Photo by Jack Hodgson Jonathan Hardwick with his Navion A model after our early morning flight from Oshkosh.

Photo by Jack Hodgson We met this Super Cub on the CTAF and arranged for an impromptu air to air picture.

Early Monday I met up with Navion pilot Jonathan Hardwick to get a quick morning ride in his beautiful Navion A model. Jonathan hails from Hamilton, Ohio, near Cincinnati, and flies out of Butler Field. In his day job he serves as a business jet pilot for a fractional ownership company. But when he’s not doing that, he’s a member of EAA Chapter 974, the Warbirds of America Squadron 18, and is active in the Navion community. He’s been flying since 1998, and got his primary instruction from a former WWII pilot. Jonathon quickly earned his WWII instructor certificate and enjoys teaching. Among his instructor experience is a stint at Brown’s Seaplane Base in Florida teaching in Super Cubs on straight floats.

The Navion was first built just after World War II. It was used during the Korean War as a liaison aircraft. One famous picture is of the Navion that General MacArthur used as his personal airplane. The aircraft was originally built by North American Aviation, the same folks who produced the P-51 Mustang. Some refer to it as the “Poor Man’s P-51”. It was built on April 1, 1947.

“We were gonna name it ‘April Fools’ but decided that that wouldn’t be a good idea.” 

Jonathan’s plane is gray with Korean War era military markings. Other than putting in a bigger engine, he’s kept it pretty stock.

After getting the plane, Jonathan discovered in the logbooks that, though the plane has spent much of its life in Texas, it had been originally based near Cincinnati.

“Right after it was manufactured a gentleman from Cincinnati owned it. And it had been maintained at this old airport in Cincinnati that no longer exists.”

So Jonathan painted the name “Cincinnati Kid” on the nose.

Jonathan flies his plane as part of the Warbirds show at AirVenture. To be allowed to fly formation here requires special training.

“I flew with a group of NATA guys, North American Trainer Association, which is the governing body for the T-6s. I got my training from a guy named Jim Stitt—he’ll be flying the air show with the Trojan Horsemen—and Todd Winemiller who’s the lead T-6 guy.” 

He describes the formation training as “challenging.” “I did about 5-6 hours. I liken it to aerobatic training. You go out for 30 minutes and you’re toast. Forty-five if you’re really good. It’s a huge focus factor. It’s very dangerous, you’ve got to trust the people you fly with.”

What was his biggest challenge when he first starting to fly formation? “Getting over the fear of being close to another airplane. And that takes time, you can’t go right out and say, this is the way it’s supposed to be; let me fly close to this airplane, ’cause you’re gonna hurt someone.”

It’s a beautiful morning at AirVenture… 

On this beautiful first morning of AirVenture 2009 we followed the warbird ground flagmen and taxied out to depart on Runway 27. Once safely out of the OSH Class Delta we turned east and flew to the far side of Lake Winnebago. The land over there is mostly farm fields. Lots of places to land if needed. Jonathan let me take the controls for much of the flight, and the plane’s stability and ease of handling impressed me.

We motored on over to New Holstein, about 20 miles to the east. A group of Super Cubs was marshalling over there before flying into AirVenture. We could see them all parked on the grass between the paved and grass runways. Talking on the CTAF, we announce a couple of quick approaches to the paved runway, which we converted into low passes and fun climb-outs. One of the Cubs was flying around the area, also enjoying the morning. We chatted with him on the frequency, and asked for permission to join with him for a few quick pictures. I’ve now not only made Oshkosh friends here at Wittman, but over at New Holstein, too.

Heading back to OSH we flew the warbird arrival, a first for me. From the south, along the lake, turning final for 27. Being a warbird we did the obligatory— and really fun—right break for landing on 27. Jonathan took over for this part, and set the Navion down right on the green dot, just as instructed. Now I just have to find the Super Cub guy to send him some of the pics we took.

It never ceases to amaze, all of the ways there are to make new friends “around the field” at AirVenture.

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