WALTER BEECH, CLYDE Cessna, and Lloyd Stearman are three names synonymous with aviation. At EAA AirVenture Oshkosh you can find legions of their aircraft poised proudly under the Wisconsin sun. But did you know that before there was a Beechcraft, Cessna or Stearman aircraft company, these three pioneers joined in a venture that would ultimately manufacture nearly 1,700 aircraft?
Founded in Wichita, Kansas, the “Air Capital of the World,” the Travel Air Manufacturing Co. operated from 1925 to 1931, producing models ranging from the Model A, a three-place biplane powered by a 90-hp Curtis OX-5 engine, to the sleek Type R Mystery Ship, a lowwing monoplane that won the Thompson Trophy in the 1929 National Air Races. Though best known for its biplanes, Travel Air also produced the model 5000 and 6000 cabin monoplanes.
The most often sighted Travel Air today is the Model D-4000 biplane. Apart from its use in general aviation and as a mail plane, the Model 4000 was flown competitively; Louise Thaden flew a D-4000 to win the inaugural Women’s Air Derby at the 1929 National Air Races.
A new restoration of a D-4000 flown by Charles Lindbergh is making its public debut at AirVenture 2025. To spot the aircraft, go to the Theater in the Woods and walk south. You’ll find it nestled in with a flock of its sister ships, marking a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Travel Air.
The restoration of Lindy’s Travel Air, N4264, was a collaboration between Frank Schelling and Mark Lightsey. Frank recalls that he bought
a “rusted out fuselage and a pile of parts” in 1985. Over the years he acquired a Wright J-5 engine and original instruments, then put the project in the capable hands of Mark and his Tennessee company, Aerocraftsman.
When Frank dug into the history of the airplane he discovered it had flown the mail with Robertson Aircraft Corp.
After earning fame in 1927 as the first person to make a nonstop flight from New York to Paris, Lindbergh carried the mail between St. Louis to Chicago on a 1928 promotional flight for Robertson, flying NC4264. With these facts in hand, Frank set about to make the restoration as original as possible.
Mark got to work in 2013, and having restored several other Travel Airs, said: “It’s just fun to do one that has all the bits and bobs on it, that the owner really wanted to do original: instruments, flare tubes, landing lights, mechanical brakes. Not trying to do a custom, just trying to do a true restoration.”
Near the end of the project in April 2024, Frank turned over custody of the Travel Air to Walt Bowe, who first saw the aircraft years ago when it was in Frank’s shop, then in California. Walt recalled: “I would go over and visit Frank and his Jenny project, and Frank was such a historian, making sure that the instruments
“It’s just fun to do one that has all the bits and bobs on it, that the owner really wanted to do original: instruments, flare tubes, landing lights, mechanical brakes. Not trying to do a custom, just trying to do a true restoration.”
— Mark Lightsey
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were perfect. Luckily, he contacted me when he thought about letting it go.”
Once finished, Frank recalls watching Mark make the first flight, thinking that it was nice to see it fly. Mark said: “The planes are great, but it’s the owners that are the real treat. You start with customers and wind up with friends.” Walt added, “I think Mark and Frank made a great team, and I’m just lucky to have stepped in at the end.”
Another notable Travel Air on-site is a blue and orange model S6000B that’s been in service since 1929. The aircraft, NC9084, was first bought by Phillips Petroleum as an executive transport, essentially a “limousine of the air.” Over the years the plane changed hands before going to work transporting smoke jumpers in 1956 for Johnson Flying Service in Missoula, Montana.
In 1969 the plane went to Homer, Alaska, flying for Bill de Creeft at his Kachemak Air Service. Bill later did two restorations on the aircraft, eventually installing a 450-hp Wright Whirlwind R-975.
In 2008, aviation enthusiast and businessman Howard Wright bought NC9084 and flew it down the Alaska Highway to its new home in Washington State. This year, Howard left Seattle for Oshkosh on July 7, and on day four
landed at Lloyd Stearman Field in Wichita, Kansas, to join a Travel Air 100th anniversary gathering at the aircraft’s birthplace. Then, following stops at Antique Airfield in Blakesburg, Iowa, and Brodhead Airport in Wisconsin, he arrived at AirVenture on July 18.
Howard said: “The airplane is just a sweetheart to fly. In 17 years I’ve put 800 hours on it and in one year took it on a trip to six countries — 11,000 miles, 12 months, 40 fuel stops, 125 hours of flying. The airplane has a very long landing gear and shock absorbers, so it’s very forgiving. The airplane’s been very good to me, and I’ve tried to be very good to it.”
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Mark Lightsey, left, and Walt Bowe
ADVOCACY & SAFETY
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford visits AirVenture
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAUL CISNEROS
FAA ADMINISTRATOR BRYAN Bedford discussed numerous topics during the Meet the Administrator forum at the Theater in the Woods on Thursday morning. Joining him on the stage for a fireside chat was EAA CEO & Chairman of the Board Jack J. Pelton. Bedford also took questions from the audience.
Bedford was sworn in as FAA administrator earlier this month following a long career in the airline industry. He leads a workforce of more than 40,000 employees during a pivotal time for the agency.
Bedford kicked o the forum by presenting the 2025 Certificated Flight Instructor of the Year to Adam Boyd from Arkansas, the 2025 Aviation Technician of the Year to Samuel “Beau” Hardison, also from Arkansas, and the 2025 FAA Safety Team Representative of the Year to Josselyn Slagle from Pennsylvania.
In response to Pelton’s first question, Bedford said AirVenture is “amazing.” When he’s previously attended, Bedford said he was recruiting and talking to young people about becoming maintenance technicians, dispatchers, and commercial airline pilots.
Regarding a question about FAA personnel, Bedford said, “The FAA has a great culture, and its people are passionate about what they do.” In acknowledging the current agency challenges, he said, “We need to lean back into what we do, which is manage safety and manage risk, … and that’s something that we are experts at.” He also emphasized the need to break down silos in the organization.
In his opening remarks, Bedford talked about three pillars at the FAA. First was the people pillar, which he described as foundational to get the agency appropriately sta ed and trained. Second was technology modernization, where he said there are “significant technology challenges” and where the systems have not “seen modernization in over 40 years.” To address this challenge, Congress has funded $12.5 billion to modernize the air tra c control system. The third pillar Bedford described was a rethinking of airspace design. “The demands on the NAS [national airspace system] have continued to grow and are growing at rates frankly that we are playing catch-up on,” Bedford said.
Pelton also asked Bedford about integrating uncrewed aerial systems (drones) into the NAS, a topic of significant interest to pilots. Bedford said, “We all have a stake in this when we start thinking about the use of drones beyond visual line of sight,” something not permitted at this time. Noting that drones have to be integrated into the NAS, he said rulemaking will come out “in the not-too-distant future.” He also qualified the issue as “really complicated.”
