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Youth and Family Activities Expand for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024

Posted on June 12, 2024 by Scott Smith

Youth and Family Activities Expand for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024

Ages 18 and under receive free admission, supported by the Boeing Company

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (June 11, 2024) — A new youth aviation activities area located in the Vintage Aircraft Association area on the EAA grounds is the latest edition to the expanding youth and family activities taking place at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024. The 71st edition of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s fly-in convention and air show is July 22 through the 28.

“Nearly all of us involved in aviation today were inspired at some point in our younger years,” said Paul Maloy, EAA’s director of education. “When we began welcoming those 18-and-under at no charge beginning in 2021, we immediately noticed an increase in the number of families at AirVenture. With that, we wanted to create and expand possibilities for families to encourage them to visit and engage with everything AirVenture has to offer.”

The Charles W. Harris Youth Aviation Center in the vintage aircraft area gives youth the chance to have a “hands-on” experience by using hammers, pliers, and other tools to discover how aircraft are maintained. Kids will also have the opportunity to talk to pilots and hear their flying stories, as well as get a tour of the pilots’ airplanes. The center will officially open to the public at 9 a.m. on Monday, July 22, AirVenture’s opening day.

In addition to this new experience, families are encouraged to visit the Youth Welcome Center located at the main Four Corners intersection to receive information on all the other activities for youth and families happening through the week. Some of those activities include:

KidVenture – Entering its 25th year, KidVenture invites kids to get hands-on with riveting, engines, electrical wire circuits, propeller design, wooden rib building, RC airplanes, space exploration, and more. (Ages 3-14). Monday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

AeroEducate Center – Located at the south entrance to Aviation Gateway Park, will again host fascinating morning forums focusing especially on youth ages 10-18, and a full slate of fun, fast hands-on activities held in the afternoons of each day throughout AirVenture. Come play the games and learn more about how you can explore all things aviation through the AeroEducate program and open doors to exciting aviation/aerospace career opportunities (Ages 10-18) Monday – Sunday 9am – 5pm.

NASA STEM Zone – Kids can enjoy hands-on activities, demonstrations, and exhibits that highlight some of NASA’s missions and programs. Find out more about NASA’s X-59, Artemis mission, and Sustainable Flight Demonstrator, with different activities running each day. Earn your AirVenture endorsement codes for NASA’s Flight Log program and start building your virtual flight log (Ages 5-17). Monday – Sunday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

In addition, flight simulators are open to young people in the EAA Warbirds of America area and various exhibitors throughout AirVenture offer activities and items for young people.

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.

Piper Cherokee 140?

Posted on May 15, 2024 by Scott Smith

Recent question about buying a Piper Cherokee 140.

Basically the question is, Should I buy a Piper Cherokee 140 or a Cessna 172?

“I just finished reading your book “How to Buy a Single-Engine Airplane”. Man, it was great! I am a private pilot with 400+ hours in a Cessna 150. Five years ago, I sold it thinking that I would not fly enough to merit the expense. Ever since, I have been like a caged animal looking for a hole to escape into the wild blue yonder! With your beautiful little book, I found a hole in which to escape from my self-made prison and am now in a hunt for a Cessna 172 or Piper Cherokee 140. I have $40K in a fruit jar to invest. Now for the BIG question, what can I expect in terms of hours on the plane, year (age), etc.? Please help me!”

Wow, thank you for the kind comments about the book! Glad you are excited about getting another aircraft. You can actually consider a number of nice aircraft for the $40,000 range. You won’t usually get new engines, new paint and a panel full of new flat panel displays, but you should be able to get a nice basic digital IFR, mid-time engine, good-looking aircraft.

It appears that you should be able to buy a Piper 140 for a little less than the Cessna 172. I think that is because it is really a 2+2 aircraft, even more than the Cessna 172. The original Piper 140 models came from the factory as two seat aircraft or two seats with a small jump seat in the baggage area. The PA28-140 does not have a baggage door to access the area from the outside or the baggage space behind the rear seat like the Cessna 172 does. Many people equate the Cherokee 140 to an enlarged Cessna 150 although I do not think that is really a fair comparison.

The Cherokee 140 can be a very economical traveling machine for two people with the ability to take a third (or possible a fourth if they are really small) for a ride. Check out the aviation classifieds (Trade a Plane etc.) and you will be surprised at what is available. Do not discount a high time airframe aircraft. Take into account its use, condition and maintenance.

I went shopping and found a number of 1960’s era PA28-140’s priced right around $40,000. A few were IFR equipped; most were 4,000 to 5,000 hour airframes and 1,200 to 1,500 hour engines. The Lycoming 0-320’s have a 2,000 TBO and the average person flies less than 50 hours year, which gives you eight to 10 years of use before you need an overhaul. The Cessna 172’s in that price range were 1956 to 1962 models. Most of the 1965 and newer Cessna 172 aircraft were over $40K. There is an occasional later year, high time, run out engine for less money. To find the later model Cessna (or Pipers for that matter) at the lower prices you have to monitor the ads and be ready to buy. Late model and low prices sell quickly.