EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
is the yearly membership convention of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), an international organization of aviation enthusiasts based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Billed as "The World's Greatest Aviation Celebration,", EAA AirVenture Oshkosh will run from July 26 to August 1, 2010 and feature airshows and other events.
Ron Darner, a longtime CR4er who serves as
the newsletter editor for EAA Chapter 320 (Watertown,
Wisconsin), recently passed along some information from EAA headquarters about an important part of this year's event, a 75th anniversary celebration for the DC-3.
Max-Effort Day and More
More
elements to the huge DC-3 75th anniversary celebration at EAA AirVenture
Oshkosh 2010, which will be held July 26-August 1, have been added, creating
more opportunities to enjoy a unique gathering of these aircraft at
"Aviation's Family Reunion."
The
latest addition is a DC-3 and C-47 "Max-Effort Day" on Tuesday, July
27, that will include formation flights and aerial displays from all DC-3
aircraft that wish to be flown that day. That includes groups of the aircraft
type in airline and military configurations, plus others.
"This
event will celebrate the legacy and people of an aircraft that played a massive
part in the development of both civil and military aviation," said Adam
Smith, EAA vice president of membership. "Merging both ground and air
operations into a single spectacle is sure to leave those in attendance with
memories they'll be able to share and recall for years."
Among
other highlights of the weeklong DC-3 celebration:
- A very
special DC-3/C-47 reunion evening at Theater in the Woods, hosted by David
Hartman and including special guest Jim Douglas, grandson of DC-3 designer
Donald Douglas;
- "Salute to Veterans" activities in cooperation with Disabled American
Veterans (DAV) to include re-enactor displays and personal appearances by WWII
veterans of "Easy Company" (known from the HBO series "Band of
Brothers");
- Air Show programs throughout the week to include a parade of classic airliners,
a unique heritage flight that pairs the C-47 with the modern C-17 Globemaster;
- An appearance by the aircraft and stars of hit Canadian reality TV series
"Ice Pilots", still operating the DC-3 in daily passenger service;
- DC-3 movie screenings, including the John Wayne classic "Island in the
Sky" at the outdoor Fly-In Movie Theater;
- Numerous public forums related to the people, history and operations of the
DC-3;
- A major week-long effort by the EAA Timeless Voices of Aviation team to capture
and preserve the video oral histories of all people connected with the DC-3.
- An exclusive DC-3 community cookout hosted by Basler Turbo Conversions of
Oshkosh, which refurbishes DC-3s from its base at Wittman Regional Airport for
continued use at locations around the world;
- A luncheon on Wednesday, July 28, in the EAA AirVenture Museum Founders' Wing
for anyone who has even been connected with the DC-3, including pilots,
mechanics, flight crew, veterans, etc. (Registration details will be
forthcoming)
In
addition, a rare DC-2 aircraft will be joining the assembly at Oshkosh, as well
as a beautifully refurbished DC-7B aircraft.
EAA
already has commitments from a large number of DC-3/C-47 operators who intend
to arrive at Oshkosh. Other DC-3 and C-47 operators who wish to participate should
contact EAA at dc3@eaa.org,
and will be sent specific details on arrival procedures, aircraft parking,
accommodations, and other important logistics.
Additional EAA
AirVenture information, including advance ticket and camping purchase, is
available online at www.airventure.org .
| 
Re: The World's Greatest Aviation Celebration
