Tag Archives: warbirds

NASA brings legendary aircraft to celebrate America 250 at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026

Posted on by

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (July 11, 2026) — NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and several NASA aircraft will be among the special guests on Boeing Plaza, in the Warbirds area, and during several airshows during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026. The 73rd edition of the Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in convention is July 20-26 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.

Isaacman will speak during a Warbirds in Review presentation on his personal MiG-29 and F-5 aircraft on Thursday, July 23, at 10 a.m. and during a Boeing Plaza presentation on Friday, July 24, at 10 a.m. Friday’s event will highlight the future vision for NASA, including its upcoming space missions and ongoing aeronautics innovations.  

Highlighting the aircraft from NASA will be an F-15 Eagle and F/A-18 Hornet with special patriotic livery celebrating America 250, including navy blue-and-white star covered fuselages and red-and-white striped wings. They are based at Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California. In addition, a NASA T-38 Talon, a legendary training jet for the astronaut corps, will be on display on Boeing Plaza. This Talon is based out of the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

Rounding out the group will be four special livery F-5F Tiger IIs, with three of them decorated in special white and blue Freedom 250 paint schemes. The three “Freedom 250” F-5s will be on display in the Warbirds area throughout the week, apart from their participation in the July 23-24 air shows.   

These iconic aircraft were featured during the July 4 flyover in Washington D.C., as a part of the America 250 celebrations. This will be the first time the aircraft will be available to be seen by the public on static display with their special liveries.

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.

Boeing Plaza – ‘Crossroads of Aviation’ at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026

Posted on by

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Boeing Plaza becomes ‘Crossroads of Aviation’ at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026

Showcase aircraft large and small featured throughout week

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (July 8, 2026) — Boeing Plaza, the large aircraft ramp at the center of the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh grounds, will again become the “Crossroads of Aviation” with an ever-changing lineup of major aircraft during the 73rd edition of the Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in convention in July 20-26.

The 2026 lineup includes modern military aircraft, historic airplanes, the latest innovations, and special guest appearances. The roster of aircraft will change throughout the week, with some airplanes visiting for only one day while others will remain for the entire event. In addition, many of the aircraft will reinforce AirVenture’s salute to America 250.

“There is no place else in the world where one can see a combination of noteworthy aircraft and people as you can on Boeing Plaza during EAA AirVenture,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member programs, who coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. “Nearly every notable type of airplane of the past 35 years has appeared in that area at some point. What’s also noteworthy is that the coordination of those aircraft is completely organized by a group of AirVenture’s dedicated volunteers, who have probably pulled and tugged more aircraft types than any ramp crew in the world.”

Among the aircraft scheduled on Boeing Plaza in 2026 are a U.S. Air Force B-52, C-5, and C-17, fighter jets such as the F-16, F-35, and F-15, and airliners in special livery designs from Southwest and Delta Airlines. The schedule of display aircraft is subject to change without notice.

Boeing Plaza was originally created in the late 1980s as a taxiway with four aircraft parking “fingers” and expanded into the full ramp in 1993. All aircraft on Boeing Plaza are displayed as a part of regular AirVenture admission.

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.

Fly-In Theater brings classic aviation films to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026

Posted on by

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fly-In Theater brings classic aviation films to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026

Screenings open to all AirVenture attendees, presented by PenFed

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (June 25, 2026) — Aviation and film fans alike will enjoy the lineup of movies that are being screened at the Fly-In Theater during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 at the Fly-In Theater. This year the Fly-In Theater is featuring six aviation centered movies from July 18-24 spanning from classic to contemporary films that the whole family can enjoy.

The 73rd edition of the Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in convention is July 20-26 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.

For nearly 20 years, the Fly-In theater has been a mainstay for those attending AirVenture. The theater is located right next to the Camp Scholler campground and provides the perfect opportunity to wind down after a long day of airshows, exhibits, and workshops. Every movie will be shown with state-of-the-art projection on a screen that stands about five stories tall, and popcorn is free for all attendees.

The Fly-In Theater screenings are free for those who attend AirVenture. No movies will be shown on July 22 or 25 due to the night air shows. The films are preceded by entertaining and informative introductions featuring special guests who bring their own insights and expertise. The regular showtime is at 8:30 p.m., except for July 20 and 24, which start at 8:15.

This year’s features include:

  • Saturday, July 18 – Top Gun – Celebrate the 40th anniversary of this aviation classic on the big screen, featuring Tom Cruise, Anthony Edwards, and Val Kilmer in this epic tale about grit, competition, friendship, and most importantly, 1980’s naval aviation! The one and only Lt. Cmdr. Lloyd “Bozo” Abel, the pilot who gave Tom Cruise his F-14 orientation, will join us as a special guest.
  • Sunday, July 19 – Flying Misfits – In this feature length pilot episode for the classic television series Black Sheep Squadron, a former U.S Marine pilot Greg “Pappy” Boyington forms his own fighter squadron from a group of misfits and delinquents to help the effort in WWII, long after his time flying with the Flying Tigers in China. Stephen Chapis, author of a new book about the series, will be joining as a special guest.
  • Monday, July 20 – “A Tribute to Jimmy Stewart” – The evening will begin with some very special guests offering an exclusive look behind the scenes at the upcoming film Jimmy, a biopic celebrating the life and accomplishments of Jimmy Stewart, a beloved actor and decorated military aviator. This will be followed by a screening of the 1955 classic Strategic Air Command, where Stewart plays an ex-pilot turned baseball player forced to return to the Air Force and aid his country in Cold War deterrence.
  • Tuesday, July 21 –The Rescue – This documentary film chronicles B-25 owner and pilot Larry Kelly’s trip to China to explore the sites where the brave pilots of 1942’s Doolittle Raid were forced to crash land and take shelter after their one-way mission to strike Japan in retaliation for the attack on Pearl Harbor.
  • Thursday, July 23 – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning – Ethan Hunt returns to combat his toughest enemy yet, a terrifying AI known simply as “the Entity” has taken over intelligence networks across the globe, and only Hunt and his new allies with the IMF are able to try and stop it before it changes the world as we know it forever. Air show pilot Susan Dacy will join us to talk about high performance Stearman flying
  • Friday, July 24 – Memphis Belle – Inspired by the true story of the Memphis Belle, a B-17 crew, will soon be embarking on their 25th and final mission, having completed the previous 24 against the odds. Their last one is the toughest they’ve been given yet, flying deep into German territory. Special guests include producer Catherine Wyler, along with key cast and crew members.

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.