Before the event concluded, Bedford answered questions from the audience on a number of topics including collision avoidance, digital versus remote towers, mental health, and ATC privatization.
In addition to his airline industry experience, Bedford is also an aviator and holds a private pilot certificate with multiengine and instrument ratings.
BACHELOR OF APPLIED STUDIES
OSHKOSH MOMENTS
REUNITING UNDER THE ROTARY BLADE
A Navy Blue Flight reunion at Oshkosh
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY PAUL PETR
IT’S THAT TIME of year again — EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. The moment my boots hit the tarmac, I felt that familiar mix of excitement and nostalgia. The smell of avgas, the sound of radial engines firing up in the distance, and the sight of aircraft from every era. This is more than an air show. It’s a homecoming.
This year, however, is di erent. It’s more than just another pilgrimage to aviation’s sacred grounds — it’s a deeply personal one. For the first time in nearly four decades, I reunited with my Army flight school classmates from “Navy Blue Flight,” Class 86-05. We were the rotary-wing students who graduated out of Fort Rucker in the late summer of 1986, each of us wearing the distinctive navy blue ball caps that gave our flight its name.
Most of us hadn’t seen or spoken to each other since we pinned on our silver wings nearly 40 years ago. And yet, as we stood together on the Oshkosh grounds this summer, it was as if no time had passed. The stories flowed, the laughter echoed, and the bond — one forged through long days of training and even longer nights of studying emergency procedures — was still rock solid.
Back in 1986, we scattered like a fighter bomb burst in all directions — some into active duty and others into the Guard or Reserve. We transitioned into airframes like the UH-60 Black Hawk, AH-1 Cobra, CH-47 Chinook,
and AH-64 Apache. Many of us saw combat in the decades that followed, and a few paid the ultimate price. Their absence this week was felt deeply.
As for me, I eventually moved over to the Air National Guard, flying MH-60Gs on search and rescue missions in Alaska, and later, C-130s with the Delaware ANG. Like many others, my career path took unexpected turns, but the foundation was always the same — those early days of Army flight training at Fort Rucker.
What made this reunion at Oshkosh so special wasn’t just the aircraft or the air shows — it was the reminder of our shared history. That time at Fort Rucker was more than training; it was a rite of passage. A once-in-a-lifetime experience that bonded us not just as pilots, but as brothers. Being back together — here, among tens of thousands of fellow aviation lovers — rekindled that spark.
We hope to bring even more of our Navy Blue Flight classmates to Oshkosh next year. This reunion has been a powerful reminder that while aircraft may change, and careers may evolve, the love of flying — and the friendships forged in the rotor wash — never fade.
So here’s to Navy Blue Flight, Class 86-05. Here’s to the birds we flew, the missions we served, and the lives we shared. And here’s to Oshkosh 2025, which brought us back together under the same sky.
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Michael Grzincich Receives the 2025 Phillips 66 Aviation EAA Young Eagles Leadership Award
Honored at AirVenture for flying nearly 1,100 youths and inspiring smiles at every altitude
BY PHILLIPS 66
PHILLIPS 66 AVIATION, a leading diversified and integrated downstream energy provider and a major contract jet and avgas fuel supplier to private, commercial, and military aviation, is proud to present the 2025 Phillips 66 Aviation EAA Young Eagles Leadership Award to Michael Grzincich. As a Young Eagles coordinator of EAA Chapter 237 in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, Michael has introduced nearly 1,100 youths to the joy of flight, making him one of Minnesota’s most dedicated aviation mentors.
“I’m honored that someone took the time to nominate me and humbled that people have noticed my enthusiasm for Young Eagles,” Michael said. “I can’t imagine a life without Young Eagles — it’s what I look forward to most
each month. Seeing a 12-year-old at the controls, realizing, ‘I’m flying an airplane!’ — that’s why we do this.”
“Michael Grzincich’s dedication to creating meaningful, hands-on aviation experiences is inspiring a love of flight in the next generation,” said Ronald Sanchez, general manager of aviation at Phillips 66. “We’re proud to honor Michael with this award for his extraordinary leadership, passion, selfless service, and for opening doors and creating unforgettable opportunities for youth.”
From First Flight to Lifelong Purpose
Michael’s aviation journey began as a child when his grandfather, a private pilot, took him on his first flight. Then, at 24, he obtained his private pilot certificate.
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF MICHAEL GRZINCICH
After a 15-year break, during which he raised a family and built a business with his wife, Stacy, Michael returned to aviation and the cockpit at his son’s request.
In a full-circle moment, Michael tracked down and repurchased the same airplane once owned by his grandfather, complete with the original logbooks and even the hand-built ladder bearing its tail number.
“That plane is part of our family story,” said Michael. “Now it’s part of hundreds of kids’ futures. My grandfather inspired me to fly, and now I get to pass this passion of flight on to others.”
Michael has since flown multiple generations of his family — including his sons, uncles, grandchildren, and grandmother — in the same aircraft, paying tribute to the man who first inspired his dreams of flying. Giving Back Through Aviation
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Michael flew smoke circles over nursing homes, including the one where his stepfather lived, as a way to lift spirits.
“I’d ask myself, ‘How can I use my airplane to make other people smile?’ That’s what it’s all about,” Michael recalled.
Since 2016, Michael has helped EAA Chapter 237 consistently fly 40-50 Young Eagles per month. He also
organizes special flights for school groups unable to attend regular events. As a chapter board member, he supports aircraft restoration e orts, including work on the B-25 Berlin Express, and applies his IT expertise to improve chapter operations.
Inspiring Future Aviators
When he’s not flying, Michael teaches information technology at a local community college, where he often introduces students from underrepresented communities to aviation. Many bring siblings or children to Young Eagles events, discovering opportunities they hadn’t imagined before.
Looking ahead, Michael hopes to expand his impact by mentoring even more aspiring pilots and building partnerships that introduce aviation to students who may not otherwise have access. With plans to grow his chapter’s outreach and continue restoring historic aircraft, Michael remains committed to preserving aviation’s past while shaping its future — one smile at a time.
For 30 years, Phillips 66 Aviation has sponsored EAA Young Eagles and supported outstanding volunteers. Phillips 66 continues to provide a $1-per-gallon avgas rebate to all Young Eagles volunteer pilots, helping the Young Eagles program with even more flights.
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YOUNG EAGLES AWARD
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF MICHAEL GRZINCICH
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF PHILLIPS 66
Goodyear Gondola for EAA Aviation Museum
BY GOODYEAR
EARLIER THIS WEEK, the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. donated its last remaining blimp gondola frame to the EAA Aviation Museum as part of a new children’s exhibit.
