[FONT="]What an honor. I didn’t intend on winning anything: I just did the best job I could and showed up to the party. The chain of events over the week were really astonishing![/FONT]
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[FONT="]Some of the people that made Airventure 2022 memorable are:[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Charlie Becker, Communities Director[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Jim Busha, EAA, VP of Publications, Marketing, Membership, and Retail[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Doug Greenfield, EAA Photo Coordinator[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Amanda Greenfield, EAA Photo Liaison; As an aside, one of the more memorable and pleasant (headset hair) corrections of my life. [/FONT]
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[FONT="]Greg Larson, Pilot of Photo 1[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Kristin Kizer, EAA Videography Press [/FONT]
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[FONT="]Tom Caldart, EAA Videographer[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Jim Raeder, EAA Photographer[/FONT]
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[FONT="]The professionalism and passion of the above listed, as well as the MANY others that helped to make this happen, is recognized appreciated. [/FONT]
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[FONT="]Humbled by OSH 2022,[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Zach Jackson[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Here is a refresher of the initial build thank you. These folks ought not be forgotten. [/FONT]
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[FONT="]“The build took 1,776 days, and much was learned throughout the process. I figured out how to build an airplane but learned more about living. It’s remarkable how much can happen in the amount of time it takes to build an airplane. Lifelong friends were made, disposition tested, life created, and life taken. There were tears of laughter, tears of shared sorrow. Kindness and joy were found in people unexpected. Even though the plane is now finished, if it were pushed out into the middle of the yard and lit on fire, it would still be a success. The people and memories will remain long beyond tubing and fabric. [/FONT]
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[FONT="]There isn’t one nut, bolt, cotter pin, or rivet in the airplane that I didn’t make, install, alter or touch in some way, but I by no means lived the last 1,776 days without help. The following is a list of people who positively influenced my life in some way, shape, or form. [/FONT]
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[FONT="]Jim Jackson, my dad and life long airplane builder[/FONT]
[FONT="]Doug Junker, (posthumously) legal scholar, banker, philanthropist, teacher for all things creative, mentor, non-official flight instructor, friend to the end[/FONT]
[FONT="]Mason Zetah, the man that can make metal magic happen, an authentic craftsman, Javron[/FONT]
[FONT="]Jason Anderson, out of the norm thinker, excellent welder and fabricator, Javron[/FONT]
[FONT="]Kelsey Saba, aircraft structural and component virtuoso/cookie maestro, Javron [/FONT]
[FONT="]Beau Oium, gifted machinist and extremely helpful for figuring out and duplicating oddly threaded “stuff,” Javron[/FONT]
[FONT="]Ben Wing, fantastic machinist, lathe expert, and my go to when I dorked **many** drill bits, Javron[/FONT]
[FONT="]Matt Solderman, wing expert and great source for miscellaneous hardware, cantankerous soul with a profound, and much appreciated desire to help, Javron[/FONT]
[FONT="]Mike Karlson, fantastic help for all office and ordering needs, Javron[/FONT]
[FONT="]Mike Brown, spectacular welder, Javron[/FONT]
[FONT="]Tim Bach, my go to when I needed to find something and I didn’t want Jay to know what I was up to, Javron[/FONT]
[FONT="]Jesse Montague, excellent structural fuselage welder, Javron[/FONT]
[FONT="]Jay Derosier, Cub guru, chief detective for shop pranks, “one wheel” slow speed pursuit co-defendant, Javron[/FONT]
[FONT="]Mark Fiedler, Chief Aircraft Therapist specializing in remedying psychological issues involving Cub construction, Captain of the “Screaming Super Chicken.” [/FONT]
[FONT="]Bill Rusk, mental health therapist for my mental health therapist [/FONT]
[FONT="]Brandon Wilson, a guaranteed source for a belly laugh when needed, cub guy brother from another mother, co-conspirator in slow speed one wheel pursuits [/FONT]
[FONT="]Joe Birkemeyer, Baumann amphib expert, formerly of Baumann Floats, North Point Aviation[/FONT]
[FONT="]Jay Poshak, J.L.H.B.F. R. [/FONT]
[FONT="]Mark Poshak[/FONT]
[FONT="]Linda Poshak, extremely tolerant lake home baron who facilitated me covering an airplane in a spectacular space fit for a national geographic photographer[/FONT]
[FONT="]The Patka Family, (et al), tolerant neighbors who never called the cops once![/FONT]
[FONT="]Douten Thomas[/FONT]
[FONT="]Steve Trutschel[/FONT]
[FONT="]Rob Palmer[/FONT]
[FONT="]Jonathan McCormick, Evoke Aircraft Design[/FONT]
[FONT="]Chris Weis, when others couldn’t get cockpit placarding accomplished, this man performed faster than I could imagine, and with stellar results, I strongly endorse this company, Aerographics[/FONT]
[FONT="]Kris Wells[/FONT]
[FONT="]Brandon Tautges[/FONT]
[FONT="]Clyde Smith [/FONT]
[FONT="]Huston Marlowe[/FONT]
[FONT="]Bob Turner[/FONT]
[FONT="]Kevin Dunrud, Horizon Aircraft Engine Services[/FONT]
[FONT="]Lycon Aircraft Engines[/FONT]
[FONT="]Randy Apling, Carbon Concepts [/FONT]
[FONT="]Steve Wagner, DAR[/FONT]
[FONT="]Bill Zarn, a “can do” person who provided after hours energy service and good conversation to boot. Remarkable how when the need arises, the white haired oil company owner shows up to the farm to solve my problem. Thank you Bill, you are appreciated. Zarns Oil Co. [/FONT]
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[FONT="]To those above, and those who I have failed to mention, thank you for your willingness to share your abilities, patience, kindness, and in many cases friendship. The vocation you have chosen isn’t just a job, you are contributing happiness to the world and peoples lives depend on you. You all have added value to my life, and soon to others who will be enjoying NX91RJ with me, for (hopefully) many years to come. [/FONT]
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[FONT="]Temporary steward for Romeo Juliet,[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Zach Jackson”[/FONT]
