Wings, Wheels and Water

EAA’S SPIRIT OF AVIATION WEEK

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HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AVIATION ENTHUSIASTS JOIN IN FUN AT EAA’S SPIRIT OF AVIATION WEEK

Virtual event draws fans from around the world

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (August 6, 2020) — An unprecedented effort to bring the EAA community at Oshkosh to aviation fans around the world was a grand success on July 21-25, as EAA’s inaugural Spirit of Aviation Week drew enthusiasts from throughout the country and around the world for five days of flying engagement and fun.

Created in the aftermath of this year’s cancellation of the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh fly-in convention, the virtual event included streaming and on-demand content, plus a virtual mall for exhibitors normally found at Oshkosh.

“Tremendous credit goes to more than 50 EAA staffers who combined to make this work, along with the hundreds of EAA members, aviation community members, and business partners who quickly stepped forward to contribute their time and knowledge to make this happen in little more than three months,” said Jack J. Pelton, EAA’s CEO and chairman of the board. “While Spirit of Aviation Week certainly was not a replacement for the in-person experience that is AirVenture each year, it was very successful in bringing together the flying community in a way that had never before been attempted.”

Among the highlights of EAA’s Spirit of Aviation Week, which spanned five days, eight hours per day, over three live streams with 262 pieces of content developed for the event:

  • More than 266,000 people connected via EAA.org and EAAtogether.org for the streaming and on-demand content, with nearly 800,000 page views and almost 1.6 million minutes of video viewing
  • Social media outreach totaled 4.5 million, with 827,000 video views throughout the week. Leading the way was a 2.2 million total reach on EAA’s Facebook page with 536,000 video views
  • More than 15,000 people attended 51 forums, with 20 of those forums issuing 6,300 FAA WINGS credits
  • More than 10,000 people attended the online workshops in sheet metal, fabric covering, aviation woodworking, and welding
  • The Pilot Proficiency Center hosted 25 Tech Talk sessions that welcomed more than 8,200 participants and accounted for an additional 4,500 FAA WINGS credits issued
  • Nearly 1,100 pilots “flew” the Oshkosh approach via SimVenture, thanks to a partnership with Pilot Edge and assistance from the National Association of Air Traffic Controllers (NATCA)
  • AirVenture’s 800 exhibitors welcomed shoppers from around the world through the virtual expo, with more than 200 special events from exhibitors and more than 80 show specials for attendees

“We are grateful for the large amount of positive feedback we received regarding Spirit of Aviation Week and we learned many things we’ll incorporate in the future,” Pelton said. “Most important, however, as we kept alive the sense of community and laid the foundation for an unforgettable aviation reunion at Oshkosh in 2021.”

About EAA

EAA SKILLSCORE 2.0

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EAA SKILLSCORE 2.0 PILOT PROFICIENCY TRACKER OFFERS MORE TOOLS TO ENHANCE FLYING SKILLS

More detailed information immediately available to pilots

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (July 30, 2020) — The newly enhanced 2.0 version of the SkillScore Tracker from the Experimental Aircraft Association has expanded technology that makes more detailed information available so pilots can gauge their flying proficiency and take steps to enhance their skills.

The EAA SkillScore Tracker was introduced at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019 as the first resource that allows pilots to measure flying proficiency on an EAA web portal or their mobile devices. Using data generated by the CloudAhoy mobile app, pilots can track flying consistency and stability. Using this data, the EAA SkillScore Tracker will generate a comprehensive, personalized and confidential SkillScore, confirming a pilot’s overall strengths or need for additional work. This resource is available to all EAA members.

“The success of the SkillScore Tracker over its first year allowed EAA and CloudAhoy to further develop and evolve the technology to provide even more valuable information for pilots,” said Radek Wyrzykowski, EAA’s manager of flight proficiency. “The goal with this enhanced information is building proficiency and safety for all aviators by suggesting areas of improvement.”

Instead of a single overall score that measures pilot proficiency, SkillScore 2.0 has individual results for specific skill and areas of activity that include:

  • Quality of flight (encompassing such factors as stability of landing approach, maintaining altitude in straight-and-level flight and turns, and quality of FAA-standard maneuvers such as steep turns)
  • Number of takeoffs and landings within the last 90 days
  • Number of flights with a flight instructor
  • Time spent in the air

“Tracking and measuring in an organized manner means that every flight is an even better opportunity for pilots to improve their skills,” Wyrzykowski said. “When coupled with CloudAhoy’s standard app, EAA SkillScore Tracker is the best way to track your progress, without the time and expense of unnecessary effort, so you can continually build your abilities with every flight.”

While the EAA SkillScore Tracker is free to all EAA members, CloudAhoy also offers more in-depth and detailed analysis for premium account holders.

More information about the EAA SkillScore Tracker is available at EAA.org/Proficiency. It is part of EAA Proficiency365TM, where pilots can develop and refine skills that make them a better, safer pilot. EAA Proficiency365TM also features IMC Clubs and VMC Clubs for local flying groups, EAA Virtual Flight Academy, flight planning tool marketplace, and information about the Pilot Proficiency Center pavilion featured each year at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh including in a virtual way in 2020 during EAA’s Spirit of Aviation Week.

 

Virtual AirVenture

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Get ready for a Virtual AirVenture!

Look for my online webinars Tuesday, July 21, 2020  at 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM CDT and Saturday, July 25, 2020 3:00 PM – 4:15 PM

More details below.

EAA SPIRIT OF AVIATION WEEK SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS ENTIRE SPECTRUM OF FLIGHT

July 21-25 lineup includes top aviators, dozens of forums, ‘best of’ moments

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (July 7, 2020) — Highlights from across the world of flight will entertain and educate aviation enthusiasts on July 21-25 as part of the extensive schedule for EAA’s Spirit of Aviation Week. That initial schedule was unveiled today as part of the free online experience hosted by the Experimental Aircraft Association.

With already more than 170 scheduled events, the five-day online aviation fest includes streamed and on-demand content, encompassing nearly every facet of aviation, with a focus on educational, informational, and entertaining moments. EAA’s special interest groups will also be heavily involved, bringing highlights that include homebuilts, warbirds, vintage, aerobatics, ultralights, and much more at EAATogether.org.

“The support and participation from across the entire aviation community, including NASA and the U.S. Air Force, has allowed us to create a schedule that truly reaches across the entirety of flying highlights,” said Jack Pelton, EAA CEO and Chairman of the Board. “The content throughout the week is more than something to watch – it is a week where everyone can truly be engaged as an active participant.”

Among the features scheduled throughout the week are:

  • Discussions and content covering homebuilts, vintage aircraft, warbirds, ultralights, chapters, learning to fly, hangar flying, air shows, military aviation, spaceflight, and more
  • Forums across multiple channels ranging from how-to content and learning to fly to aviation history and technical insights
  • Multiple live workshops each day on aircraft building and restoration skills
  • Pilot proficiency content for FAA WINGS credit
  • Interviews with aviation personalities, plus favorite EAA archive material – some of which has never been seen publicly

“While nothing can replace the in-person Oshkosh experience, Spirit of Aviation Week brings multiple channels of highlights throughout each of the five days,” Pelton said. “In that way, it is like being on the AirVenture grounds, where every turn brings a new possibility to discover and engage in everything about aviation. Wherever you are during Spirit of Aviation Week, this experience reminds us that we are indeed #EAATogether.”

More activities will be added in the coming days, so check back for additional highlights to come.

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 240,000 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. For continual news updates, connect with www.twitter.com/EAA.