EAA AirVenture TODAY - Sunday, July 30, 2023

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PAGE 1 / SEAPLANE BASE

BY BARBARA A. SCHMITZ AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF

FOR 51 WEEKS of the year, what EAA AirVenture Oshkosh visitors know as the EAA Seaplane Base is private property and empty of planes, people, campers, and tents.

But for one week each year, it’s a bit of Margaritaville, complete with a musician playing steel drums, floatplanes taxiing or taking off in the bay, children and adults splashing or swimming in the lake, and people enjoying the scenery and cool breezes.

Accessible from the EAA Bus Stop for a $3 round-trip ticket, the Seaplane Base offers a much more relaxed version of AirVenture. It’s the reason that Seaplane Base Chairman Shane Albers says that if you visit it once, you’ll be back.

“The place is absolutely wonderful,” he said. “I encourage everyone to make time in their schedule to come here. Once you do, I guarantee it will become an annual stop year after year.”

That’s true for Tori and Sean Galegor, of Kansas City, Missouri, who were back with their three children ages, 1, 4, and 6. With Thursday’s heat, they decided it was the right place to start their AirVenture adventure, so after finishing setting up their campsite, they went to the Seaplane Base.

“We always come here for the atmosphere,” Tori said. “It’s so serene. And with the kids and the heat today, we wanted to be somewhere with more shade,” she said, as the kids splashed in the water nearby.

Don Strano, of Huntsville, Ontario, used to fly into the Seaplane Base regularly in his younger years and said he can’t believe how it’s changed.

“It’s more like a park now with all the trails, flowers, and facilities,” he said. “It’s just a beautiful spot.”

First-time Seaplane Base visitors Norm Conner, EAA 1238906, and Kris Sashko, both of Lakewood, Washington, said they were also impressed.

“I thought it would be wide open and sunny, but it’s nice to be able to sit by the trees,” said Norm. “And it’s definitely cooler here,” added Kris, who said she also wanted to see Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin’s largest inland lake.

“It’s like a beautiful paradise,” Norm said, and it almost makes you feel like you are in Tahiti or Hawaii.

William Greenley, EAA 433301, of Dowagiac, Michigan, was visiting the Seaplane Base for his third time. He’s spent the week working 10-hour days volunteering at the Learn to Fly Center on the main gr ounds, and said he just needed a break.

Shane said it takes a lot of work to get the property transformed into the Seaplane Base for the one week, with 200-plus volunteers putting in more than 14,000 hours setting up, staffing, and tearing down. Their biggest need for volunteers is for certified and licensed boat captains who can give free pontoon boat rides up close to the seaplanes moored there, he said.

This year, the Seaplane Base has been home to about 50 seaplanes, which is down. Shane attributed that to fewer Canadian airplanes due to weather systems and smoke.

And even though the atmosphere is more relaxed, Shane said there is still a lot to do at the Seaplane Base. Besides the pontoon boat rides, there is a watermelon social on Friday night attended by 700-900, as well as flight demonstrations and FAA seminars.

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“I encourage everyone to make time in their schedule to come here. Once you do, I guarantee it will become an annual stop year after year.”

The main thing he hears from visitors is that the energy is so different from the main field. “It is relaxed,” Shane said. “It is Margaritaville-esque. You will find people sleeping on the shoreline, leaning against trees. You really can’t describe it in words. You just need to come here and experience it.”

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Shane Albers

John Vette, left, received EAA’s Chairman Award, in part for allowing EAA to use the family property for decades as the EAA Seaplane Base. He is shaking hands with Seaplane Base Chairman Shane Albers.

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2023 AirVenture Lindy Awards Announced

HUNDREDS OF GORGEOUS, striking airplanes arrive at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh each and every year in hopes of winning a Lindy Award. Few aircraft, in comparison to the field, come away with any sort of award. Fewer still come away with a Lindy.

Awards are given out across six categories: Homebuilts, Warbirds, Vintage, Rotorcraft, Ultralights, and Seaplanes. Entrants can be considered

for only one category in a given year, and are not eligible for the same or any lower-tier awards if they have won in the past.

Looks are considered in award judging, but the quality of craftsmanship inherent in the aircraft is a crucial factor as well. Careful construction and/ or restoration, as well as tireless maintenance, is essential in winning a Lindy.

With all of that said, congratulations to all the 2023 award winners!

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CESSNA 170 75TH ANNIVERSARY DRAWS 125 AIRCRAFT

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBBIE CULVER AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF

BEFORE CESSNA PRODUCED the familiar 172, the Cessna 170 was the iconic four-place aircraft that represented the brand and was based on the Cessna 140. The 170 was the logical next step for Cessna.

In early 1948, Cessna aircraft began advertising a four-place model that sold for $5,475 with a Continental C145 engine that produced 145 hp. The first example flew in February 1948, according to the history of the 170 as published on The International Cessna 170 Association website. Before production ended in 1956 with the introduction of the 172, more than 5,000 examples were produced. About half remain airworthy, a testament to the longevity and popularity of the type.

sold as the Cessna 170A. In 1952 the Cessna 170B was released with larger semi-Fowler flaps (often referred to as “barn door” flaps) and a change in wing dihedral. The 170B was produced until the supply of parts was exhausted as the 172 took hold of the marketplace.

According to Cessna 170 Association board member Howard Bohl, 125 Cessna 170s attended EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023. Howard flew his 1953 Cessna 170B in for the 50th consecutive year.

To celebrate the 75th anniversary, The International Cessna 170 Association and the Vintage Aircraft Association invited owners to bring their aircraft to Oshkosh to celebrate the anniversary.

