EAA AirVenture Today
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EAA AirVenture Today  is published by the Experimental Aircraft Association for EAA AirVenture from July 23 - July 30. It is distributed free on the convention grounds as well as other locations in Oshkosh and surrounding communities. Stories and photos are copyrighted 2006 by EAA AirVenture Today and EAA. Reproduction by any means is prohibited without written consent.

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KidVenture 2006 offers riveting experience

BLAST OFF! Nathanel and Jacob Will play with newly acquired rockets at AirVenture. Photo by Phil Weston

More activities will be available for KidVenture participants this year than ever before. Leading the way are a hands-on riveting project and actual flight instruction received from a Certificated Flight Instructor. A wide variety of other activities create numerous opportunities to learn about the basics of flight.

Now in its eighth year, KidVenture has always offered an aviation-related project for the kids to build, says KidVenture Chairman Dan Majka. Last year they carved a foot-long, wooden prop. This year, the props are back, and thanks to Van’s Aircraft, which donated the kits, and Avery Tools, which donated the tools, kids will learn riveting.

Actually, Majka said, it’s a two-part project. First the youngsters will learn riveting basics by connecting two small aluminum rectangles with seven rivets. If they do well with it, and they have 90 minutes, they’ll start work on a wing. It’s the same project used in the EAA SportAir Workshops that teach riveting, with a few modifications.

Because of the time involved, Majka recommends that kids interested in building the mini-wing arrive early (it opens every day at 9 a.m. and closes at the start of the afternoon air show, usually around 3:30 p.m., except for Sunday when the air show begins at 2 p.m.). There will be six rivet stations outfitted by Avery, one for the training rectangle and five for wing building. EAA chapter volunteers who’ve built metal airplanes will help.

"What better way to get young people started in riveting," said Bob Avery, whose company celebrates 20 years in business this year.

Once finished, kids can get autographs, just like the props last year.

Much more at KidVenture

There’s plenty to do and learn under and around the big, white tent near EAA AirVenture Museum.

• "Fly" R/C (radio-controlled) flight simulators, plus take in daily electric-powered R/C flight demos in the south grass field.

• More than 2,000 kids tried their hands at control-line flying last year. In 2006, the control-line area will also include a daily air show by adult control-line pilots performing competition level stunts for the crowd.

• The popular kite building and flying activity returns.

• Kids shaped nearly 1,000 wooden props last year, then collected autographs to make a great AirVenture keepsake. Hartzell Propeller again sponsors this popular program.

• At the KidVenture Hero Stage, kids can get up close and personal with aviation superstars, collect autographs, and have their photos taken with them.

• The FAA’s popular, guided pre-flight inspection of the Young Eagles RV-6A returns, as will the aviation artist’s booth.

• About 2,000 rockets will be built during the week.

• Kids learn how to work with tools at the Women’s A&P booth.

• A Piper J-3 Cub link trainer allows kids to sit in the cockpit and "fly" in three axes.

• NASA, part of whose mission is to educate, returns to KidVenture in 2006.

• EAA’s all-jet fleet of pedal planes returns for toddlers.

• Climb into one of six real airplane cockpits, from the C-47 to homebuilt aircraft.