Friday, August 2, 2013
The Official Daily Newspaper of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
www.AirVenture.org
Texans for three-fourths of a century By Frederick A. Johnsen
(Author’s note: As this story was going to press Thursday evening, a group of 22 Texan trainers was poised at AirVenture 2013 to make a fly-over in a formation creating the numerals “75” in honor of the first flight of the aircraft in 1938.)
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PHOTO BY CHET WEHE
The showers of light, the boom of the pyro, the aroma of cordite and gunpowder, the “Ahhs!” of thousands come together for a breathtaking evening of night aerobatics and fireworks at EAA Oshkosh Wednesday night. And it’s going to happen again Saturday night, giving Oshkosh 2013 two nights like none other.
Sean Tucker named Young Eagles honorary chairman By Barbara A. Schmitz
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ean D. Tucker has many titles to his name. He’s the U.S. National Advanced Aerobatic Champion, winner of numerous showmanship awards, named one of 25 Living Legends of Aviation by the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, and an honorary Thunderbird, Blue Angel, and Golden Knight—to name a few. But as of Thursday’s Gathering of Eagles, Tucker is also the new Young Eagles honorary chairman, replacing Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and Jeff Skiles, the airline pilots known Cont. p3
hree-quarters of a century ago, the progenitor of the North American Texan advanced trainer ripped the sky with the distinctive Texan roar for the first time. Technically, it was a British-bound Harvard variant, but the type will be forever associated with its name in American service, the T-6 (or Navy SNJ) Texan. At EAA Oshkosh 2013, more than 70 of the ubiquitous trainers—some Texans, some Harvards—have gathered to commemorate their longevity. Texan pilots say this is the largest gathering of the clan since the 60th anniversary when more than 100 Texans shared ramp space. Cont. p34
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