The gondola frame is from Goodyear’s GZ-20 model era of blimps that spanned nearly 40 years. In that time period, as one blimp retired, its gondola was often refurbished for a new blimp. The gondola frame being donated to the EAA museum was previously used on the Europa, Goodyear’s blimp that flew throughout Europe in the 1980s, and on the Floridabased Stars and Stripes in the early 2000s. This tradition ended in 2011 when Goodyear began the transition to the NT (new technology) semi-rigid airship platform that remains in place for its fleet of airships today.
As part of this year’s celebration of the Goodyear blimp’s 100th anniversary,
this gesture marks another way for Goodyear to preserve the history of its airship program and carry the legacy of the Goodyear blimp forward for future generations.
“As we celebrate our blimp program’s 100th anniversary, there’s no better way to honor its legacy than by inspiring the next generation of aviation enthusiasts,” said Michael “Doc” Dougherty, Goodyear’s chief pilot and operations manager. “We hope this exhibit sparks curiosity and dreams of flight on aircraft of all kinds in countless children into the future.”
“Goodyear’s blimp flying has been an iconic part of aviation for a century, so this donation is a great fit as part of our museum’s mission to tell the story of flight,” said Chris Henry, EAA Aviation Museum manager. “Just as Goodyear blimps have brought fascination with flight, this donation will be part of a future exhibit that inspires those with aviation dreams.”
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AROUND THE GROUNDS
A POPPIN’ GOOD TIME
Sisters give out popcorn to add to EAA Fly-In Theater experience
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY
BY BARBARA A. SCHMITZ AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF
NOT MANY PEOPLE can enjoy a good movie without popcorn. The Faris sisters certainly belong to that group. So when the sibling entrepreneurs who started Faris Gourmet Popcorn of nearby Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, had a chance to take over the EAA Fly-In Theater concession stand three years ago, you’d “butter believe” they said yes.
Most nights, they give out about 2,000 bags of free buttered popcorn, sponsored by Lycoming.
“We are guests of the EAA, and our goal is to make the guest experience better,” said Jenny Faris, who runs the business with her sister, Ali Faris Helleberg.
“Ali, Jenny, and the whole Faris team are fantastic partners to work with,” said
Hal Bryan, EAA’s managing editor and the manager of the Fly-In Theater venue during AirVenture. “They stepped up and stepped in without missing a beat, and continue to keep our audiences happy and well-fed during every screening, and they do it with a joyful dedication that’s infectious.”
Besides a love of popcorn, Jenny said they have a connection to EAA, as their grandfather was a friend of S.J. “Steve” Wittman, one of the early EAA members who advocated to move the fly-in convention to Oshkosh. And their grandmother planted many of the flowers that graced the early convention grounds.
“EAA has always been in our lives,” Ali said. “AirVenture is like a holiday for our family, a two-week event every July.”
Their popcorn company actually grew out of a high school marketing project, where Jenny had to come up with a mock
business plan for a business. After brainstorming with her dad, who would end each day with a big bowl of popcorn made from his Stir Crazy popcorn machine, she decided on a popcorn company.
After trying out various flavors — they now offer nearly 400 — and giving out samples to family and friends, they discovered popcorn could be a viable business rather than just a school project. So, from taking over a 20-by-20 space in the building that housed the family’s industrial sewing company to upgrading to their current 32,000 square-foot building, business is — excuse the pun — “popping.”
They are now located in more than 3,000 stores nationwide.
It helps that their family is big foodies, Ali said. “We’re really just re-creating our favorite food in popcorn form,” she said.
Their best-selling popcorns are plain, caramel corn, yellow cheddar, and windy city, a mix of caramel corn and yellow cheddar.
Jenny and Ali admit they eat popcorn daily, but they save the specialty flavors
for treats. Ali’s favorite is scotch tree or caramel delight, while Jenny said she likes strawberry shortcake, puppy chow, or monster cookie.
Besides at the Fly-in Theater, you’ll also find Faris Gourmet Popcorn in Ultralights and Homebuilts on the EAA grounds.
Sisters and entrepreneurs Ali Faris Helleberg, left, and Jenny Faris show off a variety of their popcorn flavors. Faris Popcorn has stands in both the Homebuilts and Ultralight areas, as well as at the EAA Fly-in Theater around showtimes.
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Rep. Sam Graves, GA Organization Execs to Provide Congressional Update on General Aviation Issues
BY MADISON NORTZ, EAA ADVOCACY INTERN
THE ANNUAL CONGRESSIONAL Town Hall, featuring U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, will take place today from 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at Forum Stage 4. Chairman Graves, longtime pilot and member of EAA’s Warbirds of America board of directors, will be joined by top executives from several general aviation organizations, including Jack J. Pelton, EAA CEO and chairman of the board; Darren Pleasance, AOPA president and CEO; Jim Viola, General Aviation Manufacturers Association president and CEO; Cade Clark, Vertical Aviation International chief government a airs officer; and Kristie Greco Johnson, National Business Aviation Association senior vice-president for government a airs.
The roundtable discussion will cover legislative priorities shaping the general aviation sector. The event will focus on recent and upcoming legislative and FAA activities, including the ongoing implementation of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, air tra c control modernization, the MOSAIC (Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification) rulemaking initiative, Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) rulemaking for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), and ADS-B and aircraft registration privacy. There will be time at the end for questions from the audience.
Please join us today in welcoming Chairman Graves back to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh for the annual Congressional Town Hall!
Piper
Aircraft Powers EAA AeroEducate Program as New Principal Sponsor
BY PIPER AIRCRAFT
PIPER AIRCRAFT INC. is proud to announce its principal sponsorship of EAA’s AeroEducate program, a free online resource inviting K-12 students to explore aviation and aerospace. This sponsorship underscores Piper’s dedication to fostering aviation enthusiasm among students of all ages.
“We’re very excited to welcome Piper as a new principal sponsor of EAA AeroEducate,” said Rick Larsen, vice president of communities and member programs, who coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. “Piper’s longstanding commitment to aviation education aligns perfectly with our mission to inspire and support the next generation of aviators. We look forward to working together to expand opportunities for youths to explore and pursue meaningful careers in aviation.”
AeroEducate o ers virtual and handson STEM activities that explore flight
principles and aviation careers and awards students digital badges for their achievements. Through Piper’s sponsorship, AeroEducate participants gain direct access to the Piper Flight School Alliance network, connecting them to premier flight training programs across the nation.
AeroEducate also equips teachers, parents, and youth leaders with tools to inspire future aviators and innovators.
“Piper Aircraft is proud to champion EAA’s AeroEducate program,” said John Calcagno, president and CEO of Piper Aircraft. “Building on our longstanding support of EAA’s AirVenture Aviation Gateway Park, we’re excited to sponsor an accessible initiative that educators and parents can embrace — one that ignites curiosity, fosters learning, and inspires students to explore aviation beyond the classroom.”
