Exciting Pre-AirVenture Program at Theater in the Woods
 

Sunday evening, July 27 -- 7:30 p.m. Theater in the Woods

 

AN EVENING WITH CHAMPIONS

 We kick off the Oshkosh week with a welcome from President Tom Poberezny.

 

 

 For the 23rd year, AviationSpeakers.com brings you some of aviation’s finest speakers, and this year some of the funniest. Your Master of Ceremonies, also for 23 years, is Danny Mortensen, President of Bill Phelps’ Airline Ground Schools, author of The Airline Career and Interview Manual and the 1990 Gold Trophy winner at the National Championship Air Races.

7:30 p.m. Mark Grady is a humorist, writer, commercial pilot and professional speaker who often pokes fun at his height (or lack of it!). Mark flew 6,000 hours in a C-152 for over a decade as an award-winning traffic watch pilot/reporter in Raleigh, N.C. He honed his wit and humor as a radio talk show host, TV telethon host and in TV commercials. In 1998, he was named NC's Aviation Safety Counselor of the Year. He writes for General Aviation News, Southern Aviator, Weekend Flyer, Wilmington Star- News and Jacksonville Daily News. You’re sure to laugh at the perils of being a vertically-challenged pilot and Mark’s You Might Be a Redneck Pilot If… one-liners.

8:15 p.m. Catherine (Cathe') Fish laughs when pilots call her the female Rod Machado. She and Rod taught together in the 70s. Now, Cathe has taught more Flight Instructor Revalidation Clinics and Flying Companions Courses than anyone alive. Flying since 1973, she is a CFII, MEI with 6,000 hours; flying for a commuter airline, flying as a USDA contract pilot and teaching 300 students. An Av Tech Instructor at Cochise College for five years and an AOPA ASF lead instructor since 1983, she is known for her upbeat, fun, information-packed motivating seminars. Her unusual and hilarious aviation stories are sure to make you laugh with Flying Fish’s Wild, Wacky & Outrageous Pilot Whoppers.

9:00 p.m. Ralph Hood, one of aviation’s favorite humorists, serves up funny stuff with one of his humorous programs, Ground Clutter. Ralph sold aircraft for a living until speaking began to take all of his time. This southern pilot now travels coast to coast sharing his insights on sales, marketing, and service to both non-aviation and aviation groups, with specialty programs for flight schools and instructors. Though inspiring, Ralph is best known for making us laugh--a lot! His thought provoking writing can be found in his monthly columns in Airport Business, AOPA's Flight Training, AOPA's Flight School Business and also in his funny book, The Truth and Other Lies.

 

9:45 p.m. Bonus: The Aerostars Aerobatic Team talk about flying their air ballet.

 

Map of Theater in the Woods location