Will Be Open For Tours Later In The Week

Contributing: Robbie Culver

A crowd gathered along the flightline at Wittman Field Tuesday afternoon for the arrival of one of the centerpieces of this year's show, the massive Airbus A380.

Under a blue sky with only a few scattered clouds, a real improvement over the last couple of days weather,  the A380 made several passes along airshow central, both clean and with gear and flaps deployed. It had been flown Monday from Toulouse to Milwaukee, where it was greeted by local and state officials.

The aircraft - which is one of two flight test and development A380s. arrived in Oshkosh at about 3:00 Tuesday afternoon.  It will be open for visitors later in the week before departing on Friday, which will be the first time Airbus has allowed self-guided public tours of the aircraft's interior - and the visit also will include presentations by program officials and flight crew.

In the crowd just off AeroShell square Aero-News found Greg and Kelly Johnson of Rockton, IL, along with their sons Nicholas, 10, and Erik, 4. When asked about their impression of the Airbus, Nicholas quickly chimed in "Awesome!" Father Greg, who pilots Beechcraft King Air 200's for a living, and is furloughed from Midwest Airlines, said he'd love to take the 380 up for a flight.

The Johnson's are camping in Camp Schoeller with old friends, an annual tradition for the family. Kelly said that even though she doesn't fly, AirVenture is part of family life - in fact, Erik attended shortly before his birth, making 2009 his 5th Oshkosh in a row.

The A380 vertical stabilizer is currently towering over AeroShell Square. In this instance, the phrase "you can't miss it" actually applies.

FMI: www.airbus.com