna, Grumman, Cirrus, and RV types as well as warbirds like the T-34, T-6, Nanchang CJ, Yak 50 and Yak 52.
Clinics are also an opportunity for experienced and qualified “wing” pilots to gain experience and demonstrate proficiency and currency in the tasks required of an “element lead” pilot. Element leads each lead 1 or 2 wing pilots from Madison to Oshkosh in the mass flight, and are responsible for briefed airspeed, inter-element spacing, and managing their wing(s) in any emergency/abnormal situations that may arise.
Each clinic must have a designated Clinic Safety Officer (“CSO”) who is also a volunteer from the Caravan organization. The CSO is a resource for the Clinic host, Safety Observers, and all participating pilots. The CSO also assists SOs in ensuring proficiency demonstrations are credited to individual pilots.
Before the clinic, each new formator must have already read the basic formation written materials. These materials, as well as tools, maneuvers listing, and safety observer information, are publicly available on mooneycaravan.com under the “learn/formation flying” tab. The formation materials draw upon not only military and type-specific training manuals, but also more than a century of formation flying. Originally conceived as a way of mutual support in combat flying, formation flying has been popularized by “missing man”/honor flights, skywriters, and airshow teams.
Once at a clinic, no flying occurs until each pilot has participated in a general briefing at which safety, administrative and personnel issues are covered in detail.
The first flight of a clinic will ideally be a simulated Caravan mass arrival flight. This is the most efficient way to enable returning, experienced Caravaners to demonstrate the proficiency required to participate in that year's flight. Even better, it affords new formators the chance to see how the flight works by riding along with and watching “their” SO execute what they've read about and been briefed on.
Per FAR 91.111, each individual flight begins with a flight-specific briefing including every participant. A new formator's flights will consist of basic maneuvers helpful in mastering or required to participate in the mass arrival flight. Each flight is completed by a detailed debrief at which much learning occurs.
Flying with a new formator is an SO who can share their individual experience as well as institutional knowledge. Confirming the general consensus that we Mooniacs are a cut above is the fact that most competent and current Mooney pilots master the basic skills well enough to participate in the mass arrival over only a few sorties, which proficiency their SO will report and they will be cleared for the mass flight!
A struggling pilot may find switching SOs and/or taking another observation flight helps. Caravaners are notoriously generous in their time and avgas commitments to help a new formator, as we were all there once ourselves. Weather and mechanical challenges aside, nearly every new formator improves enough to be able to demonstrate the proficiency required to able to fly in the mass flight, which proficiency their SO observes and reports. This status is also published to all mass flight participants.
A new formator who has both registered for the Caravan and demonstrated proficiency will fly as a “wing” in the mass flight. One or two wings fly off a lead aircraft that maintains 15-second spacing from an element ahead. The mass flight is a string of (usually) three-ship elements separated by fifteen seconds, and ideally arriving on final on runways 36L and 36R at that interval, the lead and more experienced “3” wing landing on 36L, and the new “2” landing solo on 36R.
After landing, the Caravan taxies to our North 40 Mooney headquarters tent “North40 HQ.” Besides various WINGS-credited educational, social and dining activities (a catered hot breakfast under cover on the North 40 during rainfall is a treat to be experienced to be truly appreciated), the North 40 HQ is a central gathering point for Mooniacs during Oshkosh.
Each participants' registration fee entitles them to food, beverages, access to the “North 40 HQ” with electricity, charging stations and water, Mooney Caravan swag and raffle tickets. Each year, our generous sponsors award tens of thousands of dollars in aviation merchandise and Mooney-specific goodies to lucky Caravaners.
One fun Caravan tradition is bestowing of “call signs” on those participants (including family members) who express an interest in getting one. Military call signs are “grandfathered.” Besides honoring the service of those who earned their monikers the hard way, call signs provide a way of instantly distinguishing between several pilots with the same first name – potentially critical in a formation flight when clarity and speed of communication is essential.
New Caravaners have ranged from teenagers to octagenarians. If you put safety first, are open to experiencing formation flying, and are respectful of others, you are very welcome. Our ranks include people from new private pilots, airline check pilots, and seasoned combat aviators, ranging in age from teens to octogenarians, and hailing from every continent. We have had pilots who have flown their Mooneys to Europe, South America and Asia. If you are passionate about Mooneys and aviation, and enthusiastic about meeting fellow aviators who share your passion, welcome!
The first formation flight in 2010 was limited to only three aircraft as “Sploshkosh” canceled mass arrivals. The 2011 Caravan tested three elements of three aircraft each successfully, and all subsequent Caravans have been all-formation. Each has improved and proven better than the last, and subscription remains at or near the capacity of our host facility and resources.