According to Cessna 170 Association board member Howard Bohl, 125 Cessna 170s attended EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023. Howard flew his 1953 Cessna 170B in for the 50th consecutive year.

The 170 began with fabric-covered wings and “V” struts, as well as three separate fuel tanks. By late 1948 the aircraft had a dorsal fin from the Cessna 195 added to the tail and an all-metal wing, and it was

The Cessna 170 remains a popular aircraft with vintage aviation enthusiasts and is an affordable entry point for tailwheel aircraft with readily available parts and support.

WARBIRDS

A FLYING FLOGGER

BY SAM OLESON AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF

WHILE RARE, AND in some cases unique, airplanes are a relatively common occurrence at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, this year’s event has proven to be exceptional for head-turning, “what the heck is that” aircraft. Possibly at the top of that list is a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23, the only flying example in the U.S.

Introduced in 1970, the MiG-23 (NATO reporting name “Flogger”) is a swing-wing fighter that was operated by the Soviet Union into the 1990s and was sold to numerous Soviet allies. With a top speed of about Mach 2.35, it’s among the 10 fastest fighter aircraft types ever built. The Flogger attending Oshkosh, a MiG-23UB imported from the Czech Republic, is owned by Dan “Files” Filer, EAA 1538389, a U.S. Navy combat veteran who flew A-6 Intruders in the Gulf War.

A longtime L-39 pilot as well, Dan stumbled on a MiG-23 up for sale a number of years ago and went for it. While looking for parts, he found 17 more MiG-23s (yes, 17), and bought those as well — donating the singleseaters to different air museums. He’s in the process of getting a second Flogger in flying condition and hopes to have eight flyable aircraft.

“So far it’s proven a very, very reliable airplane,” Dan said. “It’s not an L-39. It takes a lot of man-hours for one hour compared to the 39, but it’s been nice.”

While the MiG-23 has a poor reputation when compared to other fighters of the era such as the F-14 Tomcat, Dan says that’s not a completely fair assessment of the type, though he admitted he wouldn’t want to dogfight in it.

“It didn’t have a great reputation with the U.S. pilots that flew it because they flew the base model, export model,” Dan said. “Russia kept, the Soviets kept, the best models to themselves; they gave the next best model to their border countries; and then the cheap ones they exported. And those are the ones that we acquired under secrecy and testing. So these things are not that great. So the bad reputation that it has came from the U.S. The Russian military pilots, Soviet guys that I’ve talked to, they love the airplane. And I like the airplane. Would I want to dogfight in it? No.”

Dan said the reaction to his airplane has been a mix of excitement and confusion, as many folks at AirVenture, and the Western world as a whole, have never seen a MiG-23, much less one that’s flying.

“Nobody’s seen it. They say, ‘We didn’t know any of these existed,’” Dan said. “I’ve been flying around my hometown, Longview, Texas, and it was time to display it. They’re just like, ‘We didn’t know there were any of these.’ So we’re excited. It’s been positive. Anybody from

the Eastern bloc countries, they all come over. This guy just got a big tattoo of one 30 years ago. And then I have a bunch of Polish ones. This one came from Czech Republic. I got Polish ones, Bulgarian ones. … They’re so excited that I have this up and flying.”

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THE FUTURE IS HERE

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY

BY JIM ROBERTS AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF

THIS WEEK AT EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023, the future of aviation is once again on display.

Looking for an autonomous four-passenger eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft? Check. A compact, agile VTOL craft? Check. How about a sixseat aerial limo with an electric-hybrid powertrain? Yep, we got that, too.

Wisk Aero made headlines on Tuesday afternoon at AirVenture 2023 with the first-ever public flight of a fully autonomous, all-electric VTOL air taxi. The demonstration featured Wisk’s Generation 5 technology demonstrator. According to Jim Tighe, chief technology officer at Wisk, “There was no pilot on board, no pilot controls in the aircraft, and no stick-and-rudder on the ground. The entire flight was operated with the push of a button.”

Unlike remotely piloted aircraft that are flown with traditional flight controls by a human pilot on the

ground, Wisk’s aircraft fly themselves while being monitored from the ground. Each flight is monitored (not remotely piloted) by a ground-based supervisor who can intervene by sending new commands that the aircraft then executes autonomously.

A full-scale mock-up of the company’s Generation 6 air taxi — a four-passenger, autonomous eVTOL — is on display in the Wisk Chalet, Booth 747; an appropriate number, since Wisk is a fully owned Boeing subsidiary. The sixth-generation craft, which is projected to come to market before the end of the decade, will be propelled by 12 tilting rotors — six on the wing leading edge and six in the rear — yielding a cruise speed of 120 knots at altitudes between 2,500 and 4,000 feet, and a range of 90 miles with reserves.

“Many of our employees are pilots, and we have long dreamed of sharing the groundbreaking, innovative work that we’re doing at Oshkosh,” said Brian

Yutko, CEO of Wisk. “This year, we’re fulfilling that dream.”

Mayman Aerospace describes its P2 Speeder as a micro VTOL multi-mission air utility vehicle, capable of autonomous, remote, or piloted flight. It’s designed to fill a gap between drones, eVTOLs, and helicopters. Speeder’s motorcycle-size footprint will enable rapid deployment for multipurpose operations, including wildfire fighting, search and rescue support, urgent cargo delivery, and more. With an empty weight of 200 pounds, the prototype is expected to carry a 600pound payload and enough fuel to fly 200 miles at 250 knots.

The Speeder uses eight small gimbaled turbojet engines to transition from vertical to horizontal flight. The engines are an off-the-shelf product, with a few tweaks added by Mayman engineers. They burn Jet A or diesel fuel.

