Sunday, July 19, 2015
THE OFFICIAL DAILY NEWSPAPER OF EAA AIRVENTURE OSHKOSH
www.EAA.org/airventure
Homebuilt patch honors Rutan VariEze
PHOTO BY PHIL WESTON
AirVenture 2015: Ready to launch By Dave Higdon
J
uly 18, 2015 - New, improved, different. Yet somehow, always the same. That’s EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015, which annually focuses worldwide attention on the aviation community. The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration arguably attracts the most diverse array of flying devotees. They come for the variety of aircraft displayed, for the daily entertainment, and the nearly nonstop aviation action. But mainly they come for the people; to learn, to commune, to grow, and to spread the gospel of flight to their friends back home. As the throngs flow onto the field today, they bring with them the spirit of aviation and an eagerness to revel in a
world wholly devoted to the wonders of flight for the next seven days. They’ll see new planes and products, old aircraft and the people who flew them. They’ll catch glimpses of aviation’s future. “The most significant change since last year is here in Vintage,” said EAA Chairman Jack J. Pelton, speaking to AirVenture Today from in front of the new, improved Red Barn hangar. He also noted an expanded area for Warbirds of America programs near the north end of the grounds. “We continue to upgrade the facilities each year, with newer, nicer porta-potties, new showers in homebuilts, and smaller changes—it’s an ongoing process.”
Mother Nature’s early curve ball Pelton came to the interview after a morning spent attending to the aftermath of a storm that raced through the Oshkosh area around dawn Saturday. “Hopefully, from here, with the skies clearing up we’ll be back on track with the arrivals,” he said as traffic resumed arrivals. Some minor damage befell some of the displays and a small number of aircraft, but the storm’s impact could have been far worse. And by afternoon arrivals were flowing again. A Boeing B-52 bomber made for Friday’s most attention-grabbing arrivals as it made history for becoming the first BUFF to land at Wittman Regional Airport, an accomplish-
Every year EAA Homebuilders Headquarters designs a commemorative “I Flew My Homebuilt” patch that is given to all pilots who arrive at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in a homebuilt aircraft. This year’s version honors the Burt Rutan’s VariEze which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. If you fly a homebuilt into Oshkosh, make sure to register at Homebuilders Headquarters, located along the flightline north of the Brown Arch to receive your patch and showplane mug. EAA also has special Perseverance Award plaques for any member who has achieved the significant goal of completing their own aircraft this year, so let us know at Homebuilders Headquarters if you qualify for one. ment requiring significant advanced preparation by airport management and EAA. With a wingspan exceeding 150 feet and outrigger wheels supporting the expansive wings on the ground, airport crew had to remove runway lights to prevent damage and replace them again to be available that night. The 1961-vintage BUFF—Big Ugly Fat Fellow—is on display on, fittingly, Boeing Plaza. Pelton also noted an expanded, more diverse lineup for the daily air CONT. P44
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