Category Archives: aircraft

Youth and Family Activities Expand for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024

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Youth and Family Activities Expand for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024

Ages 18 and under receive free admission, supported by the Boeing Company

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (June 11, 2024) — A new youth aviation activities area located in the Vintage Aircraft Association area on the EAA grounds is the latest edition to the expanding youth and family activities taking place at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024. The 71st edition of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s fly-in convention and air show is July 22 through the 28.

“Nearly all of us involved in aviation today were inspired at some point in our younger years,” said Paul Maloy, EAA’s director of education. “When we began welcoming those 18-and-under at no charge beginning in 2021, we immediately noticed an increase in the number of families at AirVenture. With that, we wanted to create and expand possibilities for families to encourage them to visit and engage with everything AirVenture has to offer.”

The Charles W. Harris Youth Aviation Center in the vintage aircraft area gives youth the chance to have a “hands-on” experience by using hammers, pliers, and other tools to discover how aircraft are maintained. Kids will also have the opportunity to talk to pilots and hear their flying stories, as well as get a tour of the pilots’ airplanes. The center will officially open to the public at 9 a.m. on Monday, July 22, AirVenture’s opening day.

In addition to this new experience, families are encouraged to visit the Youth Welcome Center located at the main Four Corners intersection to receive information on all the other activities for youth and families happening through the week. Some of those activities include:

KidVenture – Entering its 25th year, KidVenture invites kids to get hands-on with riveting, engines, electrical wire circuits, propeller design, wooden rib building, RC airplanes, space exploration, and more. (Ages 3-14). Monday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

AeroEducate Center – Located at the south entrance to Aviation Gateway Park, will again host fascinating morning forums focusing especially on youth ages 10-18, and a full slate of fun, fast hands-on activities held in the afternoons of each day throughout AirVenture. Come play the games and learn more about how you can explore all things aviation through the AeroEducate program and open doors to exciting aviation/aerospace career opportunities (Ages 10-18) Monday – Sunday 9am – 5pm.

 

NASA STEM Zone – Kids can enjoy hands-on activities, demonstrations, and exhibits that highlight some of NASA’s missions and programs. Find out more about NASA’s X-59, Artemis mission, and Sustainable Flight Demonstrator, with different activities running each day. Earn your AirVenture endorsement codes for NASA’s Flight Log program and start building your virtual flight log (Ages 5-17). Monday – Sunday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

In addition, flight simulators are open to young people in the EAA Warbirds of America area and various exhibitors throughout AirVenture offer activities and items for young people.

 

About EAA AirVenture Oshkosh

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is “The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration” and EAA’s membership convention. Additional information, including advance ticket and camping purchase, is available at www.EAA.org/airventure. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 800-JOIN-EAA (800-564-6322) or visit www.EAA.org.

EAA B-17 Aluminum Overcast PlaneTags Now Available

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EAA B-17 Aluminum Overcast PlaneTags Now Available

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (May 30, 2024) — Aviation history enthusiasts will have the opportunity to own a piece of one of EAA’s most iconic airplanes, as PlaneTags made from B-17 Aluminum Overcast skin are now available through EAA’s online store and Barnstormer Boutique, The EAA Aviation Museum’s gift shop.

PlaneTags, made by MotoArt, are unique limited-edition aviation mementos made from the skin of an aircraft. PlaneTags can be used as an ID tag, keychain, or displayed as a collectible. Each PlaneTag is hand cut, stamped, and individually etched, making them all one-of-a-kind. The Aluminum Overcast skin used for the PlaneTags comes from the upper wing when the aircraft was re-skinned in March 2014. The B-17 Aluminum Overcast collection is limited to 5,000 pieces with prices starting at $110.

A portion of the proceeds from each purchase of these PlaneTags will assist in the preservation of EAA’s B-17 Aluminum Overcast.

EAA’s B-17 Aluminum Overcast was delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corps on May 18, 1945. The airplane was sold as surplus the following year and served many uses including as a cargo hauler, aerial mapping platform, and in pest control and forest dusting applications. In 1978, Aluminum Overcast was sold to a group of investors known as “B-17s Around the World” who sought to return the airplane to its military roots. The economic challenges of owning a vintage bomber led the group to donate the airplane to EAA in 1983. The airplane was on display in the EAA Aviation Museum until 1993 when it was moved to start preparation for its first national tour in 1994. Aluminum Overcast carries the colors of the 398th Bomb Group of World War II, which flew hundreds of missions over Nazi-held territory during the war. Veterans of the 398th helped finance the B-17’s restoration.

