Great weekend with 16 pilots in the Columbus, KTZR< Bolton Field, Cherokees to Oshkosh formation clinic.
With so many people wanting to join Cherokees to Oshkosh has added a 10th clinic at KCWA (Wausau, WI), our new home base, on Wednesday, July 21, the day prior to all 60 Cherokees practicing together. If you sign up for this clinic, make sure to arrive on Tuesday, the 20th. We will likely do the ground school that night at the hotel. Details will soon be posted on the Cherokees2Osh.com website.
Thanks for the photos to Marie Lorenz, sister of Andrew Howard who, with his wife, Sami, hosted a great weekend in Columbus.
Cherokees to Oshkosh is about one thing: getting dozens of Piper Cherokee owners and their passengers safely into Oshkosh together, to enjoy EAA’s Airventure, the world’s biggest airshow. Since our start in 2010, the majority of our pilots and their families have returned with us numerous times even though many at first planned for a one-time “bucket list” experience. Their continued involvement is driven by the deep friendships which have developed through the adventure of flying safely with a large group of pilots who have a shared love for our airplanes.
For details on the Cherokees to Oshkosh Mass Arrival with 60 Cherokees celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Piper Cherokee (one year late), visit Cherokees2Osh.com. There is no more fun and fulfilling way to attend EAA Airventure than with a “type” mass arrival group. The Cherokees, like the Cessna, Mooneys, Bonanzas, Cirus, RVs and several other groups, enjoy a wonderful time together. We have become a family, one who welcomes new members.
You must attend at least one Cherokees to Oshkosh Mini-Clinic to participate in the Mass Arrival. You have to attend one, but many have so much fun, they attend several. We still have five left including the one just added at KCWA. The other clinics are:
May 14-16 KJEF, Jefferson City, MO
May 21-23 KXNX, Gallatin, TN
June 4-6 KFKA, Preston, MN
June 25-27 KGDW, Gladwin, MI
Unlike other mass arrival groups, Cherokees to Oshkosh does NOT charge to participate in a clinic, but you must be registered for the Mass Arrival to join a Mini-Clinic. If you decide flying near other airplanes is not for you, after participating in one of our Mini-Clinics, you may request a refund of your registration fee within the limitations outlined in the registration agreement. Please note Cherokees to Oshkosh doesn’t just throw you up in the air by yourself. The well refined training process eases you into formation flying, first with an observation flight and subsequently with an experienced formation safety pilot in your right seat. The Mini-Clinics start at home with Cherokees to Oshkosh online videos, and then at the clinic with a ground school. You will know what to expect before you start your engine. All flights are briefed, so all pilots are on the same page for the flight, and flights are debriefed so that pilots all continue to learn from their collective experience. Cherokees to Oshkosh is NOT a formation performance team. Unlike the US Air Force Thunderbirds and the US Navy Blue Angels, who fly 18” wing tip to canopy, our participants fly 35 feet to 50 feet apart or more. In Cherokees to Oshkosh, you fly in a position where YOU are comfortable. As our Director of Flight Operations, Dr. Ed LeBlanc says “We’re not putting on an airshow – we’re flying to one.”
A real advantage of Cherokees to Oshkosh is that by flying together and camping together, you meet some really great people. Cherokees to Oshkosh erects a hospitality tent adjacent to the campsite in the North 40 at Oshkosh. At the beginning, and at the end, of each day it’s a great place to meet, swap stories, and share the “don’t miss, and don’t bother” exhibit booths at Airventure. For those with families, there others with kids of all ages. For those travelling alone, or those couples who want to split up for the day, there are others with whom you can have a shared experience visiting OSH. You will definitely find someone, or many, with whom to visit airshows or go out to dinner. At the end of every day there are plenty of people with whom you can share lies about flying.
If you have never been to OSH or are anxious about flying the Fisk Arrival due to the horror stories you have heard about the process (it can be intimidating), there is no better way to go than in a Mass Arrival type group. Due to special arrangements with the FAA, the airspace is cleared for the scheduled arrival time for the group. It doesn’t get any better than that.
If you would like to have a lot of fun, meet some wonderful people, and sharpen your flying skills, checkout Cherokees to Oshkosh at Cherokees2Osh.com for more information and to register.

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Matt,
Here are the notes made by the other pilot during our flight to try and list the autopilot issues.
ROLL: Slow response, never stopped or captured level flight, when utilizing the roll knob the roll over corrected dramatically.
HDG: Full deflection of the yolk on correction, always to the right, violent corrections, never settled down.
ALT: Very slow to correct and always overshooting
PITCH: Too slow to react.
I'm guessing from what you said and what the autopilot does that there is a serious wiring issue. The avionic shop assured me it worked in the hanger but they never test flew the AC to check the system. I now have to find a shop that can correct these issues, any suggestions?
Thanks, John

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