NASA's ER-2 high-altitude flying laboratory, which has been extensively used to study and document weather and other natural phenomena, will be a part of this year's Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) fly-in convention, EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, which will be held July 29-August 4 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.

The ER-2 is a modified version of the Lockheed U-2, best known as a high-altitude spyplane used by the U.S. military. The ER-2 is based at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, but has been deployed around the world for research projects. The airplane will arrive at EAA AirVenture at after the air show on Tuesday afternoon, July 29, and remain at the event until AirVenture's final day, Monday, August 4.

"NASA has been an active participant at EAA AirVenture for many years, giving attendees a glimpse of aircraft and projects not usually on up-close display to the public," said Tom Poberezny, EAA President and AirVenture Chairman. "The ER-2 is an outstanding example of how the wonders of flight can be used to further knowledge of our world and its natural processes. As we celebrate the centennial of powered flight at EAA AirVenture, this airplane shows how aviation is more than simply transportation for people from place to place."

NASA obtained its first ER-2 in 1981 and added a second in 1989. Since 1991, the aircraft have been used for airborne research for such topics as Earth's environmental system, ozone depletion over Antarctica and improving hurricane predictions. Data and photos obtained by the research projects have been used by NASA, the U.S. Forest Service, Environmental Protection Agency, as well as numerous other domestic and international agencies.

The ER-2 typically operates at altitudes above 65,000 feet, flying above 95 percent of the earth's atmosphere. That allows the aircraft to use many of the same sensors similar to those used by orbiting satellites. While the airplane's flights are usually not publicized, the ER-2 did set a world-altitude record for medium-weight aircraft on Nov. 19, 1998, when it reached a height of 68,700 feet above sea level.

While the ER-2 is at Oshkosh, NASA personnel will also be on hand to talk about the airplane, its capabilities and some of the missions it has flown around the world. The aircraft will be parked at AeroShell Square.

FMI: www.eaa.org, www.airventure.org