Coming Together to Fill In the Gaps
Sign shop volunteers help one of their own
BY ANGELA SATTERLEE AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF
IN THE HIGH-ENERGY world of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, there’s a lot that goes unnoticed behind the scenes. But helping you find your way around the grounds or find a specific vendor, for example, is easier thanks to the sign shop volunteer group. They build, paint, prep, deliver and install the visuals that bring the event to life. But this year, one of their own needed help.
Jim Grabe, a longtime volunteer and former Naval officer, had unexpected heart surgery just days before AirVenture ramped up. He was hospitalized July 10-18, and his wife Jan — another sign shop volunteer — was by his side. When Jan was no longer allowed to stay at the hospital, the team rallied. They arranged rides to and from Grafton so she wouldn’t have to navigate back and forth alone from Camp Scholler’s Audrey’s Park. They even began organizing funds for a hotel nearby if it became necessary.
“Jim brought a new perspective to the group,” said Jeff Benedict, EAA’s visual display manager. “[He] really helped me embrace letting volunteers do more than I would task them with in the past. Jim would see my workload and pick out a specific thing that was very time consuming and say, ‘I think our team could help with that.’ That’s
how the crew started handling the window graphics, something that used to be a staff job. Jim learned the process, trained a small group, and built a whole crew of volunteers who could handle it on their own. Jan is just as active, as she keeps things organized, assigns projects, tracks hours, and makes instructions so newer folks don’t get overwhelmed.”
So, when Jim and Jan couldn’t be there, the group didn’t hesitate.
Volunteers Jay and Susie Edmiston stepped into leadership roles. Ron Oehler, the former chairman, returned to manage the logistics of menu and wayfinding signage. And installations went on late into the night, sometimes past 9 p.m.
And when an unexpected situation also took Je out of commission this past Sunday — on one of the busiest install days of the year — the team still pulled o the massive Boeing Plaza graphics installation. It took until 10:30 p.m., but every detail was handled.
“The dedication they have to each other really touched me,” Je said. “They are a family when they are here, and perhaps even in the o season. They stepped up to fill in when Jim and Jan were sidelined for AirVenture, but more importantly they stepped up for Jim and Jan on a personal level.”
This year, the signs went up. The compass rose was painted. And while Jim and Jan couldn’t be in the thick of it, their spirit absolutely was.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAM SASIN
AROUND THE GROUNDS
From Airline Cockpit to Seaplane Base
How Bob Kerr became a volunteer boat captain
BY ANGELA SATTERLEE AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF
WHEN BOB KERR, EAA Lifetime 320965, told me he’s a boat captain, he said it with a laugh and a shrug. “I feel famous, although I do feel guilty because I’m definitely not the only person that has done this,” he said. But after hearing what he went through to become one, it’s clear that the journey isn’t as easy as he thought it would be.
“Every year during the show, my family and I would always come out here [to the Seaplane Base] at least
Bob asked what it would take to camp at the Seaplane Base. The answer was simple: You either fly in a seaplane or you volunteer. Volunteering sounded like a perfect fit.
once or twice,” Bob said. “I call it the alter ego to the main show. It’s quiet, it’s calm, it’s peaceful.” Attending EAA AirVenture Oshkosh since the mid-1980s, he had always admired the tranquility of the EAA Seaplane Base compared to the hustle of the fly-in.
Two years ago, that admiration turned into action. Bob asked what it would take to camp at the Seaplane Base. The answer was simple: You either fly in a seaplane or you volunteer. Volunteering sounded like a perfect fit. “I enjoy interacting with people. … I wanted to do something where I could really be involved,” he said.
Bob approached Shane Albers, the Seaplane Base chairman, about helping out. “He goes, ‘Well, are you a captain?’ I’m like, well, airline captain, is that what you mean? And he said, ‘No, are you a boat captain?’”
Though Bob had over 50 years of boating experience, he didn’t have the credentials. Still, when Shane asked if he’d want to get licensed, Bob said, “Yeah, okay. I think I could do that.” He admitted now, “I was semi-naive.”
Becoming a licensed boat captain under U.S. Coast Guard rules is no easy task. Bob had to document more than 360 days on the water, and 90 of those needed to be within the past three years. “I had to go back and review over the summers, how many days a month or whatever I had been on the water,” he recalled. Then came the rigorous requirements: a written exam, physical exam, drug test, background check, CPR and first-aid certification, and obtaining a TWIC card (transportation worker identification credential) from the Transportation Security Administration. All of this was on top of his personal life. “During the year, we were trying to sell our house,” Bob said. He didn’t complete the course in the allotted year and had to renew it. In total, the process took him nearly two years to complete, finishing it up in February of this year. So, what did all that e ort earn him? A spot at the helm of a pontoon boat, slowly cruising the waters of the Seaplane Base. And to Bob, it was worth every step.
BOAT CAPTAIN / PAGE 17
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.
“We decided if we were going to camp, [the Seaplane Base] is where we wanted to do it … it’s shady, it’s quiet. I say it’s almost meditative.”
— Bob Kerr
He’s been volunteering during this year’s AirVenture, putting in daily six-hour shifts. “It’s been a lot of fun. I really enjoyed it,” he said. His son, Bobby Kerr, EAA Lifetime 1162111, joined him this year as a narrator, and next year, his wife may join, too. “She would love to do the narration part because she’s a social butterfly,” Bob said.
Next year may also be Bob’s first time camping at AirVenture. “We decided if we were going to camp, [the Seaplane Base] is where we wanted to do it … it’s shady, it’s quiet. I say it’s almost meditative.”
For Bob, becoming a boat captain wasn’t just about a license — it was about carving out a peaceful, purposeful way to give back to a place he’s loved for decades.
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PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF BOB KERR
A Big Trip with a Little Airplane
BY ANGELA SATTERLEE AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF
FOR MOST PEOPLE, flying through 26 countries in a small, single-engine aircraft over the course of 101 days sounds like a feat best left to seasoned explorers or characters in aviation novels. For Tobias Burch, EAA 1210089, it was a dream of his since 2008 to fly along the Andes Mountains.
The Swiss native, currently stationed in Philadelphia as a project manager for Armasuisse supporting the F/A-18 program, took off on December 22, 2024, in his custom-built Carbon Cub EX-2 — an aircraft he constructed with his then-wife Jackie Burch and nicknamed Pocahontas. It was not his first adventure in the sky, but it was by far his most ambitious: a solo flight around South America under visual flight rules, totaling over 25,000 miles and 230 flight hours.
Pocahontas is a light-sport airplane built for utility and endurance, not comfort. But it was designed with care and proven with experience. In fact, Tobias earned
recognition in 2019 for building the best kit aircraft of its kind. That foundation, plus years of flying across North America, laid the groundwork for a journey that would push his skills, patience, and endurance to the limit.