Chris Black, a Mayman representative at AirVenture, said the engine and flight control system is fully self-stabilizing, so you can’t do anything as a pilot that would cause a loss of control. Test flights are in progress, and Mayman expects to have an unmanned version on the market in 18 months. You can see the Speeder P2 prototype at AFWERX Booth 324.

The Cassio 330 — VoltAero’s electric-hybrid aircraft — made its North American debut on Tuesday morning.

FUTURE IS HERE / PAGE 17

VoltAero’s Cassio 330 prototype.

Mayman Aerospace P2 Speeder.

PAGE 16 / FUTURE IS HERE

It’s the first in a family of five- to 12-seat aircraft that are tailored for air taxi, utility category (cargo, postal delivery, medevac), and private ownership. The company described it as “a unique aircraft with parallel electric-hybrid propulsion.”

The prototype Cassio 330 will be used to validate the overall airframe configuration, and VoltAero plans to have it flying later this year. Kawasaki Motors will supply a four-cylinder internal combustion engine to power the craft in combination with electric motors.

And on Tuesday, Kawasaki — which is VoltAero’s newest strategic investor — unveiled the hydrogen-powered four-cylinder and six-cylinder versions of its high-performance thermal engines. They represent a key step in Kawasaki’s road map to enter the general aviation market.

The Cassio 330 prototype displayed at Booth 429 is equipped with a representative passenger interior and incorporates Avidyne’s new-generation Quantum avionics. This marks the premier of Avidyne’s 14-inch dual PFD/MFD (primary flight display/multifunction display). Avidyne has an exclusive agreement with VoltAero to develop and supply the Cassio 330’s avionics.

Wisk Aero’s Generation 5 demonstrator takes flight.

NASA Works to Restores Supersonic Passenger Flight

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY

BY BARBARA A. SCHMITZ AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF

CONCORDE MADE ITS last commercial flight on October 24, 2003, flying twice the speed of sound from New York to London in about 3.5 hours.

Nearly 20 years later, no commercial airline passenger has flown at supersonic speed since.

But NASA’s Quesst mission is hoping to change that. The program has the goal of using the X-59 research aircraft to collect data from communities in the United States that will help define sound limits for quiet supersonic flight over land.

Peter Coen, mission integration manager for the Quesst mission, said NASA plans to collect accepted data that supports the international effort to develop an en route noise standard that is quiet enough not to disturb people on the ground. Using this data, new sound-based rules regarding supersonic flight over land can be written and adopted, Peter said, which would open the doors to new commercial cargo and passenger markets and provide faster-than-sound air travel.

The X-59, which has technology that reduces the loudness of a sonic book to a thump to people on the ground, was moved from its construction site to the flightline at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works on June 19, 2023. Next, the team will conduct ground tests to ensure the aircraft is safe to fly.

The research airplane is 99 feet, 7 inches long; has a wingspan of 29.5 feet; and has components from other airplanes, such as the cockpit and ejection seat of a T-38F and the landing gear of a F-16, Peter said. Altogether, the X-59 includes 500 components from other airplanes. Its design research speed will be Mach 1.4, or 925 mph.

“This will really allow us to take a major step forward and collect data,” Peter said. Acoustic validation is planned to begin in 2024, with detailed ground and flight measurements to prove the design, followed by the community response testing in 2025.

The X-59 created some design and engineering challenges the team didn’t expect, Peter said. One was the amount of detail that was required, even in the smallest feature changes.

“Every little thing had to be modeled and tested,” he said.

Another challenge came with taking parts from other existing airplanes, making the X-59 an electrically complicated aircraft.

And its long, sloping nose, even at cruise, created such an angle that the pilot couldn’t see at takeoff and landing.

“So we developed an external vision system (XVS) with a camera mounted on the nose and a

The program has the goal of using the X-59 research aircraft to collect data from communities in the United States that will help define sound limits for quiet supersonic flight over land.

high-definition display,” Peter said. “It gives the pilot forward vision” while small windows on the side help with vision during the final flare.

Testing of the system in a King Air showed it to be effective and “almost better than the eyeball in hazy conditions,” Peter said. The XVS can also be enhanced with graphical flight data in an augmented reality for approaches, landings, and takeoffs.

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Teen-Built Airplane Takes Flight to AirVenture

Youths learn skills in building and piloting

BY JADE MORRIS AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF

Joan and Bob Zaleski started the Naples Youth Aviation Project (NYAP) out of Naples, Florida, to help local youths further their aviation careers. This organization helps teens get their foot in the door and leads them to once-ina-lifetime opportunities, like its most recent project, building a Sling 2. Eleven local teens came together to accomplish something incredible and built an airplane from crates full of parts.

Joan and Bob had already built an airplane of their own and wanted to give local youths the same opportunity. The build took more than two years, allowing many teen builders to obtain pilot certificates. One of the builders, Garrett Sutton, earned his certificate through this project and flew the airplane to AirVenture 2023.

“I think it is a unique opportunity that I am thankful for,” Garrett said. “Because not many people can say that they have built the plane and are getting the opportunity to fly it as well. So, I think it is a big opportunity that I am really thankful for.”

The process was an eye-opening and life-changing experience for many teens, because they all accomplished something unique together. They collaborated and worked on the airplane in shifts. During the school

year, they would come in every Saturday. They usually worked from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with some staying the entire time and some staying half the time.

Not only did this project teach the kids teamwork, but also it improved their problem-solving skills. Since this airplane came in many pieces, the teens often had to troubleshoot and ask themselves, ‘How do I do this?’ Many times when this question came up, the teenagers would come together and bounce ideas off each other.