Each annual Caravan has three goals: Be safe, execute the briefed flight as well as possible, and have fun! Initial involvement in basic Caravan formation flying has led dozens of Caravaners to work towards and earn advanced formation flying skills, including FAST, FFI, and FAA SAC certifications. Best of all, formators gather locally in their home regions during the year to practice, fly veteran/honor and airshow flights, or just arrive in style for their $200 hamburgers. The camaraderie of AirVenture lasts year-round.
To participate in any Caravan, every pilot, from the newest, least experienced formator to Caravan Lead, must demonstrate proficiency in all required tasks/maneuvers within six months of the mass flight. This is a mandatory prerequisite for any Caravan participant; it is not waivable.
The proficiency must be observed by a Caravan Safety Observer (“SO”). An SO is a current, experienced formator who is well-versed in Caravan skills and tasks. Many SOs hold advanced formation credentials, but most experienced formation pilots, including former military check pilots and GA pilots flying in mass arrivals, are not current CFIs. SOs do not provide flight instruction, and each individual new formator is PIC of their own aircraft practicing what they've read, been briefed on, and observed.
To assist pilots in developing their skills and demonstrating six-month proficiency and currency required for the annual mass flight, the Caravan organization sponsors clinics. These clinics are administered by an experienced Clinic Host. The host is a volunteer who has taken on the daunting challenge of organizing pilots in a region to come and fly together despite schedule, weather and other challenges. Any clinic fees collected cover expenses such as t-shirts, transportation, food and beverages.
As many of our Mooniacs fly other types as well, Caravan clinics are open to anyone, although not all aircraft are compatible with Mooneys. While Beech and Piper retractables are obviously the most compatible, we have had formation flights including Cessna, Grumman, Cirrus, and RV types as well as warbirds like the T-34, T-6, Nanchang CJ, Yak 50 and Yak 52.
Clinics are also an opportunity for experienced and qualified “wing” pilots to gain experience and demonstrate proficiency and currency in the tasks required of an “element lead” pilot. Element leads each lead 1 or 2 wing pilots from Madison to Oshkosh in the mass flight, and are responsible for briefed airspeed, inter-element spacing, and managing their wing(s) in any emergency/abnormal situations that may arise.
Each clinic must have a designated Clinic Safety Officer (“CSO”) who is also a volunteer from the Caravan organization. The CSO is a resource for the Clinic host, Safety Observers, and all participating pilots. The CSO also assists SOs in ensuring proficiency demonstrations are credited to individual pilots.
Before the clinic, each new formator must have already read the basic formation written materials. These materials, as well as tools, maneuvers listing, and safety observer information, are publicly available on mooneycaravan.com under the “learn/formation flying” tab. The formation materials draw upon not only military and type-specific training manuals, but also more than a century of formation flying. Originally conceived as a way of mutual support in combat flying, formation flying has been popularized by “missing man”/honor flights, skywriters, and airshow teams.
Once at a clinic, no flying occurs until each pilot has participated in a general briefing at which safety, administrative and personnel issues are covered in detail.
The first flight of a clinic will ideally be a simulated Caravan mass arrival flight. This is the most efficient way to enable returning, experienced Caravaners to demonstrate the proficiency required to participate in that year's flight. Even better, it affords new formators the chance to see how the flight works by riding along with and watching “their” SO execute what they've read about and been briefed on.
Per FAR 91.111, each individual flight begins with a flight-specific briefing including every participant. A new formator's flights will consist of basic maneuvers helpful in mastering or required to participate in the mass arrival flight. Each flight is completed by a detailed debrief at which much learning occurs.
Flying with a new formator is an SO who can share their individual experience as well as institutional knowledge. Confirming the general consensus that we Mooniacs are a cut above is the fact that most competent and current Mooney pilots master the basic skills well enough to participate in the mass arrival over only a few sorties, which proficiency their SO will report and they will be cleared for the mass flight!
A struggling pilot may find switching SOs and/or taking another observation flight helps. Caravaners are notoriously generous in their time and avgas commitments to help a new formator, as we were all there once ourselves. Weather and mechanical challenges aside, nearly every new formator improves enough to be able to demonstrate the proficiency required to able to fly in the mass flight, which proficiency their SO observes and reports. This status is also published to all mass flight participants.
A new formator who has both registered for the Caravan and demonstrated proficiency will fly as a “wing” in the mass flight. One or two wings fly off a lead aircraft that maintains 15-second spacing from an element ahead. The mass flight is a string of (usually) three-ship elements separated by fifteen seconds, and ideally arriving on final on runways 36L and 36R at that interval, the lead and more experienced “3” wing landing on 36L, and the new “2” landing solo on 36R.
After landing, the Caravan taxies to our North 40 Mooney headquarters tent “North40 HQ.” Besides various WINGS-credited educational, social and dining activities (a catered hot breakfast under cover on the North 40 during rainfall is a treat to be experienced to be truly appreciated), the North 40 HQ is a central gathering point for Mooniacs during Oshkosh.
