Sunday, July 27, 2014
THE OFFICIAL DAILY NEWSPAPER OF EAA AIRVENTURE OSHKOSH
www.AirVenture.org
PHOTO BY MARIANO ROSALES
Paul Poberezny tribute tonight at Memorial Wall
Setup continued Saturday on the new EAA Pathways Pavilion, one of the four anchors of EAA Square.
Are you ready for this? By Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside
W
elcome to the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration! The 2014 edition of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh kicks off tomorrow, and the coming week promises to be filled with at least a little bit of everything aviation, from innovative homebuilts to the latest in store-bought aircraft, avionics, and equipment. Major new-product announcements are expected from throughout the industry, while other entertainment and “distractions” will include celebrations of the people, planes, and events that have made EAA and AirVenture what they are today. And even though we’re talking about the 62nd edition of EAA’s annual convention, there will be a number of first-time events.
Not convinced? How about the first-ever full performance of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flight demonstration team? The Thunderbirds will fly at the end of the daily afternoon air shows beginning Friday, August 1. That first event will be a “practice” show, then Saturday at 5 p.m. they follow the final performers in the afternoon air show—the Warbirds Spectacular—featuring World War II-era aircraft and full pyrotechnics. The Thunderbirds will wrap up their inaugural Oshkosh performances at 3 p.m. on Sunday, August 3, as the closing act in the last air show of AirVenture 2014. Importantly, attendees, volunteers, and pilots should be aware that the
Thunderbirds performances require a larger aerobatic box than normal. This means the crowd line will be shifted slightly to the west during the afternoon air shows on those days. Only essential, authorized air show personnel are permitted beyond the line and inside the box during the Thunderbirds performances. (See page 10 for more information.) CONT. P16
Sponsor of the day
This evening, the night before AirVenture’s gates open on Monday morning, before throngs of aviation enthusiasts immerse themselves in the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration, a brief ceremony will be held to honor the man who made it all possible. EAA Chaplain Pastor Ed Riddick will lead the celebration of the life of EAA Founder Paul H. Poberezny, who passed away last August at age 91. The ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. at the EAA Memorial Wall. Also making remarks will be EAA Chairman Jack J. Pelton, and the ceremony will feature a missing man formation flight led by EAA’s B-17 Aluminum Overcast accompanied by P-51 Mustangs. The approximately 30-minute ceremony will be standing room only and is open weather to all EAA members.