Ces Avions Francais Arriveront a Oshkosh! (We
Know. You Love It When We Speak French.)
Each year, EAA
AirVenture Oshkosh draws aircraft from around the globe that arrive
to participate in the world's greatest aviation celebration.
This summer's extraordinary lineup of aircraft for the 53rd annual
EAA AirVenture, which will be held July 25-31 in Oshkosh, is now
being enhanced by the arrival of more than 20 aircraft from France
including two vintage Dassault military liaison airplanes.
The two restored Dassault MD312 Flamant ("Flamingo") twin-engine
military liaison aircraft will fly from Paris to Oshkosh over the
North Atlantic. They will be joined by 19 general aviation
"light" single- and twin-engine aircraft, scheduled to be flown by
members of the French "Euro Squadron." All are scheduled to
depart Paris on July 18 and arrive at Wittman Regional Airport on
opening day, July 25. The 1950s-vintage Dassaults will park
at EAA AirVenture's AeroShell Square showcase ramp, near the
SpaceShipOne/White Knight and Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer
aircraft.
"From its earliest days, EAA AirVenture has drawn interest from
aviation enthusiasts around the world," said Tom Poberezny, EAA
president and AirVenture chairman. "We welcome these aviators
and aircraft from France to this year's event, as the joy of flight
is truly global, and there is no better place to celebrate that
common passion than right here at Oshkosh."
EAA member Pierre Duval is helping organize the mass fly-in from
France. Duval also helped organize the Airbus A300-600ST
"Beluga" visit to Oshkosh in 2003, and said the international
renown of EAA AirVenture has helped build great excitement for the
trip among the participating pilots.
"This is my 10th Oshkosh in the last 15 years and the fever does
not get any lower," Duval said. "The excitement of the group is
both to cross the Atlantic with one's own (aircraft) and
participate in the event. (EAA AirVenture) has become the
equivalent of Le Bourget Paris Air Show for general and personal
aviation."
Duval will travel to Oshkosh with several dignitaries, including
the heads of the DGAC, the French equivalent of the FAA, and the
GSAC, which is France's controlling body for civil aviation.
Also scheduled to attend, according to Duval, are the French Navy's
incoming chief of staff and the general secretary to France's
transportation minister.
Gerard David, Dassault Aviation vice president of corporate
external relationships, is a key supporter of the trip and will fly
one of the Dassault MD312s. Emmanuel Davidson,
editor-in-chief of Aviation et Pilote magazine, leads the
organization of GA aircraft and pilots making the flight.