MOSAIC IS DONE. After more than a decade of work by EAA, the FAA, and numerous others, MOSAIC (Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification) is now a final rule. The rule was announced by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy on Tuesday afternoon at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025. A generation after the creation of the original sport pilot and light-sport aircraft (LSA) rules, today we celebrate Sport Pilot 2.0 and LSA 2.0. Ninety days from now, about three-quarters of the general aviation fleet will be accessible to sport pilots and those exercising sport pilot privileges. One year from now, new and modern aircraft will begin entering the fleet with minimal certification costs.
Building upon the foundation of the original sport pilot rule, MOSAIC greatly expands the range of aircraft that meet the LSA definition, and thus the range of aircraft available to sport pilots or those exercising sport
pilot privileges. The limitation that has always hampered the usefulness of the sport pilot certificate has been the size and capabilities of the aircraft.
Powered landplanes were limited, among other parameters, to a 1,320–pounds maximum takeoff weight and two seats. This covered many simple postwar trainers like Cubs, Champs, and Taylorcrafts, as well as new designs from Cessna, Piper, overseas manufacturers, homebuilt kit manufacturers, and more, but that weight limitation remained a bugaboo. For many designs, it kept useful load impractically low and produced aircraft that were great “Sunday flyers.” However, they were not capable and robust enough to serve in training and rental fleets and were less-thanideal modern touring aircraft.
With MOSAIC, the weight limitation is removed. GONE! In its place is a new set of limitations; the primary limitation will now be a “clean” stall speed (VS1) of 59 knots calibrated airspeed. Aircraft with up to four seats are now allowed, although sport pilots will still be limited to one passenger. Sport pilots are also now allowed to fly aircraft with controllable-pitch propellers and retractable landing gear, with the appropriate training and endorsements.
Equally exciting to the future of aviation is the aircraft certification reform included in the rule. New aircraft are on the way! The original LSA rule proved that safe, modern aircraft could be certified with minimum FAA oversight by using industry consensus standards and simple forms of validation. Now, LSA 2.0 is set to deliver far more capability. For years, high certification costs have been cited as a barrier to affordable ownership of new aircraft. LSA 2.0 substantially cuts these costs for any aircraft meeting the new definition: four seats, constant-speed propellers, retractable landing gear, and fewer restrictions on powerplants (including allowing electric power). For LSA (not to be confused with the definition of Sport Pilot eligible aircraft), the stall speed is 61 knots in landing configuration. The result is a lot of room for continued innovation.
The final MOSAIC rule will be discussed in more detail in a feature story running in the September 2025 issue of EAA Sport Aviation. You can read the final rule via the link at EAA.org/MOSAIC.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ED HICKS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAITLIN PIETTE
HOMEBUILTS
VAN’S AIRCRAFT RV-15 UPDATE
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY
BY ROBBIE CULVER AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF
THE VAN’S AIRCRAFT RV-15 is on display at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025 with a stunning paint job, a new wing, and a new tail. Chief engineer Rian Johnson said: “We went through a number of flight iterations in the last year. We’ve flown multiple sets of ailerons, about three di erent flap configurations, and several new empennages.” Rian added the aircraft “flies like an RV, while at the same time having that STOL bush performance, which is new for us.”
The new wing was flown in June and further tested into July. In an update on their website, the company stated: “The entire flap system, from the slot/hinge
airplane flies straight, stalls well, and performs exceptionally well in slow flight.”
The design features Van’s first high-wing backcountry–capable model. As with all of Van’s aircraft, the construction is all metal. The first release of the RV-15 is a tailwheel aircraft, with a tricycle gear (RV-15A) to follow. According to Van’s website, the RV-15 features a suspension system for the main and tail gear designed for the backcountry and is designed to carry two people and “lots of stuff.” Van’s hopes to offer a floatplane option in the future.
The trip to AirVenture was from the factory in Oregon via Billings, Montana, to Aberdeen, South Dakota, and on to La Crosse, Wisconsin, in one day.
“So far, we’re really happy with the improvements. The airplane flies straight, stalls well, and performs exceptionally well in slow flight.”
— Van’s Aircraft website
“With 60-gallon tanks, that’s impressive,” Rian said. “I got to Billings with 33 gallons used. So it’s a very impressive airplane from a range standpoint. Billings is way past the
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backcountry where you would have wanted to stop with that extra fuel. … And to make it to La Crosse, in a high–wing bushplane in one day, that’s impressive from Portland, Oregon.
“There’s a number of areas where there’s extra drag,” he said, adding that they were just underneath their target cruise speed in their most recent flights. “The top of the gear leg towers, that’s going to get tucked into the fuselage and have fairings on it. So in many areas we haven’t cleaned up the airplane yet. We feel that we will easily be able to make our target of 140 knots and cruise in the final configuration of the airplane.”
The big question for prospective builders is when the kits will be available for purchase. “We expect to release kits by the end of the year,” Rian said.
Van’s will be making further announcements at AirVenture this week. Rian added: “Performance is great, so we’ve exceeded our performance expectations on the airplane. It handles like an RV, and it’s fun to fly. So we hope you come and buy a kit!” As the interview with Rian concluded, two prospective builders were literally lined up to ask when the kits would be available.
You can find Van’s Aircraft in the Homebuilt Aircraft Display area in Booth 604.
More information about the RV-15 is available at vansaircraft.com/rv-15.
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Alaska Airlines Lands for WomenVenture
BY EMME HORNUNG AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF
ALASKA AIRLINES, A proud sponsor of WomenVenture 2025, will be making quite the entrance as the airline lands a Boeing 737 Max at Wittman Regional Airport to participate in today’s WomenVenture activities.
Captains Erica Hill and Chelsea Ozolin, along with First O cer Mallory Cave — all accomplished pilots and instructors in Alaska Airlines’ training department — are proudly forming an allfemale flight crew in support of WomenVenture. Their mission: to inspire, uplift, and open doors for the next generation of women in aviation.
“It’s a true privilege to be part of this incredible event,” said Chelsea, who also serves as director of training. “We’re here to connect with attendees and show them that the sky is not the limit — it’s just the beginning.”
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t receive support when I was younger and just starting out in this industry, so I’m very fortunate to be in this position that I’m in, and I’m looking forward to any and all opportunities to pay it forward,” Mallory said.
“Oshkosh is always an unforgettable experience,” said Erica, a member of the Human Factors Working Group. “But flying our 737 here, representing the phenomenal women of Alaska Airlines — that’s a dream come true. We’re deeply grateful to Boeing, EAA, and Alaska Airlines for making this possible.”
