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Tag Archives: warbirds

B-29 Doc returning to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in 2022

Posted on February 21, 2022 by Scott Smith

B-29 Doc returning to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in 2022

Air show participation, ground displays, flight experiences part of visit

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (February 21, 2022) — Doc, one of two airworthy Boeing B-29s in the world, will be returning to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in 2022 for air show appearances and static displays during the week. While the exact appearance schedule is still being finalized, the aircraft will be parked on Boeing Plaza for public view when on the AirVenture grounds.

The World War II-era bomber will help commemorate the U.S. Air Force’s 75th anniversary at Oshkosh in 2022. AirVenture will feature aircraft from throughout the Air Force’s history, from its creation out of the Army Air Forces in 1947 to today’s modern military aircraft.

“The rarity and the historical significance of the B-29 always make it a popular sight at Oshkosh,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member programs, who coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. “Being able to see Doc both on the ground and in the air during AirVenture week will be a big addition to our commemoration of the U.S. Air Force’s 75th anniversary this summer.”

Doc was rescued from the Mojave Desert in 1987 and was meticulously restored over a 30-year period. It made its first air show appearances in 2017, including a legendary flight at Oshkosh that year with the Commemorative Air Force’s B-29 FIFI, marking the first time two B-29s had flown together in formation in approximately 60 years.

Earlier this month, EAA and Doc’s Friends announced that the B-29 would be joining EAA’s B-25 Berlin Express for a series of joint appearances in Florida and Louisiana beginning late March.

Advance tickets for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh are now on sale, with the lowest rates for EAA members and early-bird discounts currently available.

In addition, Doc’s Friends will be offering flight experiences aboard the aircraft during AirVenture week, based at Appleton International Airport (ATW). More information is available through the Doc’s Friends website at www.b29doc.com/rides.

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.

Posted in airshow, airshows, Airventure, Aviation, EAA | Tags: aircraft, airplanes, airshows, Airventure, AMATEUR-BUILT AIRCRAFT, aviation, EAA, experimental aircraft, warbirds |

FAA flight training policy changes

Posted on June 9, 2021 by Scott Smith

GA groups: FAA flight training policy changes will reduce safety, create administrative logjam

Agency’s interpretation threatens to halt most training in experimental aircraft

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (June 9, 2021) — Federal Aviation Administration policy interpretations on flight training arising out of a recent court decision will have a chilling impact on general aviation safety and create a bureaucratic nightmare for pilots and federal officials, according to numerous GA groups including the Experimental Aircraft Association.

In a letter sent to FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson, the groups called the policy changes “unnecessary and unwarranted guidelines based on irrational legal positions” and called for the FAA to immediately revise the policy to prevent degraded safety in flight training and unnecessary legal battles. The combined groups noted that they are “prepared to use all available means to ensure this situation is corrected as soon as possible.”

“Why the FAA would want to diminish the flight training that made the U.S. aviation system the safest in the world boggles the mind, but that’s what these new policies will do,” said Jack J. Pelton, EAA’s CEO and chairman of the board. “For years, the FAA has correctly stated that training in the specific make and model of aircraft to be routinely operated, with a well-qualified instructor, is the best training. These policies would unnecessarily limit that access and measure of safety.”

The GA groups noted four specific areas where safety would be diminished or bureaucratic backlogs created:

  • Prohibiting owners of experimental aircraft from receiving flight instruction in their own aircraft without specific FAA permission to do so in the form of a Letter of Deviation Authority (LODA): With nearly 40,000 experimental category aircraft on the registry, Flight Standard District Offices would quickly be overwhelmed by applications for a LODA where there is no legal requirement to have one. That creates an additional barrier to aviation safety and is contrary to FAA’s own mission.
  • Prohibiting owners of more than 300 limited category aircraft from receiving flight instruction in their own aircraft with specific FAA permission in the form of an exemption: Never before has the FAA required limited aircraft owners to obtain an exemption to be trained in their own aircraft, nor is there a legal requirement to do so. This change will not further aviation safety.
  • Prohibiting owners of primary category aircraft from receiving flight instruction in their own aircraft without specific FAA permission to do so in the form of an exemption: The FAA does not have policy in place to issue such an exemption and it is unknown how long it would take to issue such exemptions.
  • Limiting access to flight training in a specific make and model of an aircraft: The FAA must issue a policy affirming the pathways that allow owners to obtain training in their own aircraft. To not do so creates an immediate and significant hindrance to flight safety.