“If we do not get this result, we are going to shoot for this, and if not, then we will sit and talk about it some more,” Garrett said. “It is not like the kit was built wrong, and it is amazing all the pieces pretty much match up, but there is still so much that you have to troubleshoot.”

Ultimately, this project was about more than just building an airplane — it was about the people involved, from the youths themselves to the mentors and generous donors and supporters who made the project possible. The mentors involved in this project quickly became role models.

In Naples, Florida, 11 teens worked together to build a Sling 2, which took flight to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023.

Teen builder Garrett Sutton flew the recently built Sling 2 to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023.

PHOTO BY GARRETT SUTTON

PHOTO BY GARRETT SUTTON

PAGE 20 / TEEN BUILT

“They are a key part of the build. If I needed help on a certain topic during my flight training, they would help me out. They offered any assistance if I needed help at any point,” Garrett said. “The mentors have built planes before, so they kind of knew what they were doing, but what was interesting, I think, is all the mentors came from a different walk of life in aviation.”

By the end of it all, seeing the airplane fully built left the teenagers proud of everyone involved with this project. Because this airplane build took around two years of these teenagers’ lives, seeing it accomplished was something they will remember forever. This project provided some with their pilot certificates and did something for everyone, where they personally and professionally grew.

“I could not imagine an airplane would mean that much to me, but all those hours and hours of coming in

“Not many people can say that they have built the plane and are getting the opportunity to fly it as well.”

Garrett

on Saturdays or occasional Wednesdays, and it just meant different,” Garrett said. “It is all your hard work, and you are sitting in that plane, and you look at it different, especially when looking at certain pieces. Everyone knows what piece they spent much time on, and it meant something different when looking at something that you put in all your work with.”

Sutton

PHOTO BY GARRETT SUTTON

AROUND THE GROUNDS

EMERGENCY WEATHER SAFETY Hosting The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration

BY JIM ROBERTS

“LOW WING ON final … three-six left … purple dot … cleared to land.” The runway looms large in the windscreen, the tires chirp on the pavement, and flaggers are soon pointing the way home.

At EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2022, this scene was repeated nearly 9,000 times, making Wittman Regional Airport the world’s busiest airfield for that one amazing week. With an AirVenture staff of more than 700 and nearly 5,000 volunteers, EAA handles the convention grounds. But who provides those vital runways and taxiways, and provides emergency response when things go wrong?

Jim Schell, director of Wittman Regional Airport, enthusiastically described the airport’s role: “During AirVenture, we have 12 folks to do everything to get the event accomplished successfully.” You read that right … 12. Planning begins in January, and activities ramp up right after the Fourth of July. Their biggest tasks are mowing the airfield — all 1,450 acres of it — and converting the runway and taxiway layout to accommodate AirVenture.

Jim explained, “Our focus is the airfield. We have pretty high mowing standards. We have thousands of airplanes parking and camping in the grass, so between us and EAA, we have to get it down to a point where they can taxi real easily, and have it suitable for camping.”

Aircraft fill the grounds on opening day of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023. Photo by Jim Roberts

Robert Coats, maintenance and equipment operator at Wittman Regional Airport, paints the purple dot on Runway 18R/36L. Photo courtesy of Wittman Regional Airport

As for pavement, Jim remarked, “Fifty-one weeks out of the year, we have four runways, and the 10-day period when the AirVenture NOTAM is in effect, we have three runways.” This results from closing runways 5/23 and 13/31, and converting taxiway Alpha into a runway [18L/36R]. Countless hours go into painting runway markings on Taxiway Alpha and adding hold short markings for that new runway, as well as renumbering the existing Runway 18/36 to create a “new” runway, 18R/36L. Even more hours go into changing airfield signage to reflect the new layout. And let’s not forget painting those famous colored dots and squares that we all strive to land on.

Once the event begins, Jim said, “A big component of what we do, unfortunately, is we have a primary role in responding to accidents. Whether it’s on a runway or a fender bender on a taxiway, we respond to each of those. In combination with folks from EAA and the Oshkosh Fire Department, we ensure the life safety process is

taken care of first, then the removal process of the aircraft is handled. Then we restore the runway to service as quickly as possible.” Continuing, Jim explained, “We do annual training with the fire department to ensure they’re ready for the variety of aircraft they might see. It could be anything from a 747 to a homebuilt.”

For more insight, I spoke with Brian Bender, an assistant chief and fire marshal with the Oshkosh Fire Department. Brian says planning begins in March with “tabletop” emergency drills, and by June their first responders are training at the airport, becoming familiar with the airfield layout and ATC radio procedures. For large passenger jets like Friday’s Honor Flight, firefighters train at Fox Valley Technical College, using a mock Boeing 777 live fire trainer.

During AirVenture, the normal complement of three airport firefighters swells to nearly two dozen, supplemented by mutual responders from surrounding areas, including members of the Wisconsin Air National Guard. Firefighters work four posts: Station 14 on the north ramp, positions abeam the midpoints of Runways 9/27 and 18R/36L, and one location on the south end of 18R/36L. These units are equipped with specialized Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting trucks. A separate truck is posted on convention grounds to handle structural fires, and three ambulances with EMTs are on hand as well.

Of all the effort that goes into this, Chief Bender says, “It gets to be long and grueling, but guys really like it; they have a passion for it. Guys sign up to do it because they enjoy people.”

