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Warbirds in Review during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024

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Heroes and historic military aircraft have their stories shared at Warbirds in Review during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (May 24, 2024) — Warbirds in Review, an unparalleled presentation series during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh that brings together historic airplanes with pilots and aircraft owners, returns in 2024 with guests that encompass 80 years of aviation and military history. The 71st edition of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s fly-in convention is July 22-28 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.

The twice daily series of “up close and personal” stories will be held July 22-28 at the Warbirds in Review aircraft ramp, located within the EAA Warbirds of America area on the AirVenture grounds. The series is open to all attending AirVenture.

“Warbirds in Review features veterans, aviation legends, and aircraft that simply cannot be seen together in one place anywhere else in the world,” said Connie Bowlin, past president of the EAA Warbirds of America, who organizes the series. “Many of these veterans maintain that they were just doing their jobs and nothing heroic or extraordinary, but that could not be farther from the truth. Their stories and unique perspectives on the aircraft showcased at Oshkosh are insightful, poignant, and important for the public to hear.”

The aircraft and personalities at Warbirds in Review this year include those from WWII, the Korean War, and Vietnam. The schedule as of May 24, 2024 (subject to change without notice):

Monday, July 22

  • 10 a.m. – Stinson L-5 Sentinel – Captain (Ret.) Steve Seal and Chad Hill, Artist and Historian, Dijanjo Studios
  • 1 p.m. – Cessna L-19 Bird Dog – Gerry Asher, Fort Worth Aviation Museum and Colonel (Ret.) Charlie Finch, Catkiller 19

Tuesday, July 23

  • 10 a.m.- Cessna A-37 Dragonflys – Colonel (Ret.) Hank Hoffman, Mark Peterson, Colonel (Ret.) Jon “Huggy” Huggins and Charlie Largay
  • 1 p.m.- North American P-51B and P-51D “OLD CROW” Mustangs. This program will be a celebration of life for Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Clarence E. “Bud” Anderson, who passed away on May 17, 2024. His friends reach far and wide and run deep in the Warbird and Military communities. Bud Anderson is the only individual featured as a speaker every year since the inception of Warbirds in Review 20-plus years ago. All are invited to this Warbirds in Review program for a celebration of a life well lived.

Wednesday, July 24

  • 10 a.m. – de Havilland Mosquito, Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire – Flight Lieutenant (Ret.) Colin S. Bell, Rod Lewis, Stew Dawson, Dave Hadfield and Joe Cosmano
  • 1 p.m. – Beechcraft T-34 Mentor and North American T-28 Trojan Trainers 75th Anniversary – Paul Walters, Mick “Thor” Thorstenson, Dan Kirkland, Tom Donovan, and Jim Rohlf

Thursday, July 25

  • 10 a.m. – Douglas C-47 Skytrain – Eric Zipkin, Leader of the D-Day Squadron
  • 1 p.m. – Curtiss-Wright Helldiver and the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt – Fagen Fighters WWII Museum

Friday, July 26

  • 10 a.m. – Beechcraft T-34 Mentor – Chief Warrant Officer Two (Ret.) Walt Fricke, Founder, CEO, and AirBoss, Veterans Airlift Command
  • 1 p.m. – Parade – Veterans Tribute

 Saturday, July 27

  • 10 a.m. – Little Friend “P-51” – Major (Ret.) Lucky Luckadoo – “Masters of the Air” (Pending)
  • 1 p.m. – Fairchild PT-26 – Kevin Korterud, Danielle Reese, and Dave Holden – members of the CAF Buckeye Wing

 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.

B-29 reunion added to warbird highlights at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024

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EAA. AirVenture. Airventure. AV. AV17. 2017. Boeing. B29. B-29. Bomber. Superfortress. Gray, Doc. N69972. Fifi. N529B. NX529B. Warbird. Air to Air. Air-to-Air. Air2Air. A2A. Silver. Flying Fortress. Josh Wells – 316-209-0470

Superfortresses ‘Doc’ and ‘FIFI’ to make rare joint appearance

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (April 5, 2024) — The world’s only two flying examples of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress will make a rare joint appearance this summer during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024, supporting the “Turning the Tide” salute to 1944 and the 80th anniversary of D-Day. The 71st edition of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s fly-in convention is July 22-28 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.