Each participants' registration fee entitles them to food, beverages, access to the “North 40 HQ” with electricity, charging stations and water, Mooney Caravan swag and raffle tickets. Each year, our generous sponsors award tens of thousands of dollars in aviation merchandise and Mooney-specific goodies to lucky Caravaners.
One fun Caravan tradition is bestowing of “call signs” on those participants (including family members) who express an interest in getting one. Military call signs are “grandfathered.” Besides honoring the service of those who earned their monikers the hard way, call signs provide a way of instantly distinguishing between several pilots with the same first name – potentially critical in a formation flight when clarity and speed of communication is essential.
New Caravaners have ranged from teenagers to octagenarians. If you put safety first, are open to experiencing formation flying, and are respectful of others, you are very welcome. Our ranks include people from new private pilots, airline check pilots, and seasoned combat aviators, ranging in age from teens to octogenarians, and hailing from every continent. We have had pilots who have flown their Mooneys to Europe, South America and Asia. If you are passionate about Mooneys and aviation, and enthusiastic about meeting fellow aviators who share your passion, welcome!
Mooney Caravan Leadership
- Mooney Caravan President: Chuck "Cowboy" Crinnian, chiefpilot_at_aviationdoc.net
- Mooney Caravan Vice President: Bret "Whitey" Lowell, whitey@mooneycaravan.org
- FAA Liaison and Secretary: Dave "Raptor" Piehler, davep_at_aviating.com
- Mooney Caravan Treasurer: Robert "Hoser" Davis, rdavis_at_hotmail.com
- Safety and Operations Director: Larry "Joker" Brennan, joker@mooneycaravan.org
- Sponsor/Promotion Committee Chair/Board Member: Wayne "Gorilla" Morris, wayne_at_heargearok.com
- Board Member: Paul "Rocket" Steen, psteen_at_gmail.com
- Board Member: James "Pepper" Oliphant, oliphantbandguy_at_gmail.com
- Board Member: Chris "Toro" Shopperly: chris_at_southridgepetro.com
- Board Member: Adam "Sled" Carney: adam_at_mooney8wm.com
- Board Member: Dan "Clippy" Driscoll, clippy@mooneycaravan.org
- Board Member: Mike "Spaz" LaPaglia, spaz@mooneycaravan.org
- MSN FBO/MSN Local Arrangements: Jason "Wojo" Wojteczko, jasonwojo_at_msn.com
Squadron Leaders
- Best Coast Squadron: Larry "Joker" Brennan: joker_at_mooneycaravan.org
- Flying Monkeys: James "Pepper" Oliphant, oliphantbandguy_at_gmail.com
- Gunfighters Squadron: Chuck "Cowboy" Crinnian, chiefpilot_at_aviationdoc.net
- Mid-Atlantic Group: Adam "Sled" Carney, adam_at_mooney8wm.com
- Northern FLights Squadron: John "Coppertone" Bowden, johnlbowden46_at_gmail.com
- Rocky Mountain Squadron: Austin "Catcher" Byrd, byrdflyr_at_outlook.com
- Texas Wing: Bucko "Sandman" Strehlow, bucko.strehlow_at_gmail.com
Council of Elders
A distinguished and reserved group, the "Council of Elders" serves as an advisory board to the Mooney Caravan. Its members include the only two individuals to complete every Caravan to date (marked by *). One candidate for admission is nominated each year. Membership is earned by successfully serving as a formation Caravan Lead.- 2024: Dan "Clippy" Driscoll
- 2023: Wayne "Gorilla" Morris
- 2022: Bret "Whitey" Lowell
- 2021: Bucko "Sandman" Strehlow
- 2019: Adam "Sled" Carney
- 2018: Chris "Toro" Shopperly
- 2017: Larry "Joker" Brennan
- 2016: Chuck "Cowboy" Crinnian
- 2015: James "Pepper" Oliphant *
- 2014: Dave "Raptor" Piehler *
- 2013: Darwin "Hot Dog" Puls
- 2012: Rob "Slick" Higgins
Rookie of the Year
Caravan leadership has recognized a first-time Caravan'er who, through their efforts, flying skills, and/or enthusiasm, has earned coveted ROY recognition and the "Alpha-2" slot in this years Caravan line-up. The following pilots are so recognized:- 2024: Michael "Wilson" Waters
- 2023: Paul Maxwell
- 2022: Marc "Rash" Breen
- 2021: Marc "SAR" Johnson
- 2019: Mat "Biggsy" Biggs
- 2018: Pia Bergqvist
- 2017: Mike "Polecat" Reed
- 2016: Dallas "Puddles" Ashley
- 2015: Janet "Snoopy" Denton
- 2014: Bucko "Sandman" Strehlow
- 2013: Phil "Buzz" Verghese
Mooney Caravan ▪ 1025 Weston Ave, Wausau, WI 54403 ▪ Phone: (206) 370-1915
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