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Emergency units on standby at the Air Boss platform, abeam the midpoint of Runway 18R/36L. Photo by Jim Roberts

Firefighter training: Firefighters battle a simulated engine fire. Photo courtesy of Fox Valley Technical College

Taking the Loooong Route to AirVenture

BY BARBARA A. SCHMITZ AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF

MICHAEL AND MARTINA Höcker, of Aachen, Germany, certainly took the long route to arrive at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. About a 20,000-mile route, in fact.

The couple took off April 9 in their 1979 Beechcraft A36, and will return home about August 22, having stopped in more than 50 destinations in Scotland, Iceland, Greenland, Canada, and the United States.

They arrived in Oshkosh Tuesday and will depart Sunday for their next stops on the East Coast before turning north to Quebec and going home.

“We bought the aircraft nine years ago; our plan was to fly around the world,” said Michael, EAA 1277558. However, their

plans changed due to political realities and the pandemic, until everything finally aligned last year and they started planning for the trip.

“We had the time, the money, and the aircraft,” Michael said. But they also took time preparing for their flight, creating an itinerary and planned route, making sure the airplane was mechanically sound, and preparing themselves for the long flight to ensure their safety.

They made it to Goose Bay, Canada, before they had their first major issue as their airplane suffered engine failure on the runway. “The repair wasn’t complicated, but it took six days to get one part

“Germany is a very little country, and the United States is huge. There is so much space, and it’s interesting to see the open space.”

Michael Höcker

IMAGE BY MICHAEL HÖCKER

PAGE 24 / LOOOONG ROUTE

out in the middle of nowhere,” Michael said. “But we’re thankful that the engine failed where it did. We do not want to imagine what would happened if it were in another place.”

After their repair, they headed to the United States. In Fresno, they landed on one of two parallel runways, just as two F-15s departed.

Some air traffic controllers were confused with their tail number … it’s just letters, not numbers. “But one controller realized we were Germans and said, ‘Guten Reisen’,” recalled Martina, EAA 1277559. It means have a good trip.

Martina said she was surprised to see dying trees at Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks, a result of lack of water,

bugs, and disease, problems compounded by climate change. Michael agreed that the total decimation of the forests was shocking and saddening to see. But he added that it is a global problem, and they see similar situations in Europe, too.

While they’ve seen some beautiful places, it’s the people they met that they said they would remember the most. “Some of the towns we stopped in weren’t that interesting, but the people we met are what is most important to us,” Michael said. “A handful said we must be crazy for going on a trip like this,” Martina said. But then others asked if they could come along with them, she added.

PHOTO BY BARBARA A. SCHMITZ

Longtime German Volunteer Honors Friend With Service

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY

BY JADE MORRIS AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF

FROM 8 YEARS old to 28, Justin Dölp has not missed volunteering in the International Visitors Tent at AirVenture.

Justin fell in love with EAA AirVenture Oshkosh at an early age when a friend of his father’s brought Justin’s whole family to EAA from their home in Germany. His father’s friend, Peter, attended AirVenture for 34 years and volunteered, so he thought Justin and his family should have the experience at least once. Eventually, that turned into Justin going to AirVenture year after year to volunteer at the International Visitors Tent.

Later, Justin started attending AirVenture with several people from the airline he currently works for, Lufthansa, Germany’s largest airline. The group usually stays for 10 days and spends their time giving back to EAA by volunteering. Justin said he loves being here because he grew up here. There is even a picture of him in the tent from when he was only 8 years old. The group has become so connected that sometimes the trip gets extended, and after AirVenture, they will visit different U.S. cities and head back to Germany.

Justin said he loves seeing the jets and the air shows at AirVenture because in Germany, every air show act must be performed at least 450 meters (1,476 feet) above the ground, and air show and military aircraft are generally not as accessible as they are here. So when he comes here, he said he gets to witness something he usually wouldn’t.

In memory of Peter, who died four years ago, Justin has decided to keep the volunteering tradition at AirVenture alive. Peter always worked in the International Visitors Tent for Germany’s table, and in honor of Peter, Justin wants to make sure he also represents the German table. When asked if he would ever stop coming to AirVenture, his response was an immediate, “Never.”

“It is a good memory, and we keep the tradition, especially for him,” Justin said, “It is a good memory being here, and we keep him in memory right here.”

Because Justin grew up at AirVenture, he sees the fantastic progress he has made. His fellow volunteers and co-workers have seen him grow professionally and personally. He always looks forward to coming to AirVenture and thinks of Oshkosh as his home. Justin said he is excited to return year after year and will never stop because this is his family.

“I am really proud of where I am now,” he said. “It is always a big distance to travel we do, but it is always worth it. Like when you are at home, I am really happy with it every year I am experiencing at AirVenture. It is nothing like a boring trip that we always do, because we are always excited and always experience something new. The night air show is one of my favorites for sure.”

Justin said he loves being here because he grew up here. There is even a picture of him in the tent from when he was only 8 years old.

70 Years of Dreamers and Doers

EAA celebrates its platinum anniversary

BY SAM OLESON AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF

SEVENTY YEARS AGO, on January 26, 1953, EAA was officially founded. That first meeting took place in a classroom at GranAire Inc. at Curtiss-Wright Airport (now Timmerman field) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with 36 pilots and aviation enthusiasts in attendance. Over the past seven decades, EAA headquarters has moved a few times and the annual members convention and fly-in has shifted around, but one thing has remained the same — the organization’s dedication to spreading The Spirit of Aviation. As we celebrate EAA’s platinum anniversary at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023, each day we’ll share highlights from a different decade of our history.

THE 2010S-PRESENT

July 2012: EAA’s new Eagle Flights program makes its first flight during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Eagle Flights is a program to get adults involved in aviation through mentoring from EAA members and chapters.

