Minimums,” says Bob Owsley. The view isn’t encouraging. We can see the ground, or more accurately the water, but that’s about it. There is no sparkle to the gray surface of Lake Winnebago; it is a mirror of the dark clouds just 100 feet over our heads. Still, this is the most spectacular way to see Oshkosh. You see, I am in the jumpseat of Southwest Airlines’ newest 737-700. It is barely a month old and, since this is a Part 91 flight, I can sit just behind Capt. Rob Amsler, the airline’s chief pilot in Orlando, Florida.
Southwest was taking a 737 to AirVenture to show off its RNP (required navigation performance) capabilities. AirTran and American had had airplanes there earlier in the week, so most airlines know the value of spending the day at the show. Our flight had 87 passengers, including employees who had won contests, two women from the south side of Chicago who had won the trip on Twitter, and several pilots who had signed up to stand guard over the airplane while on the ground and to conduct tours of the cockpit for what turned out to be a steady stream of curious show goers.