About EAA

The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) is based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and embodies The Spirit of Aviation through the world’s most engaged community of aviation enthusiasts. EAA’s 290,000 members and 900 local chapters enjoy the fun and camaraderie of sharing their passion for flying, building, and restoring recreational aircraft. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 800-JOIN-EAA (800-564-6322) or go to www.eaa.org.

Warbirds in Review during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024

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Heroes and historic military aircraft have their stories shared at Warbirds in Review during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (May 24, 2024) — Warbirds in Review, an unparalleled presentation series during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh that brings together historic airplanes with pilots and aircraft owners, returns in 2024 with guests that encompass 80 years of aviation and military history. The 71st edition of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s fly-in convention is July 22-28 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.

The twice daily series of “up close and personal” stories will be held July 22-28 at the Warbirds in Review aircraft ramp, located within the EAA Warbirds of America area on the AirVenture grounds. The series is open to all attending AirVenture.

“Warbirds in Review features veterans, aviation legends, and aircraft that simply cannot be seen together in one place anywhere else in the world,” said Connie Bowlin, past president of the EAA Warbirds of America, who organizes the series. “Many of these veterans maintain that they were just doing their jobs and nothing heroic or extraordinary, but that could not be farther from the truth. Their stories and unique perspectives on the aircraft showcased at Oshkosh are insightful, poignant, and important for the public to hear.”

The aircraft and personalities at Warbirds in Review this year include those from WWII, the Korean War, and Vietnam. The schedule as of May 24, 2024 (subject to change without notice):

Monday, July 22

  • 10 a.m. – Stinson L-5 Sentinel – Captain (Ret.) Steve Seal and Chad Hill, Artist and Historian, Dijanjo Studios
  • 1 p.m. – Cessna L-19 Bird Dog – Gerry Asher, Fort Worth Aviation Museum and Colonel (Ret.) Charlie Finch, Catkiller 19

Tuesday, July 23

  • 10 a.m.- Cessna A-37 Dragonflys – Colonel (Ret.) Hank Hoffman, Mark Peterson, Colonel (Ret.) Jon “Huggy” Huggins and Charlie Largay
  • 1 p.m.- North American P-51B and P-51D “OLD CROW” Mustangs. This program will be a celebration of life for Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Clarence E. “Bud” Anderson, who passed away on May 17, 2024. His friends reach far and wide and run deep in the Warbird and Military communities. Bud Anderson is the only individual featured as a speaker every year since the inception of Warbirds in Review 20-plus years ago. All are invited to this Warbirds in Review program for a celebration of a life well lived.

Wednesday, July 24

  • 10 a.m. – de Havilland Mosquito, Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire – Flight Lieutenant (Ret.) Colin S. Bell, Rod Lewis, Stew Dawson, Dave Hadfield and Joe Cosmano
  • 1 p.m. – Beechcraft T-34 Mentor and North American T-28 Trojan Trainers 75th Anniversary – Paul Walters, Mick “Thor” Thorstenson, Dan Kirkland, Tom Donovan, and Jim Rohlf

Thursday, July 25

  • 10 a.m. – Douglas C-47 Skytrain – Eric Zipkin, Leader of the D-Day Squadron
  • 1 p.m. – Curtiss-Wright Helldiver and the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt – Fagen Fighters WWII Museum

Friday, July 26

  • 10 a.m. – Beechcraft T-34 Mentor – Chief Warrant Officer Two (Ret.) Walt Fricke, Founder, CEO, and AirBoss, Veterans Airlift Command
  • 1 p.m. – Parade – Veterans Tribute

 Saturday, July 27

  • 10 a.m. – Little Friend “P-51” – Major (Ret.) Lucky Luckadoo – “Masters of the Air” (Pending)
  • 1 p.m. – Fairchild PT-26 – Kevin Korterud, Danielle Reese, and Dave Holden – members of the CAF Buckeye Wing

 About EAA AirVenture Oshkosh

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is “The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration” and EAA’s membership convention. Additional information, including advance ticket and camping purchase, is available at www.EAA.org/airventure. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 800-JOIN-EAA (800-564-6322) or visit www.EAA.org. Immediate news is available at www.twitter.com/EAA.