Each year virtually all the businesses involved in general aviation, coming from places all over the globe, gather here at the Word’s Greatest Aviation Celebration to present their wares. This is the perfect stage for manufacturers, suppliers, service providers, and others to announce all that is new and improved in what they offer for aviation buyers.

Here at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2008 the announcement action starts right away on opening day.

Monday morning Eclipse Aviation will update the media on what is happening with its Eclipse 500 twin-jet program, and with its new Eclipse 400 single-engine jet. The 400 made its first public appearance last year at EAA AirVenture as a concept prototype.

Also on Monday ICON Aircraft will show off its new ICON A5 composite, amphibious light-sport aircraft. EAA AirVenture is the first public appearance of the flying prototype.

While the rollout will not physically happen here at EAA AirVenture, Virgin Galactic will unveil White Knight Two, the mother ship and launch stage for the passenger-carrying SpaceShipTwo, to the public for the first time Monday at 11:00 a.m. A video link will allow many here to view the event as it is broadcast live from Mojave, California, and a mock-up of the spaceliner will appear at the EAA Welcome Center.

After the rollout, designer Burt Rutan and Virgin Galactic’s Sir Richard Branson will travel to EAA AirVenture and will present updates on the SpaceShipTwo program, both at a forum Tuesday at 1 p.m. and Tuesday evening at the Theater in the Woods.

PS Engineering, the creator of many innovative aircraft audio and entertainment electronic options, is expected to announce some new additions to its already extensive set of audio panels and intercoms.

Look, too, for a new model from Extra Aircraft, the manufacturer of aerobatic aircraft used by performers all over the world. Extra airplanes are also widely used as high-performance aerobatic trainers.

Tuesday brings the first public flight of the Martin Jetpack. On AeroShell Square at 9:30 a.m., Martin will demonstrate this ultimate personal flying machine. The Jetpack can be flown as an ultralight aircraft and is expected to have a flight endurance of 30 minutes.

At 2:30 p.m. Tuesday on AeroShell Square the Rocket Racing League (RRL) will unveil its rocket-powered racing airplanes. Friday and Saturday the RRL will conduct exhibition races here at EAA AirVenture, the first of several planned public exhibitions this year.

Cirrus Designs, a new entrant to the light jet market, is bringing its prototype Cirrus Vision SJ50 to EAA AirVenture, and it will present the jet to the media and to the public Wednesday at 2:15 p.m. on AeroShell Square. Known previously only as The-Jet, the SJ50 now has a name, and its flight-test program is underway.

Ravin Aircraft Manufacturers, designers of a composite airframe that bears a strong resemblance to the classic Piper Comanche, will announce the availability of kits for its retractable-gear Ravin 500.

Bendix/King and Honeywell Aerospace will announce several new product updates and new product announcements for the general-aviation marketplace this week. All the new wares will be on display at the Bendix/King booth in Exhibit Hangar B.

Expect some new options for the weather data downlink from XM Satellite Radio. The already popular service is expected to add a number of new features.

This is just a sampling of a few of the expected new and innovative things that will be seen here for the first time. EAA AirVenture has certainly always been the place to see what is happening in the aviation world, a fact that is even truer in 2008.