Learn more about Erica, Chelsea, and Mallory and their personal career paths during their presentation at the WomenVenture Center today, Wednesday, at 2:30 p.m. They will be discussing their roles within Alaska Airlines’ training department and the important safety culture that is present there.
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ALASKA AIRLINES
THE
POWER OF THE NIGHT SKY
WEDNESDAY NIGHT AIRSHOW
July 23, 2025 EAA AirVenture - Oshkosh
BRINGING HOPE FROM THE SKY
How Operation Helo is redefining disaster relief
WHEN DISASTER STRIKES, most people wait for help to arrive. Operation Helo doesn’t keep them waiting long — it flies straight into the heart of devastation.
With the largest private volunteer helicopter network in the country, Operation Helo has become a force of hope in motion. What started as a small, grassroots response team in the mountains of Western North Carolina has grown into a nationwide movement, transforming how disaster relief is delivered — especially in underserved and unreachable areas across the United States.
Its approach is simple but bold: Go where others can’t, get there faster, and meet needs before they become headlines.
A Mission Born in the Mountains
Operation Helo began with a simple idea: meet people where they are in the moments they need help the most. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in rural Appalachia, a small group of veterans, first responders, and community volunteers realized that traditional relief organizations couldn’t always reach the most isolated areas. Roads were washed out, communication lines were down, and families were left to fend for themselves.
The team responded with what they had: helicopters, grit, and a calling to serve.
Within eight weeks, Operation Helo had mobilized a network of aircraft, volunteers, and donated resources to deliver $3 million in relief, proving that grassroots action, when well coordinated,
could have national impact. And that was only the beginning.
Strategic, Coordinated Response
Operation Helo’s mission is not just about speed — it’s about strategy. By working directly with local, state, and federal authorities, the organization ensures that its e orts align with broader emergency response operations. This coordination maximizes e ciency, fills critical gaps, and helps deliver the greatest possible impact where it’s needed most.
Humanitarian. Emergency. Logistics. Organization.
Operation Helo lives up to its name — H.E.L.O. stands for humanitarian, emergency, logistics, and organization. These four values form the backbone
Its approach is simple but bold: Go where others can’t, get there faster, and meet needs before they become headlines.
of a mission that’s both agile and compassionate.
It specializes in getting critical aid into hard-to-reach areas — remote mountain towns, flooded bayous, tornado-damaged neighborhoods. Its
response model is driven by speed, adaptability, and a refusal to let geography decide who gets help.
From flying in life-saving supplies to establishing landing zones in disaster areas, its aviation assets are only part of the story. The other part is the people behind the controls: pilots who volunteer their time, veterans who lead with courage, and local heroes who serve with heart.
By the Numbers: Measurable Impact, Unmeasurable Heart
The scope of Operation Helo’s work is staggering:
• 4,000+ helicopter missions flown
• 5,273 square miles of terrain covered
• 450+ emergency evacuations
• 2 million+ pounds of supplies delivered
• 200+ campers provided to families who lost their homes
• 900+ meals served at Thanksgiving
• 1,000+ children given gifts during Christmas
These numbers represent more than data — they represent lives changed and hope restored.
Real Stories, Real People
“When the floodwaters of Hurricane Helene hit, we had nowhere to go. But Operation Helo didn’t just give us shelter — they gave us hope,” said Jasmine G., of Swannanoa, North Carolina.
“After the flood, we were living in a tent, and as the temperatures dropped, we had no choice but to separate our family to keep everyone warm. The tent just wasn’t big enough for all of us. When Operation Helo arrived, they didn’t just give us shelter — they brought our family back together. For the first time since the disaster, we were all under one roof again, and we were finally warm,” said Jamie Tucker, Sparta, North Carolina.
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These are just two of the hundreds of families touched by Operation Helo’s missions — families who otherwise may have been forgotten in the chaos of disaster recovery.
From the Sky to the Ground
What sets Operation Helo apart is its operational footprint. The organization maintains strategically placed equipment and hard assets across a wide region — from Texas eastward, and even up through Maine. Its coordinating and personnel resources can deploy across the entire country, mobilizing wherever the need arises most urgently.
From Starlink systems to reconnect disaster zones to the internet and mobile command units that coordinate supply runs and evacuations, Operation Helo uses innovation and technology to increase e ciency without sacrificing human connection.
Its volunteers don’t just drop supplies — they listen to stories, assess needs, and follow through. “When we make a
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promise,” said Executive Director Eric Robinson, “we keep it. Lives depend on it. Hope deserves nothing less.”
A Movement, Not Just a Mission
At its core, Operation Helo is more than an organization — it’s a movement built on faith, resilience, and the belief that no neighbor should be left behind.
Whether it’s rebuilding a community after a storm, flying in Christmas gifts for children who lost everything, or delivering campers to families still without shelter months after a disaster, its commitment is personal, powerful, and unwavering.
As Operation Helo continues to grow, one thing remains constant: The sky is not a limit — it is the way forward.
The team responded with what they had: helicopters, grit, and a calling to serve.
Night Air Shows Light Up the Sky
BY BARBARA A. SCHMITZ AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF
BIGGER AND BETTER. Those two words describe what the Wednesday and Saturday night air shows at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh will be.
Planning for the night air shows begins at least six months in advance, said Air Boss Wayne Boggs. New this year will be two Goodyear airships, one in its original livery but both flying in the dark as fireworks and drones light up the sky, according to Bill Foraker, EAA’s air operations “go-to guy.” But this year, one new thing will be added to the colorful display — lasers.
On Wednesday, the night air show will also pay tribute to aerobatic legend Rob Holland, who died April 24 when his single-seat MX Aircraft MXS airplane crashed on approach at Langley Air Force
Base in Hampton, Virginia. Holland had been scheduled to perform this week at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025.
In addition, all the things that have made the night air show so popular will also be back: fireworks, drones and pyrotechnics — you can feel the heat from the Wall of Fire — plus renowned aerobatic performers such as the Titan Aerobatic Team, Matt Younkin, Bob Carlton, and others. Nathan Hammond, Ken Rieder, and Erik Edgren will also be flying with the airships, fireworks, drones, and lasers at the end of the show.
The air shows will go from 8-10 p.m. each day, and you should be able to see the show no matter where you are on the grounds. “The best viewing areas are everywhere,” Wayne said. “Everything is
up high, even the drones, so anywhere you look to the east you’re going to see a portion or all of the night air show.”
Wayne said he enjoys every part of the air show. “It’s everything coming to fruition, and with the advent of the drones and all the things they can do, it really adds a new dimension to the fireworks,” he said. In fact, the drone part of the show is even more magnificent than it was last year, they said.
