 The
color, excitement and history of The World’s Greatest Aviation
Celebration is already taking shape for 2007, as less than three months
remain until the start of the 55th annual EAA AirVenture fly-in
convention, coming July 23-29 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.
EAA AirVenture annually draws
participants from more than 60 nations and in excess of 10,000
airplanes, including more than 2,500 showplanes. The event includes more
than 800 exhibitors with the latest aviation innovations; 500 forums,
workshops and seminars covering every aspect of the world of flight;
daily afternoon air shows featuring the world’s finest aerobatic
performers; up-close and personal sessions with top aviation
personalities; and the gathering of aviation enthusiasts from around the
globe coming home to “aviation’s family reunion.”
“Over the next three months, through
the spring and into the summer, the excitement will build as we prepare
to welcome the world to Oshkosh once again,” said Tom Poberezny, EAA
president and AirVenture chairman. “While the aircraft lineup already
committed to AirVenture is outstanding, over the next few months
announcements of other airplanes and personalities will round out the
event’s lineup to make it truly ‘The World’s Greatest Aviation
Celebration.’”
From the AirVenture Cup race and mass
fly-ins prior to the event, to the final air show and aircraft and
vehicle drawings on Sunday, July 29, EAA AirVenture is filled with so
many events that a visitor can make the experience as wide or focused as
one prefers.
Among the highlights already confirmed
for AirVenture 2007:
- The amazing aerial abilities of the
U.S. Air Force’s F-22 “Raptors”;
- The mysteries of the U-2 “spyplane”
revealed as this high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft makes its
first Oshkosh appearance in a decade;
- The Beach Boys bringing back the music
of summer on Monday evening, July 23, in an opening-day concert
presented by the Eclipse Aviation and the Ford Motor Company;
- Thrilling warbirds shows with dozens
of airplanes, pyrotechnics, and fly-bys, plus a full slate of “Warbirds
in Review” programs with historic aircraft and the personalities
who made those airplanes famous;
- Commemoration of the Air Force’s
60th anniversary, with extensive displays and presentations
throughout the week;
- More than 2,500 “showplanes” from
vintage models to ultralights, including nearly 1,000 homebuilt
aircraft built and flown by their owners;
- The newest innovations in aviation,
with more than 800 exhibitors offering everything to fulfill an
aviation enthusiast’s dreams;
- The world’s best air show performers
displaying their amazing talents every afternoon.
More than 30,000 people annually camp
each year adjacent to the flight line, either setting up camp next to
their airplanes or driving in to spacious Camp Scholler, where aviation
enthusiasts create their own city each year. For many people, camping on
the grounds is the best way to fully experience everything that EAA
AirVenture has to offer.
“For more than 50 years, the airplanes
bring us to EAA AirVenture, but the people keep us coming back,”
Poberezny said. “Pilots know that a trip to Oshkosh is a highlight for
any aviator, which is why many make the trip every year. For those just
discovering aviation, EAA AirVenture is a week filled with excitement
and unforgettable experiences.”
Complete details of EAA AirVenture 2007,
including admission rates, housing information, schedules and pilot
info, are available at the event’s comprehensive website at www.airventure.org.
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