The route took him from the United States to the Caribbean, then across to Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil, Argentina, and deep into the windswept expanses of Patagonia. From there, he followed the Pacific coastline north through Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and
into Central America before returning via Mexico. Each border crossing required advance permission, and each leg brought new variables — terrain, bureaucracy, and the ever-changing sky.
“It was more tricky, especially across the savannas with the big thunderstorms, but also it’s very difficult to bridge, or basically the airports are so far away,” Tobias
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF TOBIAS BURCH
PAGE 18 / BIG TRIP
Each border crossing required advance permission, and each leg brought new variables — terrain, bureaucracy, and the ever-changing sky.
said. “So that was very hard to fly these long legs.” He carried emergency rations, a life raft, a satellite phone, extra fuel, and backup systems. Every flight had multiple contingency plans — B, C, and even D.
And yet, amid all the logistical hurdles and meteorological challenges, Tobias was gifted with a view of South America that few travelers ever see. From the glacial lakes of southern Patagonia to the dense green of the Amazon basin, untouched landscapes rolled out beneath his wings. And he made frequent stops to camp in the country’s beauty. It was down in Chilean Patagonia that Tobias said he had his favorite moments. With little air traffic it was quiet, just him and the wind. “It was easy flying, just had to watch for the weather that was kind of fast changing and strong winds and all that stuff. So had to be very careful about that,” he said.
Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Ecuador offered local insights and logistical support, often handing Tobias off to the next contact down the line. In several countries,
locals greeted him like an honored guest, even throwing an impromptu barbecue party in his honor.
Still, it wasn’t all easy, he said; you have to know your limits. With a background in glacier flying and seaplanes, he was well prepared. But flying solo across so many borders in remote terrain and volatile weather left him mentally and physically drained.
When the journey ended in March 2025, Tobias returned home exhausted but proud. He had accomplished a lifelong dream.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR YOUR ENGINE IN ONE PLACE!
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF TOBIAS BURCH
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF TOBIAS BURCH
FIRST AID CO-CHAIR HELPS TO ‘SAVE PEOPLE’S VACATIONS’
BY ANGELA SATTERLEE AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF
DEB FERGUSON, EAA 1247485, says she doesn’t just volunteer at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. She helps to “save people’s vacations.”
Originally from Ohio but now residing locally in Waupaca, Deb is co-chair for First Aid and is part of three generations — including her and her husband, their children, and grandchildren — who volunteer there. Her husband has volunteered in First Aid for about 30 years and Deb for about 25 years.
It was inevitable for Deb to catch the aviation bug since her husband got his private pilot certificate the week before they married. But soon, the aviation bug spread throughout their family. Deb started attending EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in 1984 with her husband, Carl Ferguson, EAA 380128, and their oldest two children.
As a large family of history buffs growing up in Ohio, Deb’s children visited the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, where they immersed themselves in the
history of aviation. And, of course, they visited AirVenture every summer.
“I think my boys’ interest in the military grew out of their experiences at EAA,” Deb said. One son just retired as a lieutenant colonel in the Army, another is still serving but in a consultant role, and a third works in the cyber division for the Army Reserve.
“My boys always said, ‘They served so that people who didn’t want to serve didn’t have to.’ They just wanted to serve so that the draft never had to come back.”
After a few years of attending AirVenture, Deb realized she could also volunteer. Starting in 1989, she volunteered one day out of the week as she was a nurse with a growing family. But as her passion grew, she started volunteering the entire week, bringing along her four children, including the youngest who was still a baby.
Deb said she has also grown very close to the other First Aid volunteers, creating lifelong friendships that you can’t find anywhere else.
There is a lot of variety when you volunteer at the First Aid building, including a lot of minor things.
“We get bike accidents, we get people [who] twist their ankles, we get people [with] rashes,” Deb said. “We get people that have nose bleeds [or who are] overheated.”
But over the years, they have also saved lives, she said. Her children are grown now with kids of their own, but AirVenture has always been the one place their family can reunite.
“It’s just one thing that we’ve always done as a family,” Deb said. “And no matter how far apart we’ve been at different times, they all come home to do EAA.”
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAITLIN PIETTE
VAN’S AIRCRAFT VERY HAPPY ABOUT MOSAIC
BY RAUL CISNEROS
MIKAEL VIA, CEO of Van’s Aircraft, declared himself very happy with the announcement of the MOSAIC (Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification) rule at AirVenture on Tuesday, which greatly expands the light-sport aircraft (LSA) rule established by the FAA in 2004. “When you look at the results here, I think it exceeds most people’s expectations,” he said.
Via gave kudos for EAA, the FAA, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), the committee working on the MOSAIC proposal, and everyone else who worked on it, recognizing the value of having different perspectives. “I think they came up with a fantastic result,” Via said.
Van’s has been actively involved in MOSAIC through Rian Johnson, the
company’s president and chief technology officer, who participates on the ASTM committee. Via said Rian has “been driving MOSAIC from the airframe manufacturing side.” He added, “Van’s wouldn’t be putting in all that effort and time up to this date and going forward unless we were highly interested in MOSAIC.”
Van’s was in the LSA business early on — it started producing its RV-12s as a kit in 2006 for the experimental and amateur-built aircraft community, two years after the 2004 LSA rule introduction. In 2013, Van’s started building special LSA in-house in 2013, facilitating instruction from flight schools.
The company also intends to continue to be a player in the kits industry, Via emphasized. “Van’s has been the dominant force in the kit industry, and it will remain the dominant force in the kit industry,” he said. “We fully intend to continue to support kits and grow our kit market … and continue to be a leader in the experimental kit market.”
During his conversation with AirVenture Today , Via also talked about how the turnaround the company has experienced since its financial
difficulties two years ago. “All of our planning that we’ve had to do coming out of these last two years, all of the metrics, all that we told people we are going to achieve, everything that we’ve got inside the company, we’ve met or exceed every metric,” he said.
Van’s made news on the first day of AirVenture by announcing that the RV-15, their first-ever high-wing design, is now in production and they are taking orders. “The RV-15 is designed from the beginning to be MOSAIC-compliant,” Via said.
Also on display at Van’s exhibit is the 2026 model RV-12. “More and more flight schools have been buying the RV-12; it’s starting to be really popular,” said Via. They’ve also listened to customers and added more creature comforts like leather seats and upgraded touch points. The pitot tube has been moved from the spinner to the wing and is now heated. According to Via, under MOSAIC, the aircraft will be able to be used for IFR training. Van’s also noted the U.S. government’s support of the domestic sourcing of materials, making it easier to obtain replacement parts.