August 2013: EAA founder Paul Poberezny goes west on August 22 at the age of 91, leaving behind an unmatched legacy in the homebuilt aircraft community.

July 2014: The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh for the first time.

November 2015: Jack J. Pelton is announced as EAA’s new CEO, having served as the volunteer chairman of the board since 2012.

July 2016: World-famous actor and former Young Eagles Chairman Harrison Ford flies the 2 millionth Young Eagle, Jodie Gawthrop, during AirVenture Oshkosh.

January 2017: The FAA announces the BasicMed program, a major reform in aviation medical certification and a 25-year goal of EAA’s advocacy efforts.

CONFIDENCE IN THE COCKPIT.

• Premium aviation piston engine oils with ashless dispersant addition

• Clean engine operation, low oil consumption and low engine wear

July 2017: The U.S. Navy Blue Angels perform at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh for the first time.

April 2019: EAA’s B-25 Berlin Express makes its first flight after a 25-year hiatus and a yearslong restoration process.

July 2020: EAA hosts Spirit of Aviation Week, an online event consisting of forums, workshops, and presentations. The virtual event is in place of AirVenture Oshkosh, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

November 2020: Audrey Poberezny, wife of late EAA founder Paul Poberezny, goes west on November 1 at the age of 95. Audrey was instrumental in helping Paul get the organization up and running during its early years.

April 2021: A groundbreaking is held for what would become the EAA Education Center, a 30,000-square-foot expansion of the EAA Aviation Museum. Included in the EAA Education Center is the Pilot Proficiency Center and Youth Education Center.

July 2021: EAA AirVenture Oshkosh returns after a one-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

July 2022: Tom Poberezny, Paul Poberezny’s son and former EAA president, goes west at the age of 75. Tom’s death coincides with the opening day of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. During his years at the helm, Tom played a pivotal role in transforming the organization and the fly-in into what it is today. Also during AirVenture, the new EAA Education Center opens to the public.

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EAA ARCHIVE PHOTOS

Sunday, July 30

*While supplies last Available for purchase at:

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What About These Other Airplanes?

A spotter’s guide to the EAA Aviation Museum aircraft around the grounds

Available at all official EAA® merchandise locations

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. Each day, we’ll highlight one of these airplanes that you’ll see as you wander the neighborhoods of AirVenture.

AIRCRAFT: STODDARD-HAMILTON GLASTAR

THE GLASTAR WAS designed by Tom Hamilton of Stoddard-Hamilton Aircraft, and first flew in 1994. The high-wing two-seater was sold as a kit that could be built with tricycle gear or as a taildragger. EAA operates a pair of GlaStars out of Pioneer Airport to fly Young Eagles year-round; the museum’s example on display is the original prototype.

Robin Flies Into EAA AirVenture Oshkosh

BY LORRIE PENNER EDITOR, SPORT AEROBATICS

“MOST OF THE time when I visit an airport, people look at the plane and scratch their heads. They have a hard time guessing what it is,” said Leith Stevens about his Robin R-2160. Leith lives in Boulder, Colorado, and has owned the Robin for the past 18 months. The 1981 black and blue aircraft is a tricycle gear side-by-side aerobatic trainer produced in France. Its Lycoming O-320 turns a two-bladed prop and is rated for +6g/-3g

Father and son flew the Robin from Colorado to Green Bay, Wisconsin, a few

days before the opening day at AirVenture. They only had one small hiccup. Scheduled to arrive on Monday, July 24, in Oshkosh, they were delayed by a flat tire. It was a surprise, because they had already changed out the tube before arriving in Wisconsin.

During preflight, there was no apparent defect, and it was only discovered as the airplane was on the taxiway headed to take off. A local mechanic had a tube in stock, but the tire had to be expressdelivered from Aircraft Spruce & Specialty. The repair took place on

Tuesday, and by Wednesday they happily landed at Wittman Regional Airport. The Robin got a lot of attention

Wednesday when it parked at the IAC area. Once again, there was a lot of

chin-scratching and wondering, but Leith and his father were happy to provide information about their unusual bird.

PHOTO BY ARIC KRAUSE

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Aircraft of the Vietnam War

THIS YEAR AT EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023, we’re commemorating the 50th anniversary of the official end of U.S. military involvement in Vietnam — honoring the remarkable aircraft of the era, the nearly 60,000 American troops who made the ultimate sacrifice during the war, and the thousands of Vietnam veterans who served their country valiantly in Southeast Asia.

We’re expecting to have a strong presence of Vietnam War-era aircraft at AirVenture Oshkosh this summer to honor those who fought in the jungles of Vietnam half a century ago. While many of the most-famous aircraft from Vietnam have only one or two flying examples left (if any at all), we anticipate a number of the following aircraft, either still serving on active duty or in private hands as warbirds, will potentially make an appearance at AirVenture. Note: Not all of these aircraft will attend Oshkosh this year, nor at the time of this writing do we know definitively which ones will be attending, so keep your eyes open as you wander the grounds.

GRUMMAN S-2 TRACKER

INTRODUCED IN THE mid-1950s, the twin-engine S-2 Tracker served as an anti-submarine warfare aircraft with the U.S. Navy before being replaced by the S-3 Viking in the 1970s. Eight S-2 squadrons flew during the Vietnam War, primarily being used for patrol duty.

BELL H-13 SIOUX

DEVELOPED FROM THE Bell 47, the H-13 Sioux was one of the earlier helicopters in the U.S. military fleet, with it entering service a couple years after World War II. It was used by the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force. Though most famous for its role as a medevac helicopter during the Korean War, the H-13 did serve in the early years of Vietnam in an observation role before being replaced by the OH-6.