In case of inclement weather, Wednesday’s air show will be rescheduled, Wayne said. However, Saturday’s show would just be canceled.
Fairchild Aviation’s 100th Anniversary Celebrated at AirVenture Oshkosh
BY ROBBIE CULVER AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF
THE VENERABLE FAIRCHILD Aviation Corp. is being celebrated at EAA AirVenture 2025 on its 100th anniversary. The company began in Farmingdale, New York, as a manufacturer of the Fairchild FC-1 — the first U.S. aircraft to have an enclosed cockpit and hydraulic landing gear. In various iterations and partnerships, the company produced aircraft that ranged from the FC-1 all the way to the Fairchild-Republic A-10 attack aircraft. The company even produced missiles and spacecraft, with the last aircraft produced related to the Fairchild name being built in 2002. Facilities eventually included locations
in Hagerstown, Maryland, and San Antonio, Texas.
Founder Sherman Fairchild was the son of a six-term U.S. congressman who also was co-founder and first chairman of the board for the IBM company. This provided Fairchild the means to start the company, but it was his mechanical interest and aptitude that produced the family of aircraft and cameras that the company created.
Fairchild’s interest in photography was actually the spark for the aircraft designs, with several focused on improved camera platforms designed to use custom aerial cameras purpose-built by Fairchild. (The camera design and manufacturing actually preceded Fairchild Aircraft by several years.)
Notable aircraft designed and produced by the company and its partners
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBBIE CULVER
PAGE 12 / FAIRCHILD
included the Fairchild 71, Fairchild 24 Argus/UC-61 Forwarder, PT-19, PT-23, PT-26, C-82 Packet, C-119 Flying Boxcar, and C-123 Provider.
The Fairchild FC-2 became a part of Richard Byrd’s expedition to Antarctica. The Fairchild 71 made its first flight in 1926 and was powered by the Pratt & Whitney Wasp nine-cylinder 420-hp radial engine. The aircraft was intended for use as a passenger plane capable of hauling cargo, but it later found a niche as a bushplane.
The Fairchild 24 became a key component of the “lend-lease” program during World War II and was used as a light transport by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). The Civil Air Patrol used the aircraft as a bombing platform against German U-boats in the Atlantic.
The PT-19/PT-23 was a primary trainer aircraft that served with the USAAF, British Royal Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. The PT-19 had a 175-hp L-440-1
Ranger engine. The PT-19A had a 200-hp L-440-3 Ranger, and the PT-23 had a 220hp Continental R-670, both of which were largely identical to the PT-19. The PT-26 variant added an enclosed cockpit for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and was used in Canada as a trainer.
The C-82 Packet was a post-World War II design with twin booms and twin engines, designed for use as a heavy lift cargo platform. The C-119 Flying Boxcar was essentially a redesigned C-82 after the type was found to have some fundamental challenges. More than 1,100 Flying Boxcars were built and saw service in both Korea and Vietnam.
There will be a Fairchild Club Forum presented by Mike Kelly on Wednesday, July 23, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Vintage Hangar.
For a more detailed story on Fairchild Aircraft, see “Celebrating the Legacy of Fairchild Aircraft” by Kurtis Meyers in the August 2025 issue of EAA’s Sport Aviation magazine.
Kendall and Sheldon Horst flew their family’s Fairchild 71 from Smoketown, Pennsylvania, to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Their father Marlon is joining them at the show. The aircraft underwent an eight-year restoration and made its first flight in August 2013. It won Grand Champion Antique — Gold Lindy in 2014 at AirVenture. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBBIE CULVER
AROUND THE GROUNDS
NEW EAA CAMPGROUND A HIT
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY
BY BARBARA A. SCHMITZ AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF
A NEW CAMPGROUND area in EAA’s Camp Scholler is getting good reviews, especially from those arriving in large, heavy motor homes.
Camp Scholler Southeast, located south of Ripple Road and west of Knapp Street, is EAA’s response to member and visitor feedback. The change moves drive-in campers from less desirable locations to areas closer to the flightline, while also creating additional vehicle parking for attendees who drive in for the day. Campers can access the flightline through a new South Knapp Gate and admissions center just south of the Fun Fly Zone in the Ultralights area, or they can use
the continual shuttle service to get to the grounds.
Jerome and Marsha Roads, of Dawson, West Virginia, were the first campers to arrive about 5 p.m. Friday. About two hours later, Randy and Cord Riley, a father and son who live near Springdale, Arkansas, became the new campground’s o cial second campers.
Jerome said they first came to the Oshkosh air show in 1986, then came for 10 consecutive years before life got too busy. 2025 is their fourth consecutive year coming in their 28,000-pound, 38-foot motor home.
“We chose this area because other areas were wet and we don’t need a
24-hour generator,” Marsha said. “When we first saw this campground, it was a pleasant surprise.”
“With a longer camper, being able to get it almost level is important,” Jerome added. “Plus, there’s a little more space
Jerome and Marsha Roads, of Dawson, West Virginia, were the first campers in EAA’s new campground, Camp Scholler Southeast. The campground is located south of Ripple Road and west of Knapp Street.
16 / CAMPGROUND
out here.” The southeast campground also has all the traditional camping amenities, including bathrooms and showers.
A pilot who is no longer active, Jerome said he is looking forward to visiting vendors, checking out displays, seeing airplanes he hasn’t seen before, and meeting people you don’t usually get a chance to meet. (He’s met EAA founder Paul Poberezny and Voyager pilot Dick Rutan, for example, in the past.) Marsha said she was looking forward to seeing the two Goodyear airships up close.
The Rileys first learned that their usual camping spot had become a parking lot a few days ago, so they decided to come earlier in hopes of getting a better location. The two weren’t disappointed.
“We typically stayed in what is now the Purple auto parking lot,” Cord said.
“With a 35,000-pound, 40-foot motor home, you can’t park just anywhere,” Randy said. “We need it dry at the end of the week if we’re going to be able to get out of here.”
Arriving about two hours later, father and son duo Randy and Cord Riley, who live near Springdale, Arkansas, become the second campers in EAA’s newest campground.
Randy said they typically camp in areas that allow 24-hour generator use, but here, they need to shut their generator o at 10:30 p.m.
“But we turned the fans on and slept like a baby,” Randy said. They also are enjoying the additional space in the new campground, plus the fact that it is more quiet and peaceful with the tree line nearby.
Plus, the location will allow them to get out and onto the highway quickly, Cord added.
