EAA AIRVENTURE OSHKOSH 2017 NOTAM NOW AVAILABLE FOR PILOTS FLYING TO OSHKOSH

Posted on March 31, 2017 by Scott Smith

EAA AIRVENTURE OSHKOSH 2017 NOTAM NOW AVAILABLE FOR PILOTS FLYING TO OSHKOSH

Oshkosh air traffic procedures are required reading for all aviators flying to AirVenture

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (March 31, 2017) — The Federal Aviation Administration has released the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2017 Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), featuring arrival and departure procedures for EAA’s 65th annual fly-in convention July 24-30 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh. 

The NOTAM, which is in effect from 6 a.m. CDT on Friday, July 21, until noon CDT on July 31, outlines procedures for the many types of aircraft that fly to Oshkosh for the event, as well as aircraft that land at nearby airports.

The NOTAM was designed by the FAA to assist pilots in their EAA AirVenture flight planning. This year’s NOTAM cover features a photo of a B-25 bomber parked at Oshkosh during the fly-in.

While the overall procedure is similar to past years, there are some changes compared to the 2016 version. Some of those changes include:

·         TFRs expected on 10-11 a.m. CDT Friday, July 28, and during the afternoon air shows on Monday-Sunday, July 24-30

·         Military area changes in central Wisconsin

·         Oshkosh Taxiway Bravo designators changed

·         Aircraft camping allowed at Appleton

·         IFR arrival and departure routings

·         Airports added to IFR Special Traffic Management Program

Pilots can download a digital version of the NOTAM at www.EAA.org/NOTAM, or order a free printed copy via that website or by calling EAA Membership Services at 800-564-6322.

To further assist pilots flying to Oshkosh this year, EAA volunteer NOTAM chairman Fred Stadler is hosting a June 14 webinar that will highlight special tips and other aspects of the NOTAM fly-in procedures. Register at the EAA website at EAA.org/webinars. In addition, the National Transportation Safety Board has published an informative safety bulletinabout arriving to a major fly-in event.

About EAA AirVenture Oshkosh

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is the “World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration” and EAA’s yearly membership convention. Additional EAA AirVenture information, including advance ticket and camping purchase, is available online at www.eaa.org/airventure. EAA members receive lowest prices on admission rates. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 1-800-JOIN-EAA (1-800-564-6322) or visit www.eaa.org. Immediate news is available at www.twitter.com/EAA. 

SUN ‘n FUN Welcomes Patrouille de France to #SnF17

Posted on March 28, 2017 by Scott Smith

SUN ‘n FUN Welcomes Patrouille de France to #SnF17

(March 27, 2017 Lakeland, FL) The SUN ‘n FUN International Fly- In & Expo presented by VISIT FLORIDA and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association honors French and United States history on Tuesday, April 4, 2017 as the French National Jet Team, the Patrouille de France performs during the airshow.

The team has an energetic show with nine Alpha Jets and one A-400M airlifter, which are light attack and advanced trainer aircraft. Their display involves both formation and solo maneuvers. The team is based at Salon Air Force Base in France.

The team will perform for one day only while on the SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus. They haven’t performed in the United States since 1986 when they flew over New York City and then performed at Coney Island. They commemorated the Battle of Yorktown by flying over Yorktown Battlefield Monument in Yorktown, VA in 2009.

The team is appearing in the United States to honor the 100^th Anniversary of America entering the 1^st World War on April 6, 1917. Their performance during the 43^rdAnnual SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-In & Expo is one of their few displays in the United States during their two-month long tour of the country.

If attendees would like the chance to meet the team, they will be guests at the 9/27 Club Chalet on Tuesday, April 4^th. The 9/27 Club VIP hospitality with flightline seating is available for purchase again this year online at flysnf.org.

Attendees are encouraged to use hashtags #SnF17 and #LoveFL on social media while posting about the Fly-In. 

Air show and workshop schedules, camping reservations, registration for activities, and ticketing information can be found on the SUN ‘n FUN website at flysnf.org. Keep up with all the fun on facebook.com/sunnfunflyin and twitter.com/sunnfunflyin.

NEWLY RESTORED BOEING B-29 DOC COMING TO EAA AIRVENTURE OSHKOSH 2017 AS PART OF INAUGURAL TOUR

Posted on March 27, 2017 by Scott Smith

NEWLY RESTORED BOEING B-29 DOC COMING TO EAA AIRVENTURE OSHKOSH 2017 AS PART OF INAUGURAL TOUR

World’s only two flying B-29s set to meet at Oshkosh

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (March 24, 2017) — A newly restored B-29 has included EAA AirVenture Oshkosh2017 on its inaugural tour schedule, creating the potential to have two of these World War II-era bombers in one place for the first time in more than 50 years.

The B-29 Doc, which has just completed its restoration in Wichita, Kansas, will be on tour this spring and summer. Its appearance at EAA AirVenture on July 24-30, fulfills a long commitment to bring the airplane to the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration when its restoration was complete.

Doc was built in 1945 and for many years was part of a squadron known as the Seven Dwarfs (hence, the name Doc). The airplane was retired in 1956 as the jet bomber age began and sat as a target for U.S. Navy training missions in China Lake, California, until 1998. A restoration group took possession of the airplane from the U.S. government and hauled it back to Wichita in pieces in 2000. After many years of volunteer restoration efforts, the restoration group Doc’s Friends formed in 2013 to supply the financial resources needed to complete the restoration. Docmade its first flight after restoration in July 2016, 60 years after it had been retired.

“This will be a historic year for our airplane and to say we’re excited about our plans to tour in 2017 is an understatement,” said Jim Murphy, manager for the Doc’s Friends Restoration Program.

It also sets the stage for a historic meeting of the world’s only two flying B-29 bombers, as the Commemorative Air Force’s FIFIis scheduled to return to Oshkosh in 2017. If this reunion occurs, it would mark the first time two operational B-29 bombers would be in one place in more than 50 years.

“We’ve been eagerly awaiting the completion of Doc for several years, and its restoration group has always maintained that one of the airplane’s first appearances would be at Oshkosh,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member benefits who coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. “This will be a huge moment for EAA members and aviation enthusiasts to potentially see the world’s only two flying B-29s in one place for the first time.”

The appearance of Doc keeps with the tradition of bringing new and significant warbird aircraft restorations to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. The annual EAA fly-in convention is the world’s largest annual gathering of warbird aircraft, with more than 350 of them annually flown to Wittman Regional Airport to participate in the event.

About EAA AirVenture Oshkosh

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is the “World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration” and EAA’s yearly membership convention. Additional EAA AirVenture information, including advance ticket and camping purchase, is available online at www.eaa.org/airventure. EAA members receive lowest prices on admission rates. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 1-800-JOIN-EAA (1-800-564-6322) or visit www.eaa.org. Immediate news is available at www.twitter.com/EAA.