Category Archives: Airventure

Historic homebuilt aircraft anniversaries AirVenture 2022

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Historic homebuilt aircraft anniversaries part of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2022 activities

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (April 14, 2022) — A number of iconic homebuilt aircraft designs will be celebrating notable anniversaries this year at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, which annually brings together the world’s largest gathering of amateur-built aircraft. The 69th edition of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s fly-in convention is July 25-31 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

“Many of our members build their own airplanes from kits or sets of plans and each year, more than 1,000 of these amateur-built aircraft are among the 10,000-plus aircraft that arrive here for AirVenture,” said Charlie Becker, EAA’s homebuilt community manager. “In 2022, several popular designs are celebrating their anniversaries, and we invite all owners of those aircraft to come to Oshkosh to help commemorate the occasion.”

Anniversary aircraft owners are encouraged to pre-register so they can receive updates on special events, parking, and other activities connected to their airplane type. Among the aircraft designs reaching important anniversaries in 2022 are:

  • Dyke Delta 60th anniversary – One of the most unusual homebuilt aircraft designs, including the rare delta wing
  • Fly Baby 60th anniversary – An ultra-economical, single seat design with a goal of flying fun
  • Acro Sport 50th anniversary – A fully aerobatic biplane designed by EAA founder Paul Poberezny
  • KR-1 50th anniversary – A single-seat design that often serves as an airframe for auto-conversion engines
  • VariViggen 50th anniversary – One of Burt Rutan’s first homebuilt designs that is still a unique profile at any airport
  • Van’s RV 50th anniversary – The world’s most popular aircraft kit, with more than 11,000 completed

Pre-registration is available online at https://www.eaa.org/airventure/features-and-attractions/airventure-highlights/featured-aircraft-anniversaries. Anniversary aircraft will be featured throughout the week at Oshkosh in flying demonstrations, forums, displays, and other events.

Champions, presidents, space flight: All part of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2022 evening programs

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Everything from homebuilts to space flight featured during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2022 evening programs

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (April 8, 2022) — Aviation anniversaries and notable personalities are part of the lineup as the nightly Theater in the Woods evening programs bring the world of aviation to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2022. The 69th edition of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s fly-in convention is July 25-31 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

This year’s schedule of evening programs includes interests from homebuilt aircraft to spaceflight. The nightly programs give AirVenture attendees the opportunity to hear directly from the history makers and the innovators.

“The format of the evening Theater in the Woods presentations brings out not only the highlights, but the fascinating background stories from aviators who were there,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member programs, who coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. “Spending an evening at Theater in the Woods is an Oshkosh tradition that creates countless memories for those in the audience and great stories that they take back home.”

This year’s major highlights include:

  • Sunday, July 24: An Evening with Champions – The traditional AirVenture “pregame show,” with aviation personalities in an evening of storytelling
  • Monday, July 25: Van’s RV 50th anniversary – The world’s most popular kit aircraft celebrates a half century with more than 11,000 built
  • Tuesday, July 26: Flying the Presidents – Experiences from the pilot’s seat in Air Force One, Marine One, and other aircraft
  • Wednesday, July 27: Unusual Attitudes: Women Legends of Aerobatics – Air show legends and champion aerobatic pilots discuss flying on the edge
  • Thursday, July 28: Young Eagles 30th anniversary/Pilots of Top Gun – Commemorate the largest youth aviation education program ever created, then hear from the people who were the inspiration for the iconic film
  • Friday, July 29: The Next Bold Step: The Future of Space and Beyond – Representatives from NASA and Space X talk about what’s next as we explore the solar system
  • Saturday, July 30: U.S. Air Force 75th anniversary – The legacy and the future of America’s aviation branch with top USAF officials present

Additional events and guests will be announced as they are finalized. All evening programs begin at 7 p.m., except on July 27 and 30, which begin at 6:30 p.m. due to the night air shows on those dates. Theater in the Woods programming is presented by M&M’S.

EAA celebrates Van’s Aircraft RV 50th anniversary at AirVenture 2022

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50th anniversary reunion for Van’s RV aircraft highlights homebuilt aircraft activities at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2022

Owners of all RV types invited to join activities at Oshkosh

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (February 25, 2022) — The 50th anniversary of Van’s Aircraft RV series, which has become the world’s most popular kit airplane, will be a major element of homebuilt aircraft activities at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2022.

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, the 69th edition of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s fly-in convention, is July 25-31 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.

“While aircraft kits have existed for more than a century, it was 50 years ago that Richard VanGrunsven introduced a model that would move the homebuilt movement into an age where kit aircraft would become dominant,” said Charlie Becker, EAA’s director of chapters and homebuilt community manager. “Today, more than 11,000 completed RV models are the direct descendants of that first RV-3 in 1972. We invite all of them to be present at Oshkosh as we celebrate a half-century of success.”

A number of special events are planned as part of the 50-year celebration. Those include:

  • Special Van’s RV parking areas in the AirVenture homebuilt aircraft area
  • Multiple forums and workshops focused on RV aircraft throughout the week
  • RV aircraft flying during the AirVenture air shows
  • A July 25 evening program at Theater in the Woods with VanGrunsven, highlighting the history of the company that began as a backyard shop in Oregon

VanGrunsven began Van’s Aircraft with a clean design, then selling plans and a few parts he manufactured himself for those aircraft. Soon the company began manufacturing complete airplane kits and introducing new models that after 50 years now include the latest design, the RV-14. More than 400 kits each year are shipped to builders around the world from the Van’s factory in Aurora, Oregon.

Specific details on all AirVenture activities during the 50-year anniversary will be announced as they are finalized. Van’s RV aircraft owners are encouraged to pre-register for the designated aircraft parking area at EAA.org/AircraftAnniversaries.

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.