Van’s Aircraft CEO Mikael Via (right) chats with AirVenture Today about how MOSAIC impacts the general aviation and kitbuilt industry. PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF RAUL CISNEROS
AROUND THE GROUNDS
Gzhewaadziwin and Mnaadendamowin
BY BOB GOULAIS, EAA 1509922
IT IS A genuine pleasure to be a part of the greatest spectacle in aviation — EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Without a doubt, it is the highlight of many an aviator’s journey. To comply with the instruction “rock your wings” and hear those words “welcome to Oshkosh” is always so satisfying.
My journey to this place is rather unique, and it has a perspective that doesn’t usually grace the pages of aviation magazines or AirVenture Today. It has a lot to do with being a pilot. But it also has a connection to my culture.
My wife and are both Indigenous people. I am Anishinaabe. You might know of us locally as the Ojibwe, Chippewa, or Potawatomi nations. Oshkosh is in the south central part of our traditional territory, which includes much of Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and parts of southern Manitoba.
So on behalf of our nation — “Aanii-Boozhoo, kina. Biindigen Anishinaabe aki noongoom.” Greetings, everyone, and welcome to Anishinaabe territory today!
This part of Wisconsin is also shared with the Oneida, Mohican, and our cousins the Ho-Chunk nation. Collectively, the First Nations people have been stewards of these lands and waters since time immemorial.
My wife Deborah’s homelands are a little farther away. She is Mi’gmaq from northern New Brunswick on the east coast of Canada.
GZHEWAADZIWIN / PAGE 23
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF BOB GOULAIS
How does this tie into aviation? In the teachings of our traditional society, I am of the Bald Eagle clan. Our clan is not only our family, but our spirit animal and guide. Migizi (bald eagle) is the raptor that flies the highest in Creation. It is no wonder why it is also a proud symbol of the American nation. So at an early age, I had a spiritual connection to the Sky World, the realm of the highest flying birds, the clouds and a tangible connection to the Spirit World.
Long ago, I made the decision to be a pilot. But it wasn’t until I worked my way out of my home reserve, called Nipissing First Nation, that I had the wherewithal to follow through with that dream in my mid-40s.
I finally obtained my private pilot certificate in 2018. Since then, I’ve flown with my eagle-brethren in our 1981 Mooney M20J 201 based at Waterloo, Ontario (CYKF). Incidentally, we’ve nicknamed her the Blue Jay as she is sky blue in color.
We have been blessed to see the proud colors of your various states, as well as Old Glory waving proudly across the North 40. We’ve also seen many other banners and flags in our neighborhood (shout-out to the “Pirates” across the way). Someday, we’ll sacrifice some of our useful load to bring along a flagpole and the flags of the Three Fires Confederacy and Mi’gmaq Grand
Council to wave proudly in the warm winds, sunshine, and occasional squalls here in the Midwest.
Year after year, our experience here at AirVenture has been nothing short of magical. Much of it comes from the pilot community who exude the traditional Anishinaabe values of mnaadendamowin (respect) and
gzhewaadziwin (kindness) toward each other and these grounds around us. This reinforces that collective spirit we all share as aviators and enthusiasts from our diverse nations across Turtle Island (North America) and from around the world.
Flights
For Youths Ages 8 to 17
PAGE 22 / GZHEWAADZIWIN
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF BOB GOULAIS
Love Takes Flight
A proposal at the Brown Arch
BY ANGELA SATTERLEE AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF
GABE ENVANI’S LOVE for aviation started when he was just 6 years old, thanks to a family trip to the Kennedy Space Center.
“Ever since then, I was hooked on anything that left the ground,” Gabe said. That passion brought him to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh for the first time in 2013, and he’s returned every year since. Ten years ago, he started volunteering with North 40 Flight Line Operations, helping guide airplanes and people in one of the event’s busiest areas.
But it wasn’t until he joined a recreational volleyball league that Gabe met Kiersten Moore. Their connection was instant, but Kiersten quickly realized there was another love in Gabe’s life: AirVenture. She’d hear stories about his time in Oshkosh — the aircraft, the energy, the community — and felt like she was missing out. So
last year, she joined him on the trip and volunteered at North 40 alongside him. “I was really scared at first, but I am pretty confident now,” she said.
That first AirVenture trip was filled with milestones, including their first couple photo at the Brown Arch. What began as Gabe’s childhood passion has now become something the two of them share.
This year, when Kiersten said she wanted to return, Gabe knew he was ready to make their AirVenture story even more memorable.
“I knew that about now was the time,” Gabe said. “And when she said that she wanted to come with me this year, I knew that this would be the best place.” He weighed several meaningful locations like Boeing Plaza and the Flight Line Ops building, but it was the memory of that photo from last year that sealed it.
“I came across our picture from last year, and I was like, that’s the spot. It has to be the same spot,” he said. So, with nerves and excitement, Gabe proposed under the Brown Arch.
“The proposal was the worst-kept secret ever,” Gabe said, “but Kiersten said yes!”
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF GABE ENVANI OSHKOSH
Grilling Up a Good Time
BY BARBARA A. SCHMITZ AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF
IT’S THE “ONE week wonder” of pancake grills.
AirVenture attendees and chapter members are helping to fabricate and assemble a pancake grill in the Young Eagles Blue Barn each morning of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025.
John Egan, EAA senior chapters manager, said he came up with the idea to build the grill during AirVenture, having created the chapter blueprints in 2010. Chapters can pick up the blueprints and a “secret recipe” at the Blue Barn. The grill should take about 25-30 hours to build.
One of the first chapters to build the grill was Chapter 1041 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Chapter President Henry Hartman said the grill is durable and makes about 40 pancakes at a time. The Gettysburg chapter also created the “secret recipe.” The secret ingredient is applesauce — Gettysburg is located in Adams County, the No. 1 fruit-growing county in the state, he said.
“We couldn’t make pancakes fast enough with the grills we had,” Henry said. Now their chapter puts on two pancake breakfasts per summer, in June and September.
“If we have a good weekend, we can make as much as $5,000,” he said, adding that they serve from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday. On a good morning, they’ll serve up to 600 breakfasts; on a not-so-good day, the number is closer to 300-400.
Henry said their breakfast includes all-you-can-eat pancakes, as well as scrambled eggs, sausages, hash browns, coffee, tea, and juice.
John said: “A traditional pancake breakfast is common for chapters. It’s an opportunity to fly to a destination on a Saturday morning and have a breakfast, and it’s a fundraiser for a local
chapter. In fact, one of the most common chapter fundraisers is pancake breakfasts.”
Chapters are also holding pancake breakfasts each morning in the northeast corner of Camp Scholler
throughout the week. A different chapter hosts each day, and chapters usually serve up to 900 breakfasts between 7 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. The cost is $9.
Once completed, the grill will be used at AirVenture indefinitely.