“In the perfect world, we’d also be able to the watch the air show from our campsite,” said Cord, a pilot with about 500 hours logged. “But any day at Oshkosh is a good day.”
He added that that’s because everyone in Oshkosh loves aviation. “I love the people and camaraderie,” he said.
Randy agreed. “I’ve never talked to a soul here who isn’t nice,” he said. “There’s a different group of people at AirVenture.”
SEE T HESHOW, MEET T HESTARS
As proud engine sponsor of the Northern Stars Aeroteam, Aero Recip invites you to meet the passionate and skilled pilots.
SATURDAY, JULY 26 / 1:00PM IAC PAVILLION
Dropped Call Survives the Fall Flying Musicians Plan
AirVenture Jam Sessions
THE FLYING MUSICIANS Association will have several jam sessions during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025. Events include:
• 7-9 p.m. Thursday, July 24, Ultralight forum tent — Irish Traditional Session/Jam: Musically inclined individuals interested in listening to or playing traditional Irish music, bring yourselves and your instruments! Also welcome are those who know Irish traditional dance/céilí
• 8-10 p.m. Friday, Ultralight forum tent
— Open Mic and Music Jam: Come to share your music or simply to enjoy live music from many different genres. A keyboard, guitars, a cajon with various percussion pieces, and a bass guitar will be available for those who do not have their instruments with them.
• Campsite jams will also be ongoing throughout the week. If you hear of a campsite jam, email the location, date and time, genre if specified, and what to bring (food, drinks, instruments, etc.) to Josh@FlyingMusicians.org. Go to flyingmusicians.org for more information or campsite jam dates.
Founded in 2009, Flying Musicians is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation for pilots and musicians. It spans the globe, proficiency levels, and genres. Its goal is to bring aviation and music together by inspiring, educating, and encouraging through performances, presentations, scholarships, and networking.
BY BARBARA A. SCHMITZ
IT’S A BIRD! It’s a plane! Wait… it’s a cellphone falling from the sky?
Tyler Bellile, of Oshkosh, had been on a Bell 47 helicopter ride with his 4-year-old son at Pioneer Airport late Sunday morning. He had just finished taking some photos from the air when he put his phone down on the seat and started talking to his son. Just four minutes later, the phone slipped o the seat, hit the floor, bounced out, and fell about 200 feet to the ground, he said.
“My first thought was that I hoped it wouldn’t hit an airplane or a person,” Tyler said. “I knew it fell out north or northwest of the FAA tower.” So once on the ground, they started their search.
But unbeknownst to him, an EAA security person had already found the black cellphone on the ground at AirVenture’s College Park and took it to EAA’s Lost and Found. It took Debbie Fried, co-chair of Lost and Found, just minutes to break into the phone.
“I tried all my tricks,” she said. And when she got in, she looked at his last calls and noticed one was to his wife.
“So I said, ‘Call my wife,’ and all of a sudden, I heard a woman in the background say, ‘Your phone is calling me!’” Debbie said.
Less than an hour after Tyler dropped it, his Samsung Galaxy X25 phone, complete with a cheap protective case, was back in his hands. It didn’t have a scratch on it.
“My friends were telling me that if the phone survives, it deserves to be in a commercial,” he said, laughing.
SUPERIOR ENGINE FORUMSCleared for a Safe Flight
Superior Air Parts AirVenture 2025 Forum Presentation Schedule MONDAY 10:00am Basic Engine Inspections & Trend Monitoring That Owners Can Perform TUESDAY
8:00am Setting Piston Ring Gap & Cylinder Life
10:00am Engine Leaning Made Simple
WEDNESDAY
10:00am Communicating Effectively with your Aircraft Mechanic
THURSDAY
10:00am Aircraft Engine Compression Testing
FRIDAY 10:00am Engine at or Beyond TBO, What should you do? SATURDAY 10:00am Basic Engine Inspections & Trend Monitoring That Owners Can Perform
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BARBARA A. SCHMITZ
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OSHKOSH MOMENTS
50 Years at Oshkosh
BY ROBBIE CULVER AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF
ATTENDING EAA AIRVENTURE Oshkosh can be a life-changing event. Glen Matejcek (rhymes with “paycheck”), EAA 151163, who is attending his 50th convention in 2025, said his early attendance solodified his aviation interest and career. Glen attended his first EAA convention in 1975 as a teenager while enrolled in aviation courses that included prep for the private and instrument ratings at Lyons Township High School in the Chicago suburb of La Grange, Illinois.
He credits his teacher Bill Garton for telling him about the EAA conventions in Rockford and Oshkosh — Bill served in the U.S. Air Force for many years and had tours in Korea and Vietnam. He was a crew member on B-36s, and he was a crew chief on F-100s. Glen described Bill as a “very interesting guy, very e ective teacher, very approachable.”
Glen’s first year at Oshkosh was between his junior and senior years of high school. He traveled with a couple of buddies, and they camped out not far from a line of P-51 Mustangs. “There’s nothing quite like an aviation-infatuated teenager waking up to the sound of a Merlin cranking up 40 feet away,” he said.
“I ended up learning to fly, became a flight instructor, did instructing in airplanes and in gliders, flying some acro, teaching some acro in airplanes and in gliders, hauling skydivers, towing gliders, all that sort of stu ,” Glen said. “And ultimately, got an airline job. It had never really been a goal of mine to be an airline pilot. I just wanted to fly, and finances are a lot better if somebody pays you than you pay to go fly. And then I got busy with life, and GA became less prevalent in my life, but it’s always been my primary interest.”
Eventually, Glen got a job flying a 19-seat turboprop for Jetstream International Airlines, which was bought out by Piedmont and eventually US Airways. Then he was furloughed a few months after September 11, 2001. After stints at NetJets and Virgin America, he spent 12 years at Kalitta Air and retired in 2023 as a captain on the 747-400. A founding member and past president of EAA Chapter 1311 in Avon, Indiana, Glen is now a snowbird between Indianapolis and Texas.
Along the way, Glen became involved with the American Military Heritage Foundation, which preserved a 1945 Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon named Hot Stu . “It’s a rare airplane,” he said. “There weren’t that many built. It came out at the end of the war, and
50 YEARS AT OSHKOSH / PAGE 24
it’s a 4,000-hp taildragger, which is interesting. It makes a glorious roar when you push the power up; it flies well. It looks a lot like a giant Twin Beech. If you can imagine a Twin Beech with a 75-foot wingspan.”
In 2005 the Harpoon was at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, and Glen flew it in for a static display, taking his aviation career back to its roots.
