20th Anniversary AirVenture Cup Race Begins at Mount Vernon Outland Airport, Part 1 - Racers

By Carmelo Turdo

The 20th Anniversary AirVenture Cup Race, the prelude to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2017, was launched Sunday from Mount Vernon Outland Airport in central Illinois as a weather front arrived to break last week's scorching Midwest heat wave. The race is the first official event of the nation's largest annual aviation gathering, and the third race in five years hosted by this airport. Including support planes, over 100 aircraft were part of this year's race, the largest turnout in recent years.

(AirVenture Cup Race graphic)

The original AirVenture Cup Race route was from Kitty Hawk, NC to Oshkosh, with a stop in Dayton, OH added for fuel and weather contingencies. The route soon proved to be too long and plagued by weather issues, so it was later shortened to begin in Dayton. Since 2013, the race starting point has alternated between Mount Vernon (odd numbered years) and Mitchell, SD (even numbered years). This year's route begins at Mount Vernon Outland Airport and runs through Lacon, IL, Viroqua, WI, and Black River Falls, WI before finishing at Merrill Municipal Airport north of Oshkosh. Due to the weather front, the official starting point was changed to Sterling Rockfalls, IL following the 9:30am takeoff. Most racers will proceed to Wittman Regional Airport Sunday afternoon to be in place prior to the opening of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2017. As will be evident from the photo essay below, there are numerous aircraft types participating in the race, and so there are multiple aircraft classes to accommodate the differences in performance for each major aircraft type.

The Aero Experience visited Mount Vernon Outland Airport during the airport's open house event on Saturday. The race crews displayed their aircraft on the apron for the public and EAA Chapter 1155 provided Young Eagle Flights for youth aged 8-17 throughout the day. Also during our visit, local World War II veteran, Everett Atkinson, received a ride in a Ryan PT-22 like the one he first learned to fly during his military service. In Part 1 of this series, we will start with a look at the AirVenture Cup Race aircraft and crews we encountered on Saturday morning, and feature the Young Eagle Flights and veteran flight in Parts 2 and 3, respectively.

Mount Vernon Outland Airport team ready for action

 

Great Lakes - Jeff and Jennifer Edwards 

Christen Eagle II - David Gillespie 

RV-8 - John and Patti Stahr 

RV-4 - Tim and Carley Hardage 

Lancair IV - Paul and Pam Tackabury

RV-7 - Scott Roze

F1 Rocket - Wayne Hadath

Lancair 360 - Joe and Eileen Czabaranek

Lancair 320 - Bob James 

Turbine Legend - Marty Abbott

Lancair Legacy FG - Shane Daly

Lancair 360 - Mark Quinn

Ercoupe Support Plane

Questair Venture - Tony Crawford

Glasair - Steve Hammer

Meyers 200D - Dane and Jimmy Pruitt

Meyers 145 - Jamon Pruitt

Gobosh 700 - Carl Houghton

Diamond DA-42 - Mike and Traci Farley

Formation arrival - C182, Vari EZ, Long EZ

Vari EZ and Long EZ taxi in to park

Vari EZ - Leif Johnson 

Long EZ - Dave Adams 

Long EZ - Greg Struve

Vari EZ - Gil Hutchison

Cozy - Jeff Mallia

Defiant - Harry Manvel

Ximango AMT-200 - Mike Phillips and Tom Godfrey

Mustang II - Les Burril

Quickie Q200 - Sam Hoskins 

Christen Eagle II - David Marten 

RV-8 - Jon Ross

SX-300 - Jim and Gwenn Cianci

SX-300 - John and Melissa Wilson

SX-300 - Jim Hoyt

SX-300 - Tuck McAtee arrival and local flight 

The Aero Experience thanks Mount Vernon Outland Airport staff, especially Airport Manager Chris Collins, for their hospitality during our visit.  We also salute FBO SRT Aviation, EAA Chapter 1155 and Jefferson County Hall of Honor for their great service in making this Midwest Aviation event a great success.