NASA Relocates To Help EAA Out
by ANN Correspondent Franklin Porath
This isn't one of those phrases like "giant shrimp" or
"military intelligence." It's actually the sort of question museum
directors love to answer, and as this is the museum's 25th year,
Alan Westby, the EAA Airventure Museum Director, was pleased to let
ANN know what's new.
About one out of every 10 visitors to the EAA Airventure
convention in Oshkosh take the bus to the museum, which is located
adjacent to -- but not at -- the Wittman Regional Airport. This
means that 45,000 to 50,000 people go through its halls during the
one week of the EAA convention.
There will be the usual panoply of distinguished speakers, but
this year visitors will find three big differences. The first is
that NASA, in a break from its traditional exhibit space, will be
in located in the photogallery area. We'll go into greater detail
about this move a bit further down in the story.
The second important event is the opening of new exhibit about
the Rutan family. EAA, in its way, tries to act and feel like a big
family. This exhibit has, of course, the normal encyclopedic
panoply of facts and artifacts of the flying and aircraft design
careers of Dick and Burt Rutan. But more importantly, it also shows
the contributions of Burt and Dick's parents, Ma and Pop Rutan,
well-loved figures at previous conventions, who encouraged and
supported their sons to become two of the most interesting and
important figures in aviation, home-building, and now, space. It
shows what EAA considers true family values that are core to the
EAA spirit..
The third important event is the groundbreaking for the
Founder's Wing. This will be one of the most important exhibits,
and was requested by the EAA membership, and based upon EAA's own
history. The museum will turn the old Cessna Restoration Center
into a multi-use space for events and organizations. (Virtually all
of the major aircraft restorations are now done at the Kermit Weeks
Hangar on the North side of Wittman Field, anyway.)
The wing's second floor is devoted to EAA's impact on aviation,
its core accomplishments, and particularly upon the lives of its
founders, Paul and Audrey Poberezny. The Founder's Wing is planned
to open during the 2009 convention.
Where In The World Is NASA?
A popular spot for people to meet during EAA Airventure has
been the NASA building between the flight line and the EAA
convention forum venues. But if you looked for them there this year
they aren't there. In their place is the EAA Affordable Flying
Center, showcasing LSAs and a variety of other aircraft meant to
allow us to take to the skies as inexpensively as possible.
If you were wondering where the NASA exhibit had disappeared to,
don't panic, they're still here. Go to the EAA Airventure Museum.
This is NASA's 50th year, and it is also the museum's 25th
anniversary, so in a way they are celebrating together. You will
find the brilliant and eclectic NASA mix of NASA accomplishments
and NASA future plans in the museum spaces normally occupied by the
photogallery. (Check out the 3-D view of the Mars landscape!)
The real reason for the temporary displacement is that EAA
needed space for the kick-off of their Affordable Flying Center...
so, for this year only, NASA graciously offered to move their
exhibits to the museum. Fear not, they'll be back in their regular
spot next year.