Glen mentioned he had met EAA founder Paul Poberezny a number of times while he was at the convention volunteering. He had an opportunity to talk to speak with him once in the Founders’ Wing. “I just wanted to tell him thank you, because he did have a profound impact on the course of my life,” he said. “Poberezny grinned from ear to ear and said, ‘Thank you, my son,’ Grabbed me and gave me a big wet kiss on the cheek, which startled me a little bit. But it was a pretty cool moment.” PAGE 22 / 50 YEARS AT OSHKOSH
“There’s nothing quite like an aviation-infatuated teenager waking up to the sound of a Merlin cranking up 40 feet away.”
— Glen Matejcek
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF GLEN MATEJCEK
POWER MEETS PRECISION
A Busload of Fun
The memories go round and round
BY ANGELA SATTERLEE AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF
SINCE 1988, KENT Shoemaker, EAA 419538, has been bringing a busload of aviation enthusiasts from Western Pennsylvania to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. With the exclusion of 2020 and 2021, he has been doing this for 35 years.
At first he had never heard of Oshkosh, but many pilots kept telling him that it was the place you’d want to go to get your aviation fix, and in 1987 he did just that. He drove to Oshkosh with his brother and a friend, and they stayed at Ripon College in Ripon, Wisconsin.
“I was just so impressed with AirVenture and going back,” Kent said. “I said, we could do this for a lot of people if we put a bus together, and anybody that wanted to go could go.” So, he put together a bus trip the next year so more people could have the same experience he did, and to his surprise it filled up almost immediately.
Kent’s love for aviation is thanks to his father. Kent grew up in a small steel mill town called Brackenridge, Pennsylvania, so he didn’t live near an airport, but every once in a while, his father took him to a little grass strip airport about 20 miles out. “I remember watching the planes fly there, and I just thought that was spectacular,” he said.
As Kent grew up in the post-World War II 1950s, he saw military aircraft flying out of Reserve bases in Pittsburgh. “I just thought those people were, they were like my heroes,” he said. “To be able to do that I thought had to be one of the greatest things in the world, one of the greatest privileges. So, I think I always had that to be a pilot would be something very special.” And down the road, he got his private pilot certificate.
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF KENT SHOEMAKER
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Pilot Proficiency Center
Training for Every Pilot
EAA® and Redbird have joined forces this year at the Pilot Proficiency Center to provide training options that fit every experience level and schedule. We’ve built a training catalog that includes:
• Full-day VFR and IFR refreshers for active pilots looking to sharpen their skills. *
• Open sim training sessions for pilots who want to get a taste of sim training while still getting the whole Oshkosh experience. *
• A first-of-its-kind Rusty Pilots + Redbird Sim Course powered by AOPA to help get you back in the cockpit. *
• Dedicated sim sessions and presentations will show you how to get into backcountry flying. *
• A Right Seat Ready course for spouses that includes hands-on Redbird sim training. * * Registration required
IFR Refresher Course
8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Free, one-day course focused on IFR flying, instrument proficiency, and top factors related to accidents. Training consists of three hours of ground instruction and three hours of simulator work with a flight instructor.
Mustbeactiveandcurrentprivatepilotorhigher.
Backcountry Flying
Classroom 1
Classroom 2
Open Sim Training
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Get some free flight training with an expert flight instructor in one of our Redbird sims. Designed for certificated pilots, current or not, each session will last approximately 45 minutes and can be tailored to your needs. You can choose to focus on VFR flying, IFR flying or crosswind landings.
9:30 a.m.Flying Idaho’s Backcountry9:30 a.m.How to Flight Plan Together Into and Out of the Backcountry
3:30 p.m.Backcountry Etiquette3:30 p.m.Getting Started: A Neophyte’s Perspective Scan to Register!
PAGE 26 / BUSLOAD OF FUN
At 73, Kent still remembers his first Oshkosh trip in ’87. It was raining, and to take cover he sat under the wing of a P-51 Mustang. He thought that was something you would only see in pictures, he said, but that experience made him realize that is what AirVenture is all about. From then on, he knew he wanted to share that with others.
After asking many di erent bus companies, he was able to rent a bus with a driver who would take them from the Butler Farm Show where he worked in Pennsylvania to Oshkosh. He also went back to Ripon College, explained his situation, and set up a yearly contract with the college to rent out rooms for his entourage to stay in.
“I think back on it, man, what a wonderful opportunity this has been for all of us because when we first started, we had a lot of World War II vets that went with us … and just to travel with them, I think back, what an honor.”
— Kent Shoemaker
Over the last 35 years Kent has heard countless stories and shared many memories on his trips including meeting extraordinary people such as WWII veterans and pilots, homebuilders, RC pilots, history buffs, and general aviation enthusiasts. “I think back on it, man, what a wonderful opportunity this has been for all of us because when we first started, we had a lot of World War II vets that went with us … and just to travel with them, I think back, what an honor.”
One WWII veteran in particular really stuck with Kent. He can only remember him by his first name, Jack, but he was a radio operator on a B-29, and he served in the same squadron as Col. Paul Tibbets, who dropped Little Boy, the first atomic bomb, in Japan.
Kent loves to do this for people who wouldn’t be able to make it to AirVenture any other way, and his favorite part is that when they return home, all the people show their appreciation and he knows he was able to help them. And most importantly, everybody comes back with a unique story.
This year’s busload arrived Tuesday night, and they will be attending the air shows on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday and then heading back home on Saturday morning.
Kent changes lives with this trip, and he is already planning for the next one.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR YOUR ENGINE IN ONE PLACE!
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF KENT SHOEMAKER
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF KENT SHOEMAKER
A Tribute to Tracy Forrest
Sharing the gift of AirVenture
BY PAUL T. GLESSNER, EAA 1270226
I HAVE BEEN interested in aircraft ever since I was a youngster. My father took the family to Philadelphia International Airport (KPHL) after some of our Sunday dinners to sit in a designated parking area to watch aircraft taxi to the end of the runway just 100 feet from the fence line. There, the aviation bug bit me, and some nine years later at age 16, I took o in a Piper Cherokee 140 — white knuckles and all. I had never flown an airplane before, but I was hooked!
In 2000, I attended EAA AirVenture Oshkosh for the first time. I had heard of it, but it was a trek from Los Angeles, where I had been living since 1987 working for Lockheed in Burbank. After that year I didn’t go again until 17 years later.
