OSHKOSH, Wis. — Dave Tillema’s journey to Oshkosh was like no other.
The Milwaukee native currently living in Texas flew into Oshkosh for EAA AirVenture. The route he took was unconventional: His journey began in the Lone Star State and ended in the Badger State, but not before landing in 48 states total on his way to Wisconsin.
“Turned out that we did this in ten and a half days, 80.3 hours,” Tillema said. “So ten and half days solo pilot from my math, and I’m not great at math, but that sure beats 16 days with two pilots.”
That, he said, is a new record.
Tillema said while he enjoys flying more than anything in the world, he doesn’t do it for the fun of it. He said he flies to find the best practices possible to share with other pilots so they can enjoy their passion as efficiently as he does.
“It just brings nothing but joy to me to show people the easiest, fastest, most reliable way to fly cheaply to get your hours or just to have a cup of coffee,” he said.
Tillema built his plane after one of the darkest moments of his life. Doctors diagnosed him with kidney cancer when he was 55.
“At that point I decided I need to start living my dream which was to have my own airplane and to fly to 48 states while I was still alive because in my mind once you have cancer your life is gotten very short,” he said.
He did it. Tillema made his dream come true.
He said he hopes people hear his story and are inspired to live out their own dream.
“I just want everybody to enjoy what life has to offer and it’s not working behind a desk 24/7 for the almighty buck,” Tillema said.