The policy grew from a cease-and-desist order from FAA to Warbird Adventures in Kissimmee, Florida, to which a U.S. Court of Appeals issued an unpublished opinion that allowed the order to stand. EAA and other aviation groups filed an amicus brief cautioning the court to narrowly tailor its decision consistent with historic FAA policy preventing compensation for aircraft use in training. That would stop negative consequences on a wide range of flight instruction activities provided to owners in their own aircraft.

“What the FAA has done here is exactly the negative effects we in the GA community had warned about when we filed the amicus brief, regardless of the particulars of that specific case,” Pelton said. “The agency has not only created great confusion in the flight training community, it has countered its own mission that emphasizes safety. It’s important that the FAA revisit this immediately and not enforce any new policies until this is resolved.”

About EAA

The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) is based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and embodies The Spirit of Aviation through the world’s most engaged community of aviation enthusiasts. EAA’s 240,000 members and 900 local chapters enjoy the fun and camaraderie of sharing their passion for flying, building and restoring recreational aircraft. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 800-JOIN-EAA (800-564-6322) or go to www.eaa.org. For continual news updates, connect with www.twitter.com/EAA.

Posted in aircraft, airshows, Airventure, Aviation, EAA, FAA, FAA registration, flight instructor, flight schools, flight training | Tags: aircraft, airplanes, Airventure, AMATEUR-BUILT AIRCRAFT, aviation, EAA, experimental aircraft, FAA, homebuilt, kitplanes, Sun N Fun, warbirds |

WWII 75th (Plus 1) lineup at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2021

Posted on May 14, 2021 by Scott Smith

Aviation history of World War II highlighted at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2021

End of war’s 75th anniversary year (plus 1) to be highlighted July 30-31

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (May 13, 2021) — The aviation story of World War II will be told through special flying activities during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2021, as the event commemorates 75 years (plus 1) since the end of the conflict. The 68th edition of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s fly-in convention will be held July 26-August 1 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

The afternoon air shows on Friday and Saturday, July 30-31, will feature programs that chronologically recollect aviation history during that time, from U.S. involvement in the Eagle Squadron and American Volunteer Group “Flying Tigers” prior to Pearl Harbor and the Doolittle Raid, to the major battles in the European and Pacific Theaters, including D-Day, and the eventual celebrations of V-E and V-J Days.

Airplanes involved will span the aircraft used by the Army Air Forces and U.S. Navy during that time, as well as a variety of international aircraft from that period. All will be involved in each of the 90-minute shows presented each day.

“EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is already the world’s largest annual gathering of warbird aircraft, so it’s natural that this big commemoration would take place here,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member programming, who coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. “The EAA Warbirds of America and other select owners of these magnificent aircraft will showcase the evolution of air power during that period and salute the people who built, flew, and maintained these aircraft 75 years ago.”

Among the aircraft featured will be the P-40 Tomahawk, Supermarine Spitfire, P-38 Lightning, F6F Hellcat, C-47 Skytrain, Hawker Hurricane, P-51 Mustang, F4U Corsair, B-25 Mitchell, B-17 Flying Fortress, B-29 Superfortress, and others.

When not in the air, these aircraft will be on display in the Warbirds area on the north end of the flightline. Select aircraft will also be featured on the showcase Boeing Plaza.

Posted in airshows, Airventure, Aviation, EAA, warbirds, world war 2 | Tags: aircraft, airshows, Airventure, aviation, EAA, experimental aircraft, warbirds |
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