Tag Archives: warbirds

Air Legends Foundation Lockheed Constellation returns to AirVenture 2025

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Air Legends Foundation Lockheed Constellation C-121A returns to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in 2025

Aircraft is regarded as one of most beautiful airliner designs in history

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (April 3, 2025) — The Lockheed Constellation, regarded as one of most beautiful airliner designs ever created, will return to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in 2025 for display throughout the entire week. The 72nd edition of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s annual fly-in convention is July 21-27 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

The aircraft, a C-121A model that is part of the Rod Lewis collection, is owned and maintained by the Air Legends Foundation of San Antonio, Texas, and is in military markings that reflects its time as a military transport. The airplane, named Bataan, will be displayed on AirVenture’s Boeing Plaza showcase ramp during the week.

“The rarity of flying Lockheed Constellations, along with its unforgettable triple-tail design, makes this aircraft a favorite whenever it appears at Oshkosh,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member programs, who coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. “We appreciate the work of the Air Legends Foundation to bring this ‘Connie’ back to flying status and bring it to EAA AirVenture.”

Bataan was delivered to the U.S. Air Force in January 1949 to operate within the Military Air Transport Service. After being used during the Berlin Airlift to transport personnel and equipment, Bataan was converted into a VIP transport. During the Korean War, it was used as the personal transport of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who gave it its nickname. Retired in 1965, Bataan was pulled from the boneyard by NASA in support of the Apollo program before it was decommissioned in 1970. From 1970 to 1992, the airplane resided at the U.S. Army Aviation Museum before Ed Maloney of the Planes of Fame Air Museum secured it. From 1995 to 2016, Bataan resided at Planes of Fame’s auxiliary location at Valle Airport in Arizona.

Air Legends Foundation acquired the airplane in 2015, with it being flown to Chino, California, in 2016 for restoration work, which was performed by Fighter Rebuilders. The Constellation made its first post-restoration flight in June 2023 and made its inaugural Oshkosh visit a month later. Afterward, Bataan then went to Aerometal International for its historic interior finish.

About Air Legends Foundation

https://airlegendsfoundation.com

Reasons to Fly: EAA events, activities added to ForeFlight capability

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Reasons to Fly: EAA events, activities added to ForeFlight capability

Cooperative agreement brings thousands of EAA events to popular pilot database

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (June 24, 2024) — Thousands of EAA events and aviation activities are now easy to access on ForeFlight, one of the world’s most popular flight databases, via an agreement between ForeFlight and the Experimental Aircraft Association.

“Adding EAA’s more than 14,000 annual aviation events makes the ForeFlight database even more comprehensive for the thousands of pilots who rely on it for flight information,” said Ren Scott, EAA’s director of business development. “ForeFlight has always been an excellent source of flight planning and safety, but with EAA’s information it will add more reasons to fly and destinations to discover.”

The cooperative effort is now officially live, giving  EAA chapters an opportunity to update their upcoming activities on EAA’s calendar of events. That calendar will regularly and automatically be loaded into the ForeFlight database for pilot reference.

“EAA shares The Spirit of Aviation like no other organization, from mega-events such as Oshkosh to the thousands of local chapter fly-ins, rallies, and airport pancake breakfasts held every year,” said Ryan McBride, ForeFlight’s Head of Community. “This joint project with EAA will make our new capability more comprehensive and useful as it brings information on the aviation gatherings that add so much to the pilot experience.”

Local EAA events must be listed on the online EAA calendar of events to be included in the upcoming ForeFlight capability. More details on listing local events are available through the EAA chapter office.

About ForeFlight

ForeFlight, a Boeing company, is the leading provider of advanced integrated software for the General, Business and Military Aviation markets worldwide. Founded in 2007 and joining the Boeing family in 2019, ForeFlight now offers ForeFlight Mobile EFB and Military Flight Bag for pilots, ForeFlight Dispatch for flight planners, Sentry portable ADS-B receivers, and a range of additional integrated products and capabilities serving the needs of pilots and flight departments around the world. Learn more at foreflight.com.