HELIO U-10 COURIER

DERIVED FROM THE civilian Helio Courier, the U-10 was used by the U.S. Air Force beginning in 1958, U.S. Army Special Forces in the 1960s and ’70s, and Air America during the Vietnam War. As a STOL-capable utility aircraft, the Courier excelled in liaison, light cargo and supply drops, psychological warfare, insertion and extraction, and reconnaissance roles.

PILATUS PC-6 PORTER

THE CIVILIAN SWISS-BUILT STOL-capable PC-6 Porter entered service in the early 1960s. When the Vietnam War rolled around, the CIA-controlled airline Air America used Porters through the war for paradropping supplies to troops, passenger transport, psychological warfare, prisoner conveyance, and other intelligence operations.

EAA ARCHIVE PHOTO

EAA ARCHIVE PHOTO

EAA ARCHIVE PHOTO

Camp Scholler Expands Once Again

BY ABIGAIL OLENICZAK AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF

ARRIVING AT EAA AIRVENTURE OSHKOSH may seem like an overwhelming experience for some pilots who fly into the event. But for some campers, this year proved to be a little more complicated as the campground had to quickly expand three times.

Most AirVenture campers reserve a campsite through EAA’s website in advance, which requires immediate payment. Thus, many campers decide to simply show up the day they would like prior to the show beginning and find a spot. This year, that became a challenge.

Arriving earlier and earlier each year is what most people find to be an effective method to getting just the right camping spot. But hundreds of campers who arrived Sunday evening were surprised to find that all of Camp Scholler was full. Even last year’s “new campground” as overflow was completely full.

EAA AirVenture staff and volunteers jumped to the challenge and quickly created a plan to extend Camp Scholler. They turned a parking lot south of ultralights into the new camping area.

EAA AirVenture staff and volunteers jumped to the challenge and quickly created a plan to extend Camp Scholler. They turned a parking lot south of Ultralights into the new camping area. After campers waited in the registration and entrance line, they were told by security that the only option would be the additional overflow campground that was currently being sectioned off. Not long after, campers flooded into the overflow, and the next morning, the new campground was nearly full.

an EAA Member!

Travelers wait in line to enter the new section of Camp Scholler.

SEE YOU ON THE FLIGHTLINE!

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY

BY ROBBIE CULVER AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF

EACH YEAR, I try to find something new to take away from EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. I do not know how many years I have attended, but I have been coming since I was a child and am about to turn 59. It’s safe to say I have been here often.

As it is often said, we come for the airplanes, but return for the people. For many of us, these words ring true as we get older and see each other less, often dealing with some losses along the way. Take nothing for granted, as each day is a unique and precious gift. Personally, this point was driven home brutally this year.

On Saturday morning before AirVenture, my routine was interrupted by the kind of call no one wants to get. My good friend and fellow pilot, Jon Couch, was killed by a drunk driver the night before. We had been texting earlier that day, planning our Oshkosh adventures.

It would be easy to get caught up in sadness and grief, and I admit that I did for a moment. But then I realized once again we get to live exactly once, and my friend Jon would want me to do just that. I picked myself up and headed off to homebuilt camping to be among friends.

As the week went by, I ran into friends over and over again. Often random encounters in the endless crowd,

Seeing the light in the eyes of our young folks made me realize that the best way to honor those gone before us is to remember them, and to share our passion with those making their own way into this adventure.

sometimes a planned meeting during the air show. Each one reminded me of how precious these moments are. Most of them I see once a year — at Oshkosh.

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is truly one of a kind. There simply is nothing else like it on earth. Yeah, the aircraft are incredibly cool. Sure, the air shows are phenomenal. And absolutely, seeing the

innovation and growth in the industry in one place is staggering.

But look around. The show grounds are filled with humanity. Each one a friend — some you may not have met yet — but we share a passion for aviation, flight, and the magic that encompasses every moment in the air.

On Friday, July 28, I made time to go hang out with my friends from EAA Chapter 461, my chapter in Bolingbrook, Illinois. Several of our youths were there as well, and watching part of the air show with them reminded me of how it all began in my youth, some years ago.

EAA Chapter 461 has a vibrant youth program, trying to inspire and mentor young people who clearly share the passion for flight that brings us together. As we watched the MiGs flying, I could not help but think about my friend Jon. I will truly miss him, but seeing the light in the eyes of our young folks made me realize that the best way to honor those gone before us is to remember them, and to share our passion with those making their own way into this adventure.

Blue skies, Jon. I will miss you terribly. And to all of you reading this, I will see you next year — walking the grounds, in the exhibit hangars, and yes, out on the flightline.

Come for the airplanes; come back for the people.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Kids’ Activities Continue to Take Flight

BY ABIGAIL OLENICZAK AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF

AN EAA PROGRAM tailored to K-12 youths that has flight education materials, STEM activities, involvement within a local EAA chapter, career exploration, and much more, can be found at AeroEducate.org.

Kevin Sutton, an assistant professor in career and technical education at Appalachian State University, and his team develop and create activities, lesson plans, and glossaries that meet the national STEM standards. This includes next-gen standards, common core math, and standard technologies and engineering literacy.

AeroEducate, the integrative STEM education program, currently has over 18,000 users accessing its content and more than 20,000 programs completed by youths. After students create an account, they can access flight-related education programs and earn badges along the way.

In addition to learning all things aviation, AeroEducate is also a database for sharing and connecting with resources

to grow as an individual toward earning a pilot certificate.

