Tag Archives: EAA

Historic youth aviation education program kicked off at Oshkosh in 1992

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Historic youth aviation education program kicked off at Oshkosh in 1992

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (April 21, 2022) — The EAA Young Eagles program, the largest youth aviation program ever created, will celebrate its 30th anniversary during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2022, the event where the program began in 1992. EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is July 25-31 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

The AirVenture activities include flights, forums, and recognition throughout the week, which will kick off a full year of 30th anniversary commemorations. Special focus on Young Eagles will take place on Thursday, July 28.

“Over the past three decades, more than 50,000 volunteer EAA-member pilots have flown nearly 2.3 million young people, with thousands of those Young Eagles inspired to pursue their own aviation dreams and careers,” said David Leiting, EAA’s Eagles Programs Manager. “At Oshkosh this year, we want to recognize those volunteers, build on the program’s successes, encourage new pilots to get involved, and celebrate the lives that have been influenced by the Young Eagles program.”

Among the activities scheduled for July 28 are:

  • Young Eagles flights in the Ford Tri-Motor and Bell 47 helicopter with young people chosen through local EAA chapters
  • An 1:30 p.m. group photo on Boeing Plaza that day, open to all previous Young Eagles, Young Eagles pilots, and volunteers
  • A ceremonial 30th anniversary Young Eagles flight prior to the afternoon air show, recognizing the impact of the program on the aviation community
  • An evening program at EAA’s Theater in the Woods, featuring noteworthy Young Eagles, scholarship recipients, and other special guests

Throughout the week, the goal is to fly at least 30 Young Eagles during AirVenture. Additional flights will take place in EAA’s powered parachute in the Fun Fly Zone. An expanded Young Eagles presence on the grounds all week will include a pavilion adjacent to the Learn to Fly Center and prop cards available for any airplane at Oshkosh that has been used to fly Young Eagles. Additional activities will be announced as they are confirmed.

After the Young Eagles program’s introduction at a Washington, D.C., news conference in May 1992, the first flights took place on July 31, 1992, during that year’s EAA Fly-In Convention. The initial flights were piloted by EAA president Tom Poberezny and Young Eagles’ first chairman, pilot and Academy Award-winning actor Cliff Robertson. To learn more about the Young Eagles program, visit www.YoungEagles.org.

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.

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.