2008 information will be posted as it becomes available.

For the past eight years, EAA's KidVenture has provided untold thousands of children with delightful, educational aviation experiences at its customary location, in the big, white tent directly behind EAA AirVenture Museum. There's never been much room for expansion, however, and the road bordering its eastern edge has created occasional bottlenecks of buses, gators, golf carts, and other vehicles.

At EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2007, KidVenture will be transplanted across Pioneer Airport's turf runway where there will be much more room for kids to enjoy safe, hands-on aviation activities.

"We're looking for a fantastic year this year with our expanded square footage," said KidVenture Chairman Dan Majka, who coordinates volunteers from some 25 EAA chapters to staff the area. "Being able to utilize the large hangar will provide us with not only the additional space, but also some protection from the weather for some of the high-tech equipment. We'll also be able to put the blacktop in front of the hangars and grass areas by the runway to good use. KidVenture will certainly have a much larger footprint than in past years."

Having extra room inside and out will allow KidVenture to offer more of everything. This year, high tech is one of the main themes, with additional flight simulators installed to allow more kids to try their hands at virtual flying. The popular flight training sessions with National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) CFIs will be doubled, plus eight stations will be available offering introduction to meteorology, navigation, and other subjects.

A daily RC (radio-controlled) air show will be held outside, and kids can also try their hands at control-line flying. At KidVenture's "Skunk Works" area, kids can build and fly their own balsa gliders, featuring a new canard design this year. Or they can design their own aircraft on the computer with DaVinci Technologies software. Kids can modify and even test-fly aircraft, with a daily contest will determine the best airplane.

This year's riveting project will be custom metal name tags.

Other returning features are the KidVenture Heroes Stage, providing a showcase for aviation personalities; riveting instruction (supported by Van's Aircraft and Avery Tools); prop shaping (supported by Hartzell Propeller), the artist booth; and the ever-popular cockpit climb. The U.S. Army will also bring back its 18-wheel science laboratory, featuring physics experiments and lots of cool demonstrations, including a robot kids will be able to operate. There's even talk of having a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) on static display throughout the week.

KidVenture sponsor this year, Andy's Airplane, will feature an interactive video display for younger kids. Andy's Airplane is a new television series aimed at young children.

Thursday through Sunday, ham radio operators will set up their equipment and allow kids to communicate with other faraway operators.

KidVenture hours are 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. daily, except for Sunday when closing time is 2 p.m. due to the earlier air show. Shuttle busses will run regular schedules to KidVenture throughout the day from the main EAA AirVenture bus stop and AirVenture Museum.

Stay tuned for other KidVenture announcements as they are confirmed.
  

Kids can again log expert instruction from NAFI members.	Control line flying, and everything else at KidVenture, relocates to the other side of the Pioneer runway at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2007.