My career has always been either designing and/or doing flight-test engineering on aircraft like the B-717, F-22, CH-148, F-35, Mooney M10T, and more. While at Chino Airport (KCNO) working for Mooney, I attended
the 2016 Living Legends of Aviation at the Beverly Hilton, and that is where I met EAA benefactor and construction mogul Tracy Forrest, EAA Lifetime 623251. I think he took a liking to me, hopefully for a few reasons, because I bought four tickets in the silent auction to tour Jay Leno’s garage (and he bought them three years in a row).
Months later, Tracy called and asked me if I would like to attend AirVenture. I told him I would lose a lot of income being a contractor with no paid leave opportunity, so I had to turn him down. A year later, in 2017, he asked me again. How thoughtful. I had left Mooney,
Proceeds support the youth education activities of EAA, including EAA’s Young Eagles Program, which has provided more than 2.5 million youths with a free first flight since 1992.
The 2024 Ford Bronco Big Bend is provided with the support of Kocourek Ford, Wausau, Wisconsin.
COURTESY OF PAUL GLESSNER
and my schedule was wide open. I agreed to go, and I was so grateful to be asked again. It is di cult to turn down any invite from a colleague. It was awkward, but luckily it turned out great a year later.
Now you have to understand that I was in the dark as to where I was going to stay. So, after several emails, hinting at the question of if I was sleeping in a tent or what, he finally said, “When you go to the Four Seasons Hotel in L.A., do you ask the valet if there is a refrigerator and microwave in the room?” He said to fill out the questionnaire his secretary would email me. The form asked about the airplane I was flying to Oshkosh in. Where would it be parked? What would I like to eat? Funny, right? “Flying coach in an airliner. Appleton airport. 1% milk, Raisin Bran, bananas and apples, Diet Coke, and some energy bars, please,” I responded.
Tracy personally picked me up at the Appleton airport (KATW) at 10:30 p.m., drove me to Camp Scholler, and on the way slapped a manila envelope on my lap. “In there is everything you will need. Just follow the agenda. Wednesday is di erent. We meet earlier in the afternoon on Wednesday.” In the envelope was every wristband I would need for every event I could imagine, like The Gathering and more. We rolled into Camp Scholler, and his Ford Explorer’s lights shone on a modern motor home. My name was on a small sign outside of this motor home, not unlike some movie star’s bungalow. It had air conditioning, hot and cold running water, Wi-Fi, a shower, and in the refrigerator was 1% milk, Raisin Bran, bananas and apples, Diet Coke, and some energy bars. Unbelievable. I washed up and
stepped outside to meet Tracy and Cyrus Sigari of jetAVIVA to have a beer together after a day of traveling. Seriously, how can any future AirVenture trip ever top this one? All thanks to Tracy.
Over the years, I realized that being a part of EAA has many benefits. I became an EAA member in the late summer of 2019.
Tracy Forrest, 70, president of the Bob Hoover Legacy Foundation and past president and founder of the Citation Jet Pilots Association is remembered as a philanthropist, an accomplished pilot, and a mentor to the next generation of aviators. The Winter Park Construction founder died in Florida of brain cancer on October 12, 2020.
A mutual friend, Mike Herman, EAA Lifetime 264039, still misses him, saying, “Tracy Forrest was the kindest, most thoughtful person I know.”
Bob Wilson, whose father employed Tracy as a subcontractor, also remembers him fondly. “Tracy never did anything that was not first class,” Bob said. “He gave of himself, and ‘selfish’ is a word that was not in his vocabulary. … Tracy was the definition of a true friend. I am fortunate that the Lord got us together as friends.”
My next AirVenture trip was in 2021 as I issued myself an edict to attend every year to indulge my passion as an aviation enthusiast. My 2017 AirVenture stay with Tracy was only five days long. Now I have learned that there is too much to see, and thus I stay the Saturday before to the Monday after and soak it all in, as one should. Why not? I’m there with 650,000 of my best friends — pilots.
The level and quality of people one meets, and the presentations, physical product booths, and movies shown at AirVenture, are unequaled in depth and breadth. Thank you, Tracy.
PAGE 30 / TRACY FORREST
COURTESY OF PAUL GLESSNER
Family Volunteer Spotlight The Duck family
BY ANGELA SATTERLEE AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF
FOR MANY, AIRVENTURE is a weeklong celebration of aviation, but for Don, EAA 43797, and Karen Duck, EAA 617522, it’s a family tradition that spans generations and entails nearly a month of dedicated volunteer work each year. The Ducks have become a cornerstone of the volunteer community at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, contributing their time, skills, and passion to ensure the event runs smoothly.
The Ducks’ involvement in AirVenture is truly a family a air. Don and Karen, along with their children and grandchildren, have been volunteering with south maintenance and working for Steve Taylor for many years. Don is a longtime maintenance volunteer, known for his work putting up banners and assisting with numerous tasks around the event. His dedication is unwavering, having attended AirVenture almost every year since it moved to Oshkosh. Karen’s primary responsibility is managing the international flags. With a small team, she ensures that the flags are displayed correctly, adding a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere to the event. Their son Tim Duck, EAA 617230, and their daughter in-law Karrie assist with setting up tables and managing the sewer system, taking on essential but often overlooked tasks that keep the event running smoothly.
The Duck family’s involvement spans three generations since their youngest son, Craig, EAA Lifetime 377090, and his wife, Bobbi, EAA 1481659, and their children CJ, EAA 1481661, and Felicia, EAA 1481662, joined the volunteer ranks. As part of the “Brat Pack,” CJ and Felicia handle power washing and other cleaning tasks, ensuring the venue remains clean and presentable. This multigenerational commitment highlights the family’s deep connection to AirVenture and their shared love for aviation.
Aviation runs in the Duck family’s blood. This passion for flying is a significant part of their identity and fuels their dedication to AirVenture. “Don’s a pilot. Craig’s a
“The
friends we’ve made and the group we work with is just like a family. … And I’d say that’s — that’s the main reason why we volunteer is because we enjoy being with all of them. And it’s just a fun time.”
— Karen Duck
pilot. CJ’s working on it. And our other son that stays home is a pilot,” Karen proudly shared.
For the Ducks, volunteering at AirVenture is about more than just the tasks they perform. It’s about the friendships they’ve formed and the sense of community they experience. “The friends we’ve made and the group we work with is just like a family,” Karen said. “We just all work together. And I’d say that’s — that’s the main reason why we volunteer is because we enjoy being with all of them. And it’s just a fun time.”
Now in their 80s, Don and Karen said the physical demands of volunteering are becoming more challenging. However, the rewards far outweigh the di culties. The joy of being part of such a significant event, the fun they have, and the bonds they’ve formed keep them coming back year after year. Beyond AirVenture, the Ducks are active members of their local chapter (EAA 132). Don serves as an o cer, and Karen has been the newsletter editor for many years, further demonstrating their commitment to the aviation community.