It is believed to be only the fourth time two B-29s have made a joint public appearance in 50 years, with the first taking place in Oshkosh in 2017. It is the first time these aircraft have appeared together since 2018.

“As AirVenture is the world’s largest annual gathering of warbirds, bringing these two iconic aircraft together is another of those ‘Only at Oshkosh’ moments,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member programs, who coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. “These airplanes are big favorites wherever they appear, but together they will make the ‘Turning the Tide’ commemoration even more unforgettable.”

As currently scheduled, each airplane will spend time featured on EAA’s Boeing Plaza. FIFI will be on display on July 22-24, while Doc will take centerstage for display on July 25-28. The airplanes are also scheduled to make a formation flight at the beginning of the July 24 night air show. When not on display at Boeing Plaza, flight experiences on Doc July 22-25 will be based at Appleton International Airport, approximately 20 miles north.

FIFI is owned and operated by the Commemorative Air Force’s B-29/B-24 Squadron of Dallas, Texas. It was acquired by the CAF in the early 1970s when a group of CAF members found it at the U.S. Navy Proving Ground at China Lake, California, where it was being used as a missile target. The airplane was rescued and restored, then flew for over 30 years until 2006, when the chief pilot made the decision to ground it pending a complete power plant re-fit. After an extensive four-year restoration that included installing four new custom-built hybrid engines, FIFI returned to the sky in 2010 and has since traveled coast to coast. More information is available on at the CAF’s AirPower History Tour website.

Doc was built in 1944 and for many years was part of a squadron known as the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in upstate New York at Griffiss Air Force Base (hence, the name Doc). The airplane was retired in 1956 as the jet bomber age began and sat as a target for Navy training missions in China Lake, California, until 1998. A restoration group took possession of the airplane from the U.S. government and hauled it back to Wichita, Kansas, in pieces in 2000. After 16 years and more than 450,000 volunteer hours, Doc made its first flight after restoration in July 2016, 60 years after it had been retired. Flight experience information for Doc at Oshkosh is available at https://www.b29doc.com/rides/. Doc is owned and operated by Doc’s Friends, Inc., a non-profit based in Wichita.

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.

Jets and helicopters highlight modern military at AirVenture 2023

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Jets and helicopters highlight modern military at AirVenture 2023

AETC headlines expansive lineup of modern military aircraft

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (July 6, 2023) — The U.S. military will be represented in full force at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023, as every branch is set to display notable aircraft at the week-long fly-in. The 70th edition of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s fly-in convention is July 24-30 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

The Air Force’s Air Education and Training Command will be the highlight of this year’s military representation. It’s current lineup of aircraft coming to Oshkosh includes F-15s, a C-17 hospital, a V-22 Osprey, and a C-130. These aircraft are responsible for helping develop U.S. Air Force personnel.

Air Education and Training Command is the oldest major command in the Air Force, having been established in January 1942. AETC’s training mission makes it the first command to touch the lives of nearly every Air Force member. Over the years, more than 25 million students have graduated from AETC training and education programs.

“The U.S. military has a vast array of aircraft, as every mission is unique,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member programs, who coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. “That variety will be on full display at AirVenture as every branch brings something unique to the event.”

Other military aircraft scheduled to be in attendance include:

  • Air Force
    • F-22
    • C-130J
  • Army
    • CH-47
    • UH-60
    • MH-47
    • AH-6
    • AH-64
  • Navy
    • F-18
    • P-3
    • F-35C
  • Marine Corps
    • F-35B
  • Wisconsin Air National Guard
    • F-35A
    • KC-135R

Most of these aircraft will be on display at Boeing Plaza, the center aircraft display area of AirVenture.

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.