Henry Hartman, an EAA chapters volunteer and president of Chapter 1041 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and John Egan, EAA’s senior chapters manager, stand by the pancake grill being built in the Young Eagles Blue Barn. PHOTOGRAPHY BY BARBARA A. SCHMITZ
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, because 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. Here’s a guide to some of these airplanes that you’ll see as you wander the neighborhoods of AirVenture.
Aircraft:
QACU Quickie
In 1975, a couple of pilots named Tom Jewett and Gene Sheehan approached designer Burt Rutan to ask him to design an airplane around an 18-hp industrial generator engine. The unusual tailless design with the large canard was introduced at Oshkosh in 1978. The museum’s example is serial No. 4.
for ages 18 and under supported in part by
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CRYSTAL PEREZ
AROUND THE GROUNDS
Devos Lights Up Oshkosh
BY BARBARA A. SCHMITZ AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF
DEVOS OUTDOOR IS making life a little brighter this year at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.
The Springville, Utah, company donated 16 portable and compact Devos LightRanger 2000 lights to use on the AirVenture grounds, including eight for facilities and eight for security. And if EAA decides they work well for their purpose, Devos will donate more lights next year, said Collin Child, Devos’ community manager of marketing.
“Lightweight, powerful lights are usually bound to an extension cord,” Collin said. “But the LightRanger 2000 light can be taken anywhere. They’re an off-grid solution when you are not tethered to power, and a great tool for lighting up big areas.”
The lights have a lithium-ion battery and are USB-C rechargeable. The lights weigh only 5 pounds and can extend to 10 feet tall. Operated remotely with Bluetooth, one person can control the light’s color, brightness, and more, even turning them all off or on at once.
Each light costs about $300.
Collin said Devos Outdoors decided to donate the lights to EAA because of its nonprofit status and all the organization does for advocacy, education, and its members.
Devos also wanted to support the member experience.
“For some people, attending AirVenture is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” he said, noting that generators that power lights can by noisy and take away from that experience.
The Devos booth, No. 4056, can be found in DeltaHawk Engines Exhibit Hangar D, Aisle E.
offer hot coffee, doughnuts, fresh fruit, salads, sandwiches and much more. Red One Market has everything you need to make your stay more enjoyable.
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.
North American FJ-4 Fury
As the final development of the F-86, the carriercapable FJ-4 Fury entered service with the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps in 1954. The Fury was intended as an interceptor, but a number were also modified to serve in the fighter-bomber role. FJ-4s had a short service life, with the Navy retiring them in 1964.
Supermarine Seafire
As the carrier-capable version of the Spitfire, the Supermarine Seafire entered service in the midst of WWII in 1942 but continued to be used by the Royal Navy into the 1950s. During the Korean War, the Seafire operated in ground attack and air patrol roles before eventually being replaced by the Sea Fury and first-generation jet fighters.
WARBIRDS / PAGE 29
PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICK MOORE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY PHIL HIGH
Grumman HU-16 Albatross
Developed from the Grumman Mallard, the twinengine amphibious flying boat HU-16 entered service in 1949. The Albatross served with the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard and the RCAF as a search-and-rescue aircraft, seeing extensive action during the Korean and Vietnam wars. The Air Force retired its final HU-16 in 1973, the Navy in 1976, and the USCG in 1983.
Lockheed C-121 Constellation
The military transport version of the Lockheed Constellation airliner, the C-121 was introduced a few years after WWII and was used by both the U.S. Air Force and Navy. Connies proved to be versatile aircraft for the military, hauling cargo and passengers, and notably operated as VIP transports, with both Pres. Dwight Eisenhower and Gen. Douglas MacArthur using one as their airplane of choice.
North American F-82 Twin Mustang
Designed as a long-range escort for the B-29, the Twin Mustang arrived too late for WWII but served through the rest of the 1940s and the Korean War as an escort fighter and all-weather day/night interceptor. Operating out of Japan, F-82s actually hold the distinction of being the first U.S. aircraft to destroy North Korean aircraft, with the first being a Yak-11.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY HAYDEN SMITH
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS MILLER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICK MOORE
for Authors Corner Last Day
Meet these authors at the EAA® Wearhouse
AROUND THE GROUNDS
Deb and Michael Surls
BY KAITLIN PIETTE AIRVENTURE
EAA® Memorial Wall gives families a quiet place to remember and honor those who have gone before us.
EAA.ORG/TRIBUTE
DEB AND MICHAEL Surls from Marshall, Michigan, have been volunteering and attending EAA AirVenture Oshkosh for a couple of years now.
Back in 1986, Michael became an EAA member. He’s worked for aviation-related companies in the past, like Pratt & Whitney as a rocket design engineer. He is now retired, which gives him more freedom to volunteer with south maintenance since the year 2020. Michael has also
worked on the Volkswagens at EAA to make sure they stay up to code to drive and in the Vintage area where he was named Volunteer of the Year in 2022. Deb has been an EAA member for 10 years now and has been volunteering since 2019 working in many different areas like the Lifetime Member Oasis. Both Deb and Michael are excited to reunite with old friends and hope for a safe air show for all who come.
TODAY STAFF
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAITLIN PIETTE
KEEP YOUR HEAD IN THE CLOUDS.
AOPA.ORG
VISIT US AT BOOTH #463
AOPA PROGRAM PAVILION
SATURDAY | JULY 26
9:00AM - 9:45AM
Weather or Not to Fly
Je Arnold, Leidos Flight Service
10:00AM - 10:45AM
Opposing Bases Air Tra c Talk: LIVE!
AG and RH, Opposing Bases Podcast
11:00AM - 11:45AM
39 Lounge Meet and Greets
11:00AM-11:45AM
Opposing Bases
We’ll be your feet on the ground.
Trapped in the Hills (WINGS Credit)
Mike Ginter, AOPA Air Safety Institute
12:00PM - 12:45PM
TFRs: How to Avoid a Fighter
Intercept
Lt. Col. Trevor Boswell, NORAD
1:00PM - 1:45PM
Into the Alligator’s Mouth: Psychology of Personal Flight Minimums
2:00PM - 2:45PM
Jolie Lucas, Cascade Counseling, Inc., LCSW
Twenty-First Century Search and Rescue
Tim Ste en, Idaho Division of Aeronautics
EMERGENCY WEATHER SAFETY
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.
