EAA’s Flight Advisors Program Is Also Celebrating Its 30th Birthday This Year

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024 will be recognizing four homebuilt aircraft anniversaries at this year’s show, including the RLU-1 Breezy, Zenith 600/601, Swearingen SX-300, and Kitfox.

RLU-1 Breezy: First flight in 1964. A completely open cockpit pusher aircraft. Designed and built by Charles Roloff, Robert Liposky, and Carl Unger. For decades at AirVenture, Carl Unger could be seen hopping rides in his Breezy wearing his trademark red vest. The prototype Breezy is on display in the EAA Aviation Museum.

Zenith 600/601: First flight in 1984. All metal two-seat aircraft designed by Chris Heintz.

Swearingen SX-300: First flight in 1984. Designed by Ed Swearingen and features a two-seat cockpit and a 300 hp six-cylinder engine.

Kitfox: First flight in 1984. Designed by Dan Denny, featuring a small side-by-side two-seat, high-wing configuration. More than 4,500 kits have been delivered worldwide.

Pilots who plan to fly these anniversary homebuilts into AirVenture can pre-register their aircraft online. They will be parked in the same areas.

In addition to these aircraft, EAA’s Flight Advisors program is celebrating its 30th birthday this year. This volunteer program helps pilots preparing for a first flight in a homebuilt aircraft to conduct it safely. Flight advisors are EAA volunteers dedicated to improving homebuilt aircraft safety.

EAA’s Homebuilts in Review program will also return in 2024, bringing notable homebuilts and their owners to Homebuilders Headquarters for informal discussions on these aircraft. 

FMI: www.eaa.org/airventure/features-and-attractions/aircraft-areas/homebuilt-airplanes-area