Not only could youths get involved at the AeroEducate Center while at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh through forums, activities, and information, but they could also head over to KidVenture to engage in many different hands-on projects. KidVenture is located at Pioneer Airport across from the museum.

“If you’re just going to stand around, why don’t you volunteer?” Tina Stott said she was told this 19 years ago when she first began to volunteer at KidVenture. Though her husband is the pilot in her family, she and her daughter Britny Connella re-created the artists booth that was first started in 1999. The plan was to bring it “back to its glory,” and they did just that. This year, they branched out from STEM to STEAM, which includes an art category for kids who aren’t super passionate about math and science to still have a part in aviation and be able to contribute from an artist’s standpoint.

Kids could hand-draw airplanes and earn medals at the artists tent in the grass near the volunteer office. This year, KidVenture volunteers expected to hand out at least 4,500 adventure cards and

EAA AVIATION GATEWAY PARK

engage with roughly 20,000 kids and adults throughout the week. Additionally, KidVenture expanded from 20 to 28

booths this year and included more activities to keep youths engaged and interested.

EAA AeroEducate™ Center

EAA Education and Career Center Presented by Piedmont Airlines

EAA Career Center Presented by Air Wisconsin Airlines

Youth programs continue to grow at the AeroEducate Center and KidVenture.

EAA PHOTO

PHOTO BY SAM SASIN

PHOTO BY KAITLIN PIETTE

PHOTO BY DAVE SWARTZ

A scholarship has been established within the EAA Aviation Foundation™ to recognize Tom’s impact and help a new generation of aviation enthusiasts pursue their aviation goals. Contributions will extend the legacy of Tom Poberezny, who was dedicated to the world of flight and inspiring people of all ages to be a part of it.

Visit EAA.org/Poberezny for more information.

PHOTO BY KAITLIN PIETTE

PHOTO BY BERNIE KOSZEWA

Save up to 60% on theme parks, hotels, Broadway shows, major events, and more!

MemberDeals provides EAA® members with a unique opportunity to access exclusive offers to the world’s greatest entertainment and travel brands, including Walt Disney World® Resort, Universal Orlando Resort™, Cirque du Soleil® and SeaWorld® Parks and Entertainment, and many other worldwide offers and attractions are available all with special pricing not available to the public.

Learn more at EAA.org/MemberDeals

PHOTO BY BRETT BROCK

PHOTO BY KAITLIN PIETTE

PHOTO BY KAITLIN PIETTE

PHOTO BY DAVE SWARTZ

PHOTO BY LAURIE GOOSSENS

Today’s SCHEDULE

Scholler Shorts

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY

BY KAITLIN PIETTE AIRVENTURE TODAY STAFF

JAKE, DARLA, AND JUDY have things in common with a lot of others attending AirVenture: They have a barking good time meeting people, and have flown in an airplane. Their owner, Robert Willaford, is a retired Cape Coral firefighter. Making their celebrity debut back in June 2021, Robert’s three corgi dogs are now known as The Flying Corgis, after a reporter wrote about the pups. They wear earmuffs

during the flight in a Van’s RV-9 and “enjoy the moments when land is visible and they see people they know,” according to Jake and Darla’s reactions when they first started to fly with Robert. (Judy has yet to take her first flight, but Robert promises to do short flights to help the introduction go smoothly.) Short strides on land turn to miles in the skies for The Flying Corgis!

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.

CONVENIENTLY

DOWN:

1. This is crucial for any pilot.

2. Before EAA Sport Aviation

3. A nut is nearly useless without one.

4. Like a garage, but better.

5. Every one of them is memorable.

ACROSS:

1. An object’s path.

6. If you built it and it flies, you’re a ___________.

7. Without one, it’s a glider.

8. The big one at KOSH is 18/36.

9. The magic behind the magenta line.

SATURDAY

the Next Generation Inspire

After 30 years of providing free flights for youths aged 8-17, now is your chance to get involved and share The Spirit of Aviation. Visit the EAA Blue Barn to learn more!

Next steps also available at EAA.org/YEPilots

Young Eagles pilots will be automatically entered quarterly to win a Lightspeed Zulu 3 headset!

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW EAA HISTORY?

TRY YOUR HAND at these trivia questions and find out. The answers can be seen on the flip side below.

1. Tom Poberezny was an aerial adviser on which of the following movies?

a. The Great Waldo Pepper

b. Tora! Tora! Tora!

c. The Family Jewels

d. Cloud Dancer

2. Paul Poberezny flew a lot of different aircraft — in which type did he log the most flying hours?

3. What was the first year that the EAA fly-in was held in Rockford, Illinois?

YOUR JOURNEY. YOUR OSHKOSH.

FROM FIRST ARRIVAL to final takeoff and everything in between, we want to see AirVenture through your eyes. Check out today’s featured social shots of the day! Share your highlights on social media using #OSH23.

Had a Cirrus-ly good time at @eaa Airventure 2023! #cirrusaircraft

Suns out, guns out here at Oshkosh for the 70th anniversary of EAA AirVenture. Love having my plane here at air show center!

Having an absolute blast at #oshkosh with some of the best people!

Post-performance at EAA AirVenture clap lap ride for Thursday was in a Jeep! What an honor to take the lap with my Jive.

@brian_krueger

@preflightfoundation

@landoncone

@therealericbassett Oshkosh 2023!

@thelunarsawyer

PHOTO BY KAITLIN PIETTE

PHOTO BY KAITLIN PIETTE

PHOTO BY BAILEY NOEL

PHOTO BY CRAIG VANDER KOLK

PHOTO BY BERNIE KOSZEWA

PHOTO BY BERNIE KOSZEWA