Saturday, July 26, 2025
9 a.m. - Chris Henry, Final Mission: Personal Stories of the Lives Touched by EAA’s B-17, Aluminum Overcast
10 a.m. - Wally Soplata, The B-25 in the Backyard: My Father’s Historic Airplane Sanctuary
11 a.m. - Kellie Anthony, Afterburner 1-2-3 and A is for Afterburner (Children’s Books)
12 p.m. - Retired Brig. Gen. John “Dragon” Teichert, BOOM!: Leadership that Breaks Barriers, Challenges Convention, and Ignites Innovation; Prayers for A Nation: A 90-Day Devotional Guide for American Christians; and The Dragon Who Earned His Wings (Children’s Book)
1 p.m. - Eileen Bjorkman, The Fly Girls Revolt: The Story of the Women Who Kicked Open the Door to Fly in Combat
2 p.m. - John Lanza, Shot Down Over Italy and From One War to Another
3 p.m. - Buck Wyndham, Hogs in the Sand
4 p.m. - Dan Flores, South of Heaven: My Year in Afghanistan
5 p.m. - Dave Franson, Rescuing DOC: How Tony Mazzolini and DOC’s Friends Transformed the Last Restorable B-29 From a Forgotten Target Into a Flying Tribute
PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAURIE GOOSSENS
AVIATION GATEWAY PARK
WARBIRDS TRAM TOUR
EAA ® WORKSHOPS
Go Hands-On
Homebuilding is the heart of EAA, and you can learn virtually every skill and gain the confidence you need to build an airplane while at EAA ® AirVenture ® Oshkosh™ Patterned after the highly successful EAA SportAir ® Workshops.
Presenting Sponsor Supporting Sponsors
EAA AIRVENTURE FORUMS
Learn from Experts
The
BLUE BARN
> Attend a forum about growing your chapter, engaging youth, and more
> Represent your chapter by placing your pin on the chapter map
> Become a Young Eagles or Eagle Flights volunteer
> Learn about chapter resources and best practices
> Connect with chapter leaders and EAA’s Chapters staff
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
Today’s Workshop Saturday, July 26
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.
Mustbeactiveandcurrentprivatepilotorhigher.
Scan to Register!
AROUND THE GROUNDS
Saturday, July 26
Tonight’s Movie | 8:30 p.m. Fly Away Home
Presented by
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF SHELBI STAUSE AND AMANDA WELLS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTINA MARSH
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAIME CORDOVA
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAIME CORDOVA
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ED HICKS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ED HICKS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ED HICKS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CONNOR MADISON
PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAURIE GOOSSENS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRETT BROCK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRETT BROCK
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: While officially named the Super Hornet, the F/A-18E/F is unofficially nicknamed what due to a distinct protrusion on the aircraft’s radome?
A. Unicorn
B. Rhino
C. Jade Dragon
D. Minotaur
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.
Mighty Wings by Cheap Trick
The Airport by Cameron Sanderson
To the Moon & Back by Savage Garden
Travelin’ Band by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu) by Dean Martin
Today’s CROSSWORD
ACROSS
4. The USAAF called it the A-24 Banshee, but it’s best known as the USN’s _____________.
5. Mitsubishi’s Type 0 Carrier Fighter.
8. In WWII, the Luftwaffe called it “fork-tailed devil.”
9. Before it was Convair, it was ________ _________ (two words.)
11. The company that built MiGs was founded by Artem Mikoyan and Mikhail ________.
14. Before they named aircraft for storms, this company honored birds like the Hawfinch, Osprey, and Heron.
15. The father and _____ engineering team of Travis and Joel Hendrickson designed the AeroCreeper.
16. To some, it’s a T-6, to others, an SNJ, but to the Commonwealth, it was the ____________.
17. To downed aircrews in the ocean, this flying boat was always a welcome sight.
18. Boeing’s biggest bomber in WWII.
DOWN
1. Officially, it was the Thunderbolt, but pilots called it this.
2. Boeing originally called it Model 299, but it made history as the _____________ (two words.)
3. Many of the Red Star warbirds at Oshkosh were originally designed by the ________ Design Bureau.
6. Doolittle’s mount, this medium bomber was named after a general.
7. Unlike its namesake, there’s nothing irritating about seeing this twin-engine fighter bomber flying by.
10. North American’s WWII radial trainer.
12. To some, it’s the Aichi D3A Type 99 Dive Bomber; to others, it was simply ____.
13. After the Vigilant, Stinson’s next L-bird was the ______________.
@ thearcadepilot
All suited up for day 3 at AirVenture! #OSH25
@ jmewso
EAA 2025 in Oshkosh, WI with Delta… and our Centenniel A321neo! #DeltaProud
@ ashley.gorowsky
Oshkosh 2025 photo dump. Brooks’ first airplane ride was in a caravan, he doesn’t even know how lucky he is! Thank you Mark Baker for letting us hop in with you to Oshkosh. Camped out under the wing, napped under airplanes, played by the flight line, took a bath under the cub - Brooks is officially a metrowarbird gen 3.0!
@ whitneyjordan12 #OSH25
@akin_shs History boys & history toys
@soarwithsiah
Cool experience at OshKosh ‘25 yesterday checking out this Delta A321 neo. My first ever airshow has been amazing. Special thanks to @deltapropel for allowing me and my fellow WMU broncos to check it out!
Pilatus Business Aircraft Ltd ❘ Poly Fiber, Inc ❘ Rotax iService and Training Centres ❘ SiriusXM Aviation ❘ Southwest Airlines ❘ Superflite
Superior Air Parts, Inc. ❘ SureFly Electronic Ignition ❘ Tecnam ❘ Tempest Aero Group ❘ True Blue ❘ Power ❘ uAvionix ❘ United Airlines ❘ Van’s Aircraft Williams International ❘ Wing Aviation ❘ Women in Aviation International (WAI) ❘ Zenith Aircraft
COPPER LEVEL SUPPORTERS
Avfuel ❘ B&C Specialty Products Inc. ❘ Bristell Aircraft ❘ CiES Inc ❘ DATC ❘ Flight Outfitters ❘ Flite Test ❘ Horizon Hobby ❘ Siemens Digital Industry Software SOFTIE PARACHUTES by Para-Phernalia, Inc. ❘ Starr Aviation ❘ UND Aerospace ❘ VOLARE HANGARS
PATRON LEVEL SUPPORTERS
4imprint ❘ AeroCreeper ❘ Alaska Airlines ❘ Arena Americas ❘ Bombardier ❘ Bravo Golf ❘ Chicago Executive Airport ❘ David Clark Company ❘ DJ Products, Inc Endeavor Air ❘ EnerSys® ❘ Fly Girls Aviation ❘ General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) ❘ GES ❘ Global Aerospace ❘ Honda Power Equipment JSfirm.com ❘ MATCO ALS ❘ Metro Sales Inc. ❘ Mid-State Equipment ❘ Ninety-Nines, Inc (The) ❘ Old School Model Works ❘ Pilotsmith ❘ Scheme Designers, Inc Small Town EV ❘ Target Oshkosh ❘ Walkabout Hats ❘ WILCO ❘ Zipline
