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AIRVENTURE TODAY
KidVenture opens 16th year
KidVenture is open Monday-Saturday 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pioneer Airport. By Antonio Davis
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idVenture, AirVenture’s place for youth to receive a hands-on general aviation experience, opened for its 16th year at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2014 on Monday. KidVenture is located at Pioneer Airport across the grass runway from the EAA AirVenture Museum. Organizers expect record attendance this year, and volunteers hope to collect more smiles than ever from the youths as well as their parents, according to KidVenture Chairman Daniel Majka. “When we first opened up there were probably 50 kids waiting in line,” Majka said. “As soon as I lowered the rope on Monday, they ran in and started working on things.” Participants receive loggable flight instruction on a simulator, earn FAA credit toward an airframe and powerplant (A&P) certificate through handson building projects, learn how to fly a radio-controlled airplane, modify a wing on a computer and then find out how well it flies, and even see what it is like to land on Mars—making it an out-of-thisworld experience. The museum includes eight A&P booths where kids learn basic aircraft building skills as well as Condor flight simulators and Kiddie Hawk flight trainers.
Some activities include the pedal planes, the STEM Shuttle, the Living Legends Stage, and the Bombardier, which is a new advance stage feature of the original electronic troubleshooting booth. Marvin “Pedal Plane Papa” Hoppenworth of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is a 22-year volunteer at EAA and creator of pedal planes that small children play with. He said it’s not only the children but also the parents who have fun with them. “KidVenture is the best thing that has happened to EAA and the field of aviation,” Hoppenworth said. When asked how long it took to create the pedal planes, he responded, “It’s not a weekend project, but it’s something the kids can touch.” Second year volunteer Michael Schaefer, 16, of Iola, Wisconsin, said KidVenture is a place to meet nice and interesting people. “It’s just really fun,” Schaefer said. “All the kids seem happy to make their model airplanes.” Majka said KidVenture attempts to reveal the excitement of aviation to students in hope they will carry on their interest in aviation. “The aviation community is an aging community,” he said. “And unless we can repopulate the species with aviation enthusiasts, eventually we’ll run out of pi-
lots, mechanics, and things like that.” KidVenture is open the entire week of AirVenture from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., ex-
cept Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Shuttles run throughout the day between the Bus Park and museum.
PHOTO BY MARIANO ROSALES
Sam Baer from Treemont, Illinois, takes his hand at flying a control-line model airplane with the help of volunteer pilot Ron Lutz.
Rotax announces certified 912 iSc Sport By Marino Boric
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he market implementation of the Rotax 912 iS engine to the newly released iS Sport is going very well, reported officials from Rotax BRP during Tuesday’s press conference at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2014. “One hundred percent of OEMs using the 912 iS engine will switch to the Sport upgrade thanks to even more improved fuel consumption as well as stronger takeoff and climb performance,” said Rotax manager Christian Mundigler. Rotax just received certification for the fuel-injected 912 iSc Sport, which will be used worldwide in applications for commer-
cial use like flight schools or commercial activities requiring certified aircraft engine use. Rotax is holding an international contest that will award a new 912 iS Sport engine to the first school to log 2,000 flighttraining hours in a training aircraft using a Rotax 912 iS powerplant. Value of the new engine is about $25,000. Rotax is supporting EAA’s One Week Wonder project by donating a 912 iS Sport engine. “This engine works very well for the STOL aircraft from Zenith Aircraft,” said Mundigler. “Rotax is very pleased to back this exciting project in which many EAA members have direct involvement.”
PHOTO BY MARINO BORIC
Christian Mundigler