Tag Archives: airshows

‘YEAR OF THE FIGHTER’ BRINGS CLASSIC WARBIRDS AND MODERN JETS TO EAA AIRVENTURE OSHKOSH 2019

Posted on by

‘YEAR OF THE FIGHTER’

USAF and Air Combat Command working with EAA on aircraft demonstrations

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (March 29, 2019) — A roster of the most legendary American military aircraft in history, from iconic World War II airplanes to today’s most sophisticated flying machines, will be flying and on display this summer at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019. The 67th annual Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in convention will be held July 22-28 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

EAA’s activities are being planned in conjunction with the U.S. Air Force Air Combat Command, the EAA Warbirds of America, and individual aircraft owners. The activities will take place throughout the week, with some special programs designated for particular days during AirVenture’s seven-day run.

Among the events involving past and present military aircraft are:

  • Aircraft from the USAF Air Combat Command, ranging from fighters such as the F-15, F-16, F-22, and F-35, as well as the A-10 attack aircraft;
  • The first Oshkosh appearance of the unique XP-82 Twin Mustang, which has been under restoration in Georgia;
  • A salute to World War II ace Bud Anderson, with every flying P-51 in the U.S. invited to Oshkosh to participate;
  • A gathering of U.S. Navy fighter aircraft, including F4U Corsairs, the unique gullwing fighters that were a key asset in the Pacific Theater;
  • Observance of the 75th anniversary of D-Day, with aircraft that participated in the actual invasion on June 6, 1944, as well as C-47 airplanes that will have just returned from a historic anniversary flight to France;
  • U.S. Air Force Heritage Flights and U.S. Navy Legacy Flights involving historic and modern aircraft in formation, highlighting the legacy and evolution of military aircraft.

“Oshkosh is known for being a collection of aircraft and people that is unmatched anywhere in the world, and that will again be the case in 2019,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member programs, who coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. “We are grateful to the U.S. Air Force and the Air Combat Command for their assistance and to the EAA Warbirds of America to make possible these kinds of activities, for which AirVenture is known and eagerly anticipated each year.”

More details, such as arrival and flight days for specific aircraft, as well as forums and evening programs, will be announced as they are finalized.

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.

100 DRONE LIGHT SHOW RETURNS TO ILLUMINATE NIGHT SKY AT EAA AIRVENTURE OSHKOSH 2019

Posted on by

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

More than 100 drones in simultaneous flight during night air shows on July 24 and 27

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (February 19, 2019) — The dazzling drone light show that made its debut at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh last year is returning in 2019, with more than 100 lighted drones taking flight during the night air shows on July 24 and 27 during the “World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration.”

The 67th annual Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in convention is July 22-28 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The night air shows have become a favorite of the weeklong event, featuring a new perspective on the precise flying skills displayed by aerobatic pilots.

The EAA AirVenture demonstrations will expand on the 2018 debut by Great Lakes Drone Company, based in Watervliet, Michigan. The company is one of just two U.S. companies authorized by the FAA for such displays.

“EAA and Great Lakes Drone Company worked closely with the FAA to make this pioneering and innovative event possible in 2018, and we’re aiming for even bigger things this year,” said Dave Chaimson, EAA’s vice president of marketing and business development. “What makes this event especially memorable are the intricate maneuvers that are capable by more than 100 synchronized drones, highlighting the possibilities of safe and responsible drone flying.”

Great Lakes Drone Company has done numerous drone shows as stand-alone highlights at events and has been invited to additional air shows after last year’s performance at Oshkosh. During AirVenture, the LED-equipped drones will perform a 10-minute custom-designed “The History of Flight” show complete with musical accompaniment. The company will also exhibit during AirVenture in the Main Aircraft Display area, giving an opportunity for attendees to engage throughout the week with the drone operators and software developers.

“Through the combined efforts of EAA, the FAA and Great Lakes Drone Company, last year we made history in the infancy of the commercial UAS industry by incorporating a commercial UAS operation into an active air show performance,” said Matt Quinn, president of the Great Lakes Drone Company. “We cannot imagine a more appropriate venue to perform with our self-built fleet at the home of homebuilt aviation. EAA AirVenture will be forever our ‘air show home’ where together we push the boundaries of aerial entertainment. Like any other aerial performer returning to Oshkosh, we will be doing it bigger, better and providing the audience an experience of a lifetime!”

The EAA AirVenture Oshkosh night air shows begin at 8 p.m. on July 24 and July 27, and are included with AirVenture admission. Announced schedules are subject to change based on weather or operational conditions.

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.

EAA AIRVENTURE OSHKOSH 2019 CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF BOEING 747 JUMBO JET

Posted on by

E

Iconic airplane expanded international travel a half-century ago

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (February 12, 2019) — The 50th anniversary of the Boeing 747, the iconic wide-body jetliner that has carried everything from heads of state to the space shuttle, will be celebrated at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019. The 67th annual Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in convention is July 22-28 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

It is expected that several Boeing 747s will make an appearance at AirVenture during the week, with fly-bys and displays on AirVenture’s showcase Boeing Plaza. It will extend a legacy of the airplane’s appearances at Oshkosh that include jumbo jets from as far away as Australia, New Zealand, and Iceland in past years.

“There is probably no modern commercial airliner that is as well-known as the Boeing 747, with its distinctive hump at the front of the fuselage,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member programs, who coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. “For a half-century, the 747 has allowed people to reach destinations around the world in ways that were unimagined when commercial air travel began more than 80 years ago. We look forward to saluting that legacy in flight at the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration at Oshkosh this summer.”

The genesis of the Boeing 747 came in the mid-1960s, when Pan American Airlines founder Juan Trippe asked Boeing to design an aircraft that could meet the rising demand of air travel, which was outstripping the capacity of the Boeing 707s then commonly used for long-distance routes. The Boeing 747 made its maiden flight on February 9, 1969, and entered airline service less than a year later.

The airframe has been continually upgraded over the past 50 years to the current 747-8 model, which has been selected as the aircraft the U.S. government will use for the new Air Force One. The 747 is still widely used by airlines and carriers around the world and, according to Boeing, has carried roughly the equivalent of the world’s population as well as such unusual cargo as the space shuttle.

Specific aircraft and programs in conjunction with this anniversary will be announced as they are finalized.

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.