The Duck family’s contributions to AirVenture and their legacy of volunteerism is an inspiration. As they continue to volunteer, they set an example for future generations, showing that with commitment and a love for aviation, they can make a lasting impact.
OSHKOSH MOMENTS
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF KAREN DUCK
AROUND THE GROUNDS
What About These Other Airplanes?
A spotter’s guide to the EAA Aviation Museum aircraft around the grounds
EVERY YEAR, MORE than 10,000 aircraft fly to Wisconsin for AirVenture. Of those, nearly 3,000 are showplanes — vintage aircraft, warbirds, homebuilts, aerobatic airplanes, etc. — that are displayed around the grounds. But some visitors may notice other airplanes parked here and there that didn’t fly in at all; they’re part of the EAA Aviation Museum collection. Because our museum exhibits rotate, many of these aircraft are only viewable by the public during AirVenture, spending the rest of the year in long-term storage on the convention grounds. Each day, we’ll highlight one of these airplanes that you’ll see as you wander the neighborhoods of AirVenture.
Aircraft: Myers PM-1 Special
In 1949, H.H. “Pete” Myers bought a damaged Piper J-3C-65 Cub on floats. He removed the floats and sold them, and then he started modifying it for aerobatics. Over the next several years, he made sev eral radical changes, including replacing the original 65-hp engine with a 100-hp Lycoming O-235-C, installing a set of clipped Taylorcraft wings, and shortening the fuselage by 3 feet. Myers and his PM-1 were fixtures on the Midwest air show circuit for years.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CRYSTAL PEREZ
WARBIRDS
Into a New Age
A spotter’s guide to 1945-1950 aircraft at AirVenture Oshkosh 2025
BY SAM OLESON AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF
EIGHTY YEARS AGO, the greatest conflict the world had ever known was, mercifully, coming to an end. The conclusion of World War II signaled the beginning of a new era of military aviation. Jet engine technology began to take shape in the latter half of the war, with Germany introducing the Messerschmitt Me 262, followed a few months later by the British Gloster Meteor.
Although jets didn’t play a large role in WWII, the years following were crucial for the development of the technology. But while the future was clearly in jets, many piston-powered airplanes of WWII were still useful and
served critical roles well into the 1950s and 1960s, and in some cases even longer.
Here’s a look at some of the aircraft that were either designed or operated during that transitionary period in aerospace development, 1945 into the Korean War, that have made an appearance at
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in recent years or may be here this week.
Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star (Static)
The first operational U.S. jet fighter, the P-80 (later redesignated the F-80) entered service with the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1944. Although the P-80 never saw combat during the war, two YP-80As were used in a reconnaissance role in Italy. Production P-80s served extensively in the Korean War, first in an air superiority role before transitioning to primarily ground attack duties with the introduction of the F-86. The U.S. Air Force retired the Shooting Star in 1959.
Messerschmitt Me 262 (Replica)
The world’s first operational jet fighter, the German-built Me 262
Wednesday:
was the only jet fighter to see combat during WWII, entering service in April 1944. The Me 262 was used as a light bomber, night fighter, and reconnaissance aircraft, and it was an effective dogfighter as well. Fighter versions were known as the Schwalbe, or Swallow, while fighter-bomber versions were called Sturmvogel, or Stormbird. Although the 262 had a relatively minimal impact during WWII, its design influenced the designs of numerous future American and Soviet aircraft prototypes.
WARBIRDS / PAGE 35
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAM SASIN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GAVIN CONROY/ COURTESY OF MILITARY AVIATION MUSEUM
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Developed from the DC-4 airliner, the four-engine C-54 was introduced in 1942 and served through the rest of WWII, and for many years after that. The Skymaster hauled coal and food during the Berlin airlift, served in Korea, and wasn’t retired by the Air Force until the 1970s. The type also holds the distinction of being one of the first aircraft to carry a U.S. president, transporting Franklin D. Roosevelt during WWII.
Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
Developed from the WWII-era B-24 Liberator bomber, the PB4Y-2 Privateer served with the U.S. Navy as a patrol bomber from 1944 to 1954. In addition to its patrol-bombing duties, the Privateer was also used for “Firefly” night illumination missions during the Korean War. After its retirement from the Navy, the PB4Y-2 served with the Coast Guard until 1958.
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (Static)
Although phased out as a bomber immediately after WWII, a number of B-17s continued to serve in a few different roles, notably as an air-sea rescue aircraft. Designated the SB-17G, those Flying Fortresses served with the Air Force through the Korean War, while Navy B-17s (designated PB-1W) served until 1955 and with the Coast Guard until 1959.
PAGE 34 / WARBIRDS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CONNOR MADISON
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAY BECKMAN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ARNOLD GREENWELL
AROUND THE GROUNDS
Gordon and Cathy Davis
BY KAITLIN PIETTE AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF
GORDON AND CATHY Davis from Lexington, Kentucky, arrived during the opening week of Camp Scholler with their dog, Ellie. Both Gordon and Cathy have been attending and volunteering for EAA for the past couple of years. Their volunteer adventures began at KidVenture. Now, they volunteer at the Chapters Pavillion where Gordon is part of the Chapter Advisory Council.
Gordon first attended AirVenture in 2005. Learning to fly that same year has changed his life forever. Now, Gordon
strives to inspire others in the aviation community to follow their dreams, no matter how old they are.
Currently, Gordon flies a restored Piper Cherokee. He also built an RV-7A, which commemorates Compass Hill on the wing and the horse Seabiscuit on the tail. Gordon and Cathy enjoy seeing longtime friends each year and listening to presentations while camping at Scholler.
Gordon strives to inspire others in the aviation community to follow their dreams, no matter how old they are.
GirlVenture Camp
JULY 19–22, 2026
The EAA® GirlVenture Camp is an aviation experience during EAA® AirVenture ® Oshkosh™ for young women in grades 9-12.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAITLIN PIETTE
KEEP YOUR HEAD IN THE CLOUDS.
AOPA.ORG
VISIT US AT BOOTH #463
10:00AM - 10:45AM
The Kings on Straight Talk
About Aviation Safety
John and Martha King, King Schools
39 Lounge Meet and Greets
12:00PM-12:45PM
@bananasssssssss
1:00PM-1:45PM
@fly_with_bruno & @flymetothefun
5:30PM-7:00PM
Aviation Trivia Night with the BroPilots
7:00PM-9:30PM
39 Lounge Happy Hour by Invite
11:00AM - 11:45AM
Pilot Town Hall
We’ll be your feet on the ground.
Darren Pleasance, AOPA, President and CEO and AOPA Senior Sta
12:00PM - 12:45PM
Backcountry Flying Tips (WINGS Credit)
Amy Hoover, PhD, CFII, Author, and Backcountry Flying Expert
1:00PM - 1:45PM
WILMA Photo Workshop with David Tulis
David Tulis, AOPA Senior Photographer
2:00PM - 2:45PM
Making & Monetizing Aviation Content
Drew and Lanie @flymetothefun
3:00PM - 3:45PM
Everyone’s Watching: The DOs and DON’Ts of Aviation in Social Media
Bruno @fly_with_bruno
4:00PM - 4:45PM
How To Buy an Airplane
Brian Macbean, AOPA Finance; Ian Arendt, AOPA Legal and Other Industry Panelists
Meet Your Favorite Authors!
COME AND MEET the authors of your favorite aviation books! From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., renowned aviation writers and notable personalities from the world of flight will be available in the EAA Wearhouse, located between the EAA Member Center and the FAA Aviation Safety Center.
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
9 a.m. - Chris Henry, Final Mission: Personal Stories of the Lives Touched by EAA’s B-17, Aluminum Overcast
10 a.m. - Judie Ohm, Turret Tales: From a WWII Ball Turret Gunner Sta Sgt. Doug Ward
11 a.m. - Wayne Mutza, Kaman H-2 Seasprite: US Navy Ship-Borne Helicopter
12 p.m. (Table A) - Buck Wyndham, Hogs in the Sand
12 p.m. (Table B) - Diane Ballweg, Into the Wind, Above the Clouds: Love at First Flight!
1 p.m. - Laura Beth Dean, Georgia Jipp: Blizzard Pilot
2 p.m. - Wally Soplata, The B-25 in the Backyard: My Father’s Historic Airplane Sanctuary
3 p.m. - Erin Miller, Final Flight Final Fight: My Grandmother, the WASP, and Arlington National Cemetery and What Grandma Did
4 p.m. (Table A) - Eileen Bjorkman, Fly Girls Revolt: The Story of the Women Who Kicked Open the Door to Fly in Combat
4 p.m. (Table B) - Katherine Sharp Landdeck, The Women With Silver Wings: The Inspiring True Story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II
5 p.m. - Pam Ward, Miss Blue! The Pilot Maker
BY THE NUMBERS
1,459 portable toilet units on the grounds
AIRVENTURE 2024
Today’s SCHEDULE
2:30
AVIATION GATEWAY PARK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GRANT BURG
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAM SASIN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAM SASIN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY LEWIS BERGHOFF
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CRAIG VANDER KOLK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CRAIG VANDER KOLK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CRAIG VANDER KOLK PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVE SWARTZ
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVE SWARTZ
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAITLIN PIETTE
EAA® Four Corners
From first-time visitors to seasoned attendees, new EAA members to Lifetime, and aviation enthusiasts and pilots, the EAA Four Corners has something for everyone!
EAA Member Center
•Join, renew, or become an EAA Lifetime member™
•Explore EAA’s many member programs and benefits
•Photo opportunities and airshow performer meet and greets
•Speak to an EAA Advocacy rep about MOSAIC/LSA2.0
EAA Learn to Fly Center
•Enjoy daily “Learn to Fly” forums
•Take an introductory flight lesson on a Redbird flight simulator
• Apply for your student pilot certificate
•Ask our friendly volunteers all your “Learn to Fly” questions!
EAA Merchandise
•Shop official AirVenture event merchandise
•Find event apparel, mini windsocks, aviation toys, and more
•EAA members receive 10% off
•Each purchase helps support EAA programs
EAA Youth Welcome Center
•Learn about youth activities on the AirVenture ® grounds
•Delve into interactive aviation activities and rivet your own keychain
•Explore EAA’s youth education opportunities
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAM SASIN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY LEWIS BERGHOFF
PHOTOGRAPHY BY LEWIS BERGHOFF
for ages 18 and under supported in part by
Today’s CROSSWORD
ACROSS
2. Some call it a heading indicator, while others call it a ________ _____ (two words).
3. The Wright brothers were more than just engineers and inventors; they were also early_________.
6. Another name for the roll axis.
8. Gross weight divided by horsepower is called _______ (two words).
9. Another term for the attitude indicator (two words).
DOWN
1. Builder of the P-51, B-25, the X-15, and the XB-70 (two words).
4. AeroCreeper provides ________ during long maintenance tasks with their optional headrest and tool tray.
5. This year, they’re bringing Wingfoot One and Wingfoot Two. 100 Years ago, they’d have brought _______.
7. Lockheed’s early airliner, subhunter, and spacecraft.
TUESDAY,
How well do you know EAA history?
Try your hand at these trivia questions and find out. The answer, along with a new question, will be in tomorrow’s paper.
Q: Thirty years ago, the first Lockwood AirCam was designed and built as a research and photography platform for which nonprofit organization?
A. The World Wildlife Fund
B. The Jade Morris Conservancy
C. The National Geographic Society
D. The Experimental Aircraft Association
TUESDAY, JULY 22, ANSWER
C-119 Flying Boxcar (AC-119)
Your daily AirVenture playlist
Look for these songs on your favorite streaming service and build a personal soundtrack for your trip to the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration.
Aces High by Iron Maiden
Endless Flight by Leo Sayer
Gonna Fly Now by Bill Conti
I’m Gonna Fly by The Losing Hope
One Vision (Iron Eagle) by Queen
Win this fully restored, immaculate 1947 Cessna 120 in the 2025 EAA Aviation Foundation™ Aircraft Sweepstakes. Enter now for your chance to win! Visit EAA.org/Sweepstakes for aircraft details and to register to win! Use promo code AV2025 for 25% more entries.
We offer hot coffee, doughnuts, fresh fruit, salads, sandwiches and much more. Red One Market has everything you need to make your stay more enjoyable.
LOCATED SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO LEAVE THE GROUNDS! Head over to one of our seven Red One Market locations today!
@ flyguy_aero
Successfully landed on the green dot! What a wild time. If you’re here, give me a shout. Camping Sunday-Sunday
OSHKOSH MOMENTS
@ gfb.avphoto #osh25
@ rachhobbs8 No better place on earth #oshday1 #osh25
@ fssellin Made it to #OSH2025 got wrist bands and parking pass. Hitting sea plane base and then chow. Tomorrow it begins!!!
@ dillten_ Back at our summer